Virgin throat Cancer sufferer

Offline Vatch over 10 years ago

Hi all

I have just been diagnosed with Throat Cancer (28th April) and although at the moment Docs can only find the secondary site (right neck lymph node), they are still looking for the Primary - I've had my CT and PET CT scan done and nothing found, so I am now going in for multiple biospsies to find that prime site

Although this started off very rocky I have been told that its not only treatable but cureable, so I suppose i am luckier than some on here and aware of it

I am a very positive person and am just taking this all as it comes to me .... as I am sure you are all aware there is a lot to take in when you are first diagnosed

I think the biggest problem with me at the moment is i dont feel ill .. I just had a sore throat in Feb, which did not go, my glands were up, but one never went down so went to the docs who sent me to the hospital and within a few weeks i was diagnosed

I am sure at some point the treatment is going to hit me but i am still unaware to what extent ... and i know its different for everyone

Whilst Docs are still trying to find the prime site I am getting close to starting my Radio and Chemo Therapy for 6 weeks .. I have also been told that the Chemo should get rid of the secondary tumour in my neck lymph node so they are hoping not to operate and i wont lose my hair ... but i will deal with that one when i get there

As I said, I have difficulty defining how ill i really am (not as bad as some of you on here i know) I still play Squash, Football and take my wife Salsa dancing, but i guess whilst going through the treatment i am going to have to slow things down and look after myself

So i just wondered if any of you on here had gone through similar treatment and if there any advice you would like to offer

From what i can see constipation appears to be a big issue and some suffer with terrible sickness

But from the point of starting my treat whats my rollacoster to recovery

Oh and any information about having a peg fitted and how that works and for how long going forward would be appreciated

onwards and upwards

Offline Vatch over 10 years ago in reply to SleepyCat

Hi there all
Well I am a week in
PEG in and settled down now
5 radio therapy sessions and slight sensitivity in the throat
1 chemo session in and all anti sickness in place, no reactions at the moment
The routine of all the sickness drugs and cleaning the peg is now a natural routine
But i realise its early days yet.
So hows you lot getting on well i hope
Simon guzzle you been out for that bike ride yet?
gill how was your scan
Deb and Nicola hows things going on with you
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Offline Guzzle over 10 years ago in reply to Vatch

Varch, well done mate. Done bike ride. In IOW been knocking off bits of costal path. You can recover quickly and get put there. A holiday next then back to work! Keep going mate.
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Offline SleepyCat over 10 years ago in reply to Vatch

Hi Vatch
Glad to hear all is going well so far. Long may it continue.
The consultant was pleased to confirm that there was no race of the cancer at all. They did not have the bone marrow result but he was sure this would show it was clear as well. Am not due back for three months. Yippeeeeeee.
Best of luck.
Gill
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Offline Guzzle over 10 years ago in reply to SleepyCat

chuffed for you gill!
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Offline SimonSmith over 10 years ago in reply to Guzzle

Hi Vatch,
I hope that things are still going well for you. I remember how quickly it all seemed to become 'routine'. The chemo days were a bit of a drag but I took along some movies on my iPad to pass the time whilst hooked up to the drip - that and watching all those wonderful nurses going about their business helped the time to pass more quickly.
Good luck mate and I hope things continue to go smoothly for you.
Simon.
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Offline Guzzle over 10 years ago in reply to SimonSmith

Vatch, Simon is very wise - if there is wi fi Netflix was good as well. Had first check up today. All ok so far. That will be you soon mate.
Simon, any sun tips?
Regards, Gary
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Offline LisaMK over 10 years ago in reply to Guzzle

Excellent news re check up Guzzle )))))
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Offline SleepyCat over 10 years ago in reply to Guzzle

Hi Gary
Thanks.,
Glad to hear your check up was all ok.
Gill
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Offline SimonSmith over 10 years ago in reply to Guzzle

Good news regarding the check up Guzzle - there'll be a lot more clear check-ups to come.
No real advice regarding the sun, I'm afraid - other than the obvious of course. I find that every little activity is harder work as the the temperature rises. This is probably due to my blood counts still being out (especially the red and white cell counts). Also, I'm still 2 stone lighter than I was pre-treatment (and I was described as skinny then) so I've lost a lot of my physical strength. I've also lost my appetite for being out in the sun - I tend to keep covered and in the shade as much as possible. In general I think we need to be more careful than most because of our reduced energy levels.
Take it easy mate.
Simon.
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Offline Guzzle over 10 years ago in reply to SimonSmith

Simon thanks mate. Apparently the irradiated area needs to be kept out of sun. Factor 50 and hats for me! Regards, Gary
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