A CANCER SURVIVOR'S STORY
By Daniel Borenstein
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

quote:

• Part 1: Diagnosis sets harrowing journey in motion
• Part 2: Learning to decipher language of treatment
• Part 3: Fear and uncertainty cloud every decision
• Part 4: Coming back from brink of death to continue fight
• Part 5: Adjusting to changed life

Thanks Dr Joshi, that makes interesting reading.
Has anybody else heard of the drug Amifostine before. Daniel says it helps with the dry mouth problem that so many of us have suffered from whilst undergoing radiotherapy so why was this drug not offered to us?

In a word - COST! The NHS is a production line when it comes to treatment. The treatment is cost effective - but not 100% patient effective.

It's an excellent account of one person's journey with head and neck diagnosis and treatment. When I saw this link come in yesterday via ACOR I went to read this story.
It's scary when one sees similarities to treatment we might have had.

I think Vinod you will agree that it's interesting to see how far the web has come in terms of personal accounts in the last few years.

Ooops - Jenni yes I knew of this drug when I had my treatment. But it was very much a drug being used in America and as Tony says not even offered on the NHS.

FWIW many people have nasty side effects with it. I was also aware of the side effects and I would not have taken it even if I could have.

Many people in USA post therapy take Salogen I think its called and they get excessive sweating etc.

Time brings back saliva slowly although I still only have about 60% 4+ years on. Its better some days than others too -anyone else find that? Now my consultant says they direct the radiation to save the salivary glands if possible. Not sure how they can do that though when you have an occult primary.