Cancer Research UK main site

Virgin throat Cancer sufferer

Vatch
Offline

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 in reply to Vatch

    Vatch, sorry to hear you are not so good mate. I reckon another week and you will have turned the corner. Had a nice time in Malta mate. Nice beaches, history. Factor 50 and a safari hat! Enjoyed a few beers and nice food. Which you will be doing before long mate, G.

  • Offline in reply to Vatch

    Hi Vatch,

    Sorry to hear that you are going through a bad time.

    You sound like you are at week 7 where I was at around 5. We have been very similar in many respects. I was in hospital via A&E for rehydrating on a couple of occasions, each time for around 24hrs. They were better there at getting the vomiting under control than the cancer treatment hospital was. All you can do really is to do as they tell you and try to eat or at least use the tube when you can. The pain is a bummer. Do you have Oramorph? This was the best at dealing with my pain. Get yourself on the maximum dose every 4 hours - it helped me. It does have a side effect of constipation so you will need to dose up on meds for that. If you can't swallow them then crush them up and get them in through the tube. Nothing really helped with the mucus for me - it was just a question of time.

    You will get through it mate - but it's a rough ride.

    Good luck.

    Simon.

  • Offline in reply to SimonSmith

    Simon, whens your trip? Get kids waterproof factor 50. Worked for me. Also you can get safari hat in different styles with flap on back if you google it. G

  • Offline in reply to Guzzle

    Hi Guzzle,

    Trip is in three weeks. I'll be slapping on the factor 50 as you suggest. That and cold beer with soft food will sort me out!

    Simon.

  • Offline in reply to SimonSmith

    Simon, Tapas should do the trick my friend! Try googling neck buffs and lose alpine safari hat on amazon. Craghoppers do a legionairre style one. If aldi have a bike sale they do lipstick size factor 50. Just done the ice bucket....

  • Offline in reply to SimonSmith

    hi Simon and thanks for your advice

    yep i am on the morphene  oramorph ..... i am also on anti sickness again too

    stabilising my weight but at most i am only getting 4-5 of those suppliments down at the mo and along with as much water i can get through the tube

    god knows how but i have managed to supress the mucus during te night by just sleeping on my lefty ... dont ask me why .... and although i do get soe now and then its easier to bring up or swallow .... so in 8 hours i only get disturbed once or twice

    as soon as i try and turn onto my right sidet though ... major coughing fit

    can i ask how long the mucus stayed with you after your treatment?

  • Offline in reply to Vatch

    Vatch, didn't really get hit with mucus but treat pain meds with caution. Constipation as you know but can also send you a bit loopy if you overdo it. Keep at it mate.

  • Offline in reply to Vatch

    Hi Vatch,

    From memory the mucus was at its worst for around 2 or 3 weeks post treatment. I had to take a bucket and kitchen roll just about everywhere - it was my contingency for both the mucus and the potential for unanticipated vomiting. The mucus then subsided and was no longer a major issue from about 4 weeks out. I still experienced what is probably best described as a 'frog in the throat' for many weeks but it wasn't an issue once I'd stopped coughing up those huge golf ball sized lumps (especially first thing in the morning). Apparently it's the way that the body deals with irritation in the throat.

    Hang in there matey - you're about to get over the hill and hit the downhill straight!

    Simon.    

  • Offline in reply to Vatch

    Hi Vatch,

    It does sound like you are getting a lot of support from the other forum users.

    Unfortunately all side effects are a very individual thing so others may be able to give a rough guide only about their experiences. It is difficult to say how long the problem with mucous will last for you. I think it is fair to say, though, that it is a question of time easing it.

    The other forum users are right to say that you should be aware of the risk of constipation with the morphine based pain killers and some of the anti-sickness drugs . There are several things you can take to prevent this from becoming a problem which you can get either from your doctor or across the counter at the pharmacy.

    I hope you notice an improvement soon.

    Kind regards

    Deborah

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Deborah

    Hi Vatch

    Oh dear I remember it well. I had liquid oramorph for the pain down the tube.  Make sure you come off it very gradually because I cut down too quickly and it made me ill.

    The only thing that helped the sickness was for me to put the feed in my tube while I was lying down and to then remain lying down for at least two hours. So for weeks I was hardly out of bed.

    The mucus was awful and, like Simon, I had a bucket and kitchen roll next to me at all times. At one stage I was sleeping with my pillow covered in kitchen roll and my mouth open so it could drip out! Gross!

    I think it lasted for about 3-4 weeks after my treatment stopped and when it started to improve it did so rapidly (within about a week).

    You are at the worst bit where you think you'll never feel better but you will do soon.

    Keep going!

    Debbie

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.