Thanks Steph will try to .I am hoping that it’s two fold I get something out of the forums and if I can help,some others all the better.

In.  My mind Together we will come out stronger !

regards

Hazel

I couldn't agree more :)

Good luck Hazel, you're going to do great!

All the best, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi radioactive raz

im in the same boat. I’m 48 with t2n0m0. Hpv related 

Feel like I’m having an outer body experience. I go for my mask fitting on Monday 9 th July with a view to radio starting on 23rd. 

I’ve probably read too much but am pretty scared of the rocky toad ahead 

if I can be of support then I’m happy to share experiences 

Hi NJohn

know what you mean I had absolutely no symptoms apart from what in thought htbwas a pull in my neck after cycling in Spain 1100km in just iver 7 weeks nitvreallynfir but love to bike  .itbwas onky a pesky  oesky lymph node that we names Larry that made me go tomdrs then wow 14 days pathway cancer path ,spent several day sessions in tears wouldn’t buy anything with more than 3 days sell by date as was convinced i wouldn’t Wake  up and be alive long enough to eat itLOL.

grew up pretty quickly kept off dr google inky been in sensible sites have got  a fantastic Oncologist at Dt James in Leeds put my mind at ease straight away  said right we are looking at CURE nit just treatment Was honest said the treatment wouldn’t be nice but together we would get through it.

re the mask I decided to personalise it , the ladies who make it and mould it are really excellent at putting you at ease ,my unit  allows the eyes to be cut out after they’ve Made it does help no end. Overall making it 12-15 mins and they talk to all the time I found breathing in holding it for 3 seconds breathing out for 7 seconds really helped.

the next day I had the ct scan with it in so they could mark it ready for radiation , first thing I did was say good morning to the mask and called it Venizia and said oh well you are going to get me through this . It’s nit the most comfortable thing but time wise you won’t have it in that long at any one time they reckon 12mjns actual radiation time.

there is a guy  in here called  at h he is 4 years into remission 

he also has a blog online  if you search gamma ray Gary Wordpress you will find it  he is honest and at times cheerful and brutal  just remember every case is different in his they had no primary mine the primary in right tonsil with 3 lymph nides shiwing dead cells .

where abouts are you ?

RadioactiveRaz aka as Hazel (61) butbthunk I am 18

Hi

thank you for coming back to me. St James is such a great hospital. I come from Middlesbrough originally but have family in Harrogate. 

I live in Hertfordshire now with my huge family of hubby and 5 kids (youngest 16) plus a very mad springer spaniel. 

You sound really together and very funny which is a real bonus. Thanks for filling me in on the mask. At least I know what’s coming.

my tumour is in my soft palate but goes back to my tonsils. My lymph’s are clear and no secondaries anywhere. Treatment is radiotherapy and maybe chemo but not sure yet as I am borderline. Just found the lump when biting into a baguette and popped to my dentist for a check up then found out just how fab the nhs really is!

when do you start your treatment? 

I think mine is pencilled in for 23rd of this month but will probably find out on Monday. I’m being looked after by uclh team. Treatment will be in north Middlesex Hosp so a bit of a trek to and from hospital. 

Nikki

Hi

S all world we returned back home 3 years ago hubby worked atbthe potash mine at Boulbyminer near Saltburn for previous 8 years so Middlesbrough was our nearest town.

Got to agree the NHS and cancer treatment really are in the ball. Mine is rightbrinsil and spread to soft palate but then oncologist keeps reiterating cure not justbtreatment so yeah will go with that.

yep treatment isn’t brill spending this week trying to put on the 4 lbthat I lost  in the first few of diagnosis as probably like  you in a total daze,

wow 5 kids think you need a rota going getbthem all involved !!

remeber the mask is there to do a job, like I said I have given it a name and a personality it’s going to be my friend. 

Have you had a mri scan ? So far that was the worst for me but just visualised myself on a long bike ride including coffee and wee stops and surprising how much it helped.

So maybe visualise a walk with the mad springer ! And yoga breathe deep breath in holding it for 3 breathe out for 7 and it will soon be over. Ask for eyes to be cut into it as well utvreally did help the next fitting by.

yes st James is brilliant as I am sure.  NMiddlesex will be .

Our drive is appx an hour traffic dependent 

don’t forget to get prescription exemption as my dentist gave me 10i items !!!

been told every time we see a dr get something off them so have hardly use so NHS services but oncologist says minimum £250,000 so we must be worth saving is my view !!

try and chill out ready for the next weeks .

do try and read in every gammaraysgary wordpress blog it’s  scary but the more u read the better I am feeling breaking it down into chunks and bear in mind his was the worst case if an unknown primary where at least we’ve got something to be blasted at 

take care 

together we can beat this and remain strong 

Hazel x

Hi Radioactive Raz

I know I have spoken to you before and you said this cancer appeared after you had tonsillitis which was a result of the flu can I ask how long after did the lump appear. Only asking as I have covid and really ill am worried thus is going to lead into tonsil cancer my symptoms are6a bad throat and blocked nose. Kind regards 

Hi I have replied by email. I had tonsillitisn16 years previously. I had the flu in the devemverv2017 which was the trigger for h p v virus which could have been in my bodyb30-40 years before it manifested as to sail cancer. So don't worry that covid will cause tonsil cancer. 
Hazelmx