My name is Mike, I'm 52 and I'd like to share my journey through treatment and recovery from cancer.
In November 2016 as a 52 year old I felt healthy and reasonably fit (3-5 mile runs twice a week) but I noticed a lump under my jaw and got it cheked out. Following scans I was diagnosed with cancer on the base of my tongue, which had spread to lymph nodes in my neck. The prognosis was this was caused by the Human papilloma virus (HPV) and I was advised this type of cancer responds well to treatment. I was told to expect 4-6 months of treatment and feeling like 'being dragged through a hedge backwards', which turned out to be quite an understatement!
In February I spent a week in the Hospital where I had laser surgery to remove the cancer and a neck dissection to remove lymph nodes from one side of my neck. Post surgery I had a very painful throat/tongue but it was manageble with painkillers and a soft diet.
In April I had 30 daily sessions of radiotherapy. Side effects kicked-in 2-3 weeks after treatment started and peaked 4-5 weeks after treatment ended. I didnt really know what to expect from the radiothreapy but I can honestly say I wasn't prepared for how devastating it affects the mind and body. There were visible side effects similar to sun-burnt skin but the main problems were from what you cant see. Swallowing was extremely painful, even sipping water, so eating was a big challenge. I lost 2 stones in weight, I wanted to sleep all day and felt sick all the time. But by far the worse was the feeling I had lost my spirit and soul, it literally knocked the stuffing out of me and you feel like an empty shell.
Its now 2 months since radiotherapy finished, happily I feel I've got some of the old me back. I'm still experiencing pain when swallowing but I'm off the painkillers and I'm eating more. I have some good days and some not so good, but overall I feel I'm moving forward. I've been off work since December 2016 and although I dont yet feel ready to return to work I'm hopeful I will do so before the end of the year.
The Oncologist is happy the treatment has worked, although I am aware there are risks of the cancer returning. I'm feeling positive and looking forward to the future and adapting to my new lease of life. My advice to anyone going through the same thing is hang on in there, its a slow journey but things will get better.
