The teeth are out!! I don't want to speak too soon but I've not had much pain yet or swelling however my new half of my tongue has become very swollen and ballooned right up. I'm quite concerned about this and even my MacMillan nurse said that was unusual so I may need to get that checked out so I'm worried about that.

Yesterday I was expecting to arrive at the hospital and sit in a dentist chair and have the procedure but I was actually gowned up in a hospital gown, taken to an operating theatre, hooked up to all of the machines like last time and put under a general anaesthetic! I woke up a few hours later on the recovery ward and was then taken to another ward and discharged from there. It was all taken very seriously which surprised me. Most people just visit their local dentist for teeth extractions! Glad it's all done now as I was petrified! I did get to speak to the doctor and the surgeon before the operation though who both put my mind at rest a little about exactly why they were removing the teeth. Apparently all six teeth were perfectly healthy, as were the two that were removed during the last op, but it's all just for precautionary measure incase they become so damaged from radiotherapy. That was a hard pill to swallow, I would have preferred to have been told that the teeth were already rotting anyway!

As it stands, I'm waiting for my swelling to go down so I can have my mask made which will hopefully be next week.

Simon - how are things with you? have you managed any soup yet? Or the PEG meals?

Nicola

Hi Jo,

How are things with you? Has the Chemo started now? I hope you're feeling ok. How long will your treatment last? I'm hoping to start mine in a couple of weeks, I would like it all finished by Christmas!

Nicola x

Hi Annabel,

Thank you for thinking of me, that's so kind. Yes I would like to know the title of the book, I can get a copy, I'd love to read it. What made you read it? Did you read it before your diagnosis or after? It's so good to hear experiences of others in similar situations, I find it really helps me.

I've been keeping a diary of my cancer since the very start. Maybe I could get it published one day, who knows!

Nicola xx

Hi Niicola,

I see you've had another round of dental surgery with the removal of some teeth, and still you sound upbeat! Bless you!

Thank you for remembering about my chemo! It starts tomorrow, but I've been along to the cancer hospital today to have blood tests, and be weighed etc, ready for pharmacy to prepare my drip and tablets for tomorrow!

I'm a little anxious as they always go through the side effects of the drugs and obviously they tell you worst case scenarios!

I'll be having the same tablet drug as I did before the surgery and it didn't cause me problems back then. But it is a double dose this time!

They've told me that the chemo infusion may affect the nerve endings in my fingers and make me feel extra sensitive to cold things. The nurse there today, was fab! She told me to bring some gloves for when I leave the hospital tomorrow (cold car door handle!) and to bring a warm drink in a flask as going into cooler air may affect my jaw even though its mild weather! Crazy eh?

How's the weight gain plan going? I lost half a stone after surgery and with Stumpy, I'm finding it hard to put the weight back on! Stumpy is settling down, but now we're hitting him with a chemo cocktail which could send him into constipation or diarrhoea mode! Joy!

My chemo regime is over 8 cycles with week one being an infusion and tablets, week two being just tablets, week 3 'having a rest' (no drugs!) and then starting over again!

I won't be finished by Christmas, but it's my aim to have one sneaky glass of bubbly or sherry over the festive period! Chemo and alcohol. . . Poor Stumpy! !

I saw in your post to lovely Annabel, that you've kept a cancer diary and although you joked about getting it published, I think it's something you should consider. Maybe turn it into a blog! I've started a story about Stumpy and living with a stoma. Sounds bizarre, but its content is mainly the humorous side of stoma living! I've already had a few laughable moments with him and thought I'd document it!! Very therapeutic

Please keep us up to date with your news, and how the mask making and radiotherapy goes for you.

Take care, Nicola . . . Big hugs to you, Jo xxx

Hi there Nicola,

Well I am glad the teeth are out for you and it's all over. It can be a nerve wracking time before any surgery. I hope your swelling goes down soon.

The title of the book is "in your face" by Lia Mills. (One woman's encounter with Cancer, doctors, nurses, machines, family friends and a few enemies)

Published by Penguin Ireland. ISBN 978-1-844-88156-7. I found it in a charity book shop in Greenwich when I was visiting my daughter in May. Why did I decide to read it? It sounded like it might be interesting, I am a retired nurse, and yes having had the cancer diagnosis and treatment although a different cancer, made me want to read it. I suppose it's like coming on here to talk to people and help sometimes and be given help. It's a particular type of cammeraderie.

It's great that you have kept a diary, I started one but gave up once I was able to tell my children in the New Year.

Why shouldn't you publish your own if you think it's got enough in it?

Anyway good luck with the mask fitting and the radiotherapy.

Will be thinking of you

Annabel.xx

Hi Nicola,

First of all I am really sorry for not replying to your more recent posts but I would like to rectify that right now.

How horrible to be told that the teeth they removed were completely healthy but I am sure you made the right choice in going ahead witht the extractions and as I said before, once all this cancer nonsense is out of the way your dentist will be able to give you new ones.  Also if you have dentures they won't get tooth ache!   You said you were expecting to sit in a dentist chair to have the teeth removed but they did it under general anaesthetic.  Well having had five teeth removed myself while in a dentist chair I can honestly say that I at least envy you being asleep through the procedure.  It is not something I would want anybody to go through. 

I hope everything is o.k. with the new swelling on your tongue so please let us know about that.  I am sure it's just a reaction to the extractions and it will go down again.  I will keep everything crossed for you.

Take good care.

Garf x

Hi Nicola,

I'm really glad that you've got the teeth bit out of the way. That was really bad luck for you but I think you made the right decisions. I'm also pleased that you were asleep for it. I was awake for mine which was no doubt because it was only one tooth, but I swear to you that the dentist was just like the guy from the movie Marathon Man. The tooth broke several times and it was not a nice experience. If he had said to me 'Is it safe', I would have been out of there like a shot!

I'm still on the PEG tube at the moment but this is now mostly because of the pain in my tongue. My throat feels that it would be able to swallow non-lumpy food so I just need to get my tongue sorted out. I've now developed oral thrush and the GP has given me some nice cherry-flavoured stuff to sort this out. I'm still hopefully on track for Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.

I think that you're doing really well, Nicola, and as long as you keep to the 'one thing at a time' approach I am confident that you will come out of the other side of this in good shape and then get back to some normality.

We're all on your side.

Best regards

Simon.

Hi Nicola,

You are in the wars. I hope the tongue swelling is nothing serious and settles down soon. The french didn't seem worried about teeth and what I had then are still Ok.

Assuming you can still close your mouth I would expect the mask making to go ahead without delay.

I have just got out of hospital after a few days in for a prostate problem. I go in next week for an op which will be under an epidural.

When are you scheduled to start your radio therapy?  I would expect this to be not too fierce because a) You have a new graft  & b) They are not targetting an actual growth.

I wish you well and will be thinking of you.

Kind Regards

Colin

Hi Niclola,

How are you and your swollen tongue doing.

Thinking about you and wishing you well.

Hugs

Annabel. xx