Recovery process from tonsil cancer

Hi all,

My husband completed 6 rounds of chemo and 5 days x 6 weeks of radio therapy for tonsil/one lymph node HPV positive cancer. He has a PEG, which he was using ok until week 5. He then started vomiting  and it was thought he stomach was sensitized, so he was admitted  and starved for a week. He is now home week 9 but very thin and are trying to gradually increase his tolerance to food and fluids via the PEG.  Hes on liquid morphine for his throat but is trying to swallow small amounts of yoghurt. His pain is severe when he swallows.

I would love to know how people healed, how long it took for throat pain to reduce, to get their  swallow reflex back to normal, eat sufficient soft nutrition  and rebuild their weight and strength. 

We werent expecting him to be this frail, so any after care guidance would be really helpful.

Thanks.

  • Hi Kitkat101,

    I hope you're getting on OK with everything - I can imagine this has been a difficult time and it sounds like you're both coping with a lot still.

    Unfortunately I can't be much help in terms of advice to offer, but if anyone here has similar experience to share then hopefully they'll be along soon. Do also feel free to search the forum using the button in the blue bar above in case there are similar topics on here.

    Otherwise do make sure you discuss this with your husband's doctor if you can, so you can hopefully get a better idea of what to expect.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator