Hi Ian

my husband has larynx cancer an just finished 6 weeks radiotherapy on fri it’s been long six weeks an he has done really well as when he first started they told us the downs I wrote him off week two but he still got his voice just about an kept his weight keep on top of your pain his neck is really sore now and got sore throat but they said next two weeks will be tough good luck with your treatment

mansy steve

hi mandy just git to hang on to things willgetbbetter I am 10 weeks post radio,eatingbstill difficukybthank god for high calories drinks but little by little am eating and regaining strength 

I have written a blog if yiu want to read the ups  and down s feel free to ask any questions between us we all help each other

www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com

hazel 

Never thought of gluten free and not sure benefits but might be worth a go.

I'm lucky as well in that I have been able to work from home throughout treatment and found quite therapuetic and productive. Also managed to get power nap when i needed it.

Again lucky as computer based and managed to access work networks from home so worked out well.

I dont think I would be able to work if any manual work involved.

4 treatments to go then hopefully on the mend and I am longing for either fish n chips or chicken korma n rice, just to make change from the esure drink menu of banans/cho/strawberry.

Soup/custard n rice and look forward to something little more tasty end enjoyable espacially when cooking is a hobby of mine and make all sorts cuisine from scratch, but sure in good time will find taste buds again.

its funny how you take things from granted when you eat what you want only to find them taste metalic when you normally enjoy.

Small price to pay though short term.

onwards and upwards

regards

Ian

Hi Ian

gluten free is eadier to swallow as its made from semolina flour which breaks up more easily and with less saliva making it easier to swallow. On the downside ut can be cardboardy and usually has more added sugar but thats not always s bad thing when trying to maximise calories. Warburtons New bakehouse sourdough or tiger cob from sainsburys or waitrose is the best ! Steer clear from tesco own free from range ! really cardboardy . Genius products are ok to but all of the crumpets are really heavy ! 

Emma 

Hi Ian 

good luck for tomorrow your last day of radiotherapy!well done in reaching this far ,remember ask if yiu need anything or any questions .

i brought my mask home sick souvenir I know she’s hanging in the garage some hospitals allow you to bring them home just thought I would let you know that one .a lot if people don’t want them then afterwards say wish they had kept it. I look at ut this way it saved my life fingers x.

take care keep eating , watch out in nuggtbfir mouth getting stuck tip I gargle gently with warm salt water .taomwater too harsh for me so I used mineral in kettle and mineral water to drink and cool it down lanyway enough if my waffling

hazel 

Hi Hazel,

Thank you and one day to go !!

I already have a mask as 1st one didnt fit and they let me take it home, but im not sure I want it around the house but thanks for letting me know.

Stuggled past couple days with eating and from consipation to taking laxido then diarahhea.

Feeling sick past cpl days and stuggle to get anything down so will ask for anti sickness tablets tomorrow as well.
I have booked 3 weeks annual leave from Friday and looking forward to treatment being over as its been a long shout and ive had enough now lol.

Sleeping more than normal past couple days, but just going with flow along with meds and trying to get through final hurdle. Aware that i will continue to feel naff for some weeks tey, but hoping to at laest be on te start of recovery once treatment stops

kind regards

ian

hi again.

lol...day out and maybe wishful thinking..

I have 2 more treatments to go and finish on Friday lol

kind regards
ian

Hi *** was convinced while in bath it was Thursday n. Use message u. Oops oh well thoughts are there !, gives u a day to think about keeping the mask !,,

hazel

Hi Hazel,

Hope you have found your lost day! lol

Feeling bit better today after cpl days feeling bit washed out and after meeting with nurse today , was told to make sure I have at least 2 ensure drinks a day as struggling with taking anything and lost few pounds this week.

But only one more treatment to go tomorrow - who and hooo....and looking forward to at least this part finishing and then buidling up strengtth as weeks go on.

Back on nebuliser and I think I should have use more often as it maybe helps more than I thought with the mucas.

Still trying to have positive head, managed quite a bit of work today and onwards and upwards from tomorrow

kind regards

Ian

Hi Ian

made use of my lost day by dragging myself n hubby to cortonwood and xmas shopping a task that needed doing !

good luck for tomorrow ,just a word of warning don’t try and do too much please I know 3/4 people who in first week after treatment overdid it and ended up in hospital .! Dehydration and lack of food .

at one point. Just remember it took 6 week 5 times a week to get the radiation into yiu it takes at least 3 times as long to get it out if your system .if u touch my neck I still feel heat from it 

 I was on 5  Ensure and 2 fresubin I still take 2 30 min power naps in day one after tablets at lunch and one at tea time. 

Re nebuliser I made it part if my routine for a good few weeks including middle of night It’s was wake up rinse take tablets try n get some Ensure down me even i night then nebulise then clean teeth put lip balm on biotene  gel on gums n teeth then bed .

the biotene gel is good for maintaining moisture u can try and get it prescribed or get your dentist failing that boots chemist. Biotene also do a mouthwash I have ut but too strong for me still 

good new today I am sat eating a tin if plum tomatoes admitting slowly but it’s a vegetable !!!!!! Up to now plain boiled beetroot and soft carrots if I am lucky . I miss fruit n veg.

oh well the tomatoes have defeated me managed 3/4 tablespoons its a start  

did I say I had a radiation burn the entire length of my tongue the oncologist had to catch the edge if tongue to ensure he had enough margins he apologised for nit telling me at the time but said it had to be done hence why I am having problem so still but looking today it’s now reduced to maybe 3 cm .

once again slowly does it think tortoise and hare m in this case we are defiantly the  tortoises.dont iver do work either 

thinking if yiu living in table for last time hearing the click of the mask being undone is quite emotional and at our hospital we get a bell to ring in reception I said all along I wasn’t doing it .but in the end I didn’t and hearing the clapping as getting then  congratulations made it worth while 

best wishes

Hazel look forward to reading uodates keep in touch 

That last radiotherapy session lives with you forever I reckon,remember it like it happened this morning even though the last 6 months have been a bit of a blur."Would you like to keep your mask John"? No, ******* burn it,I'm sick of the sight of it! Then ringing the bell after, not wanting too but being egged on by wife and daughter,and punching the air felt very cathartic somehow.A wonderful feeling closing one chapter.

Hi John 

wel put ! Glad I kept mask though as when u shown it to people the responses i get  are incredible ,like I couldn’t have done it  it so I reply no choice it’s that or die. Plus at Halloween looks good with lights in it !!

have a good weekend

Hazel

Hi John 

wel put ! Glad I kept mask though as when u shown it to people the responses i get  are incredible ,like I couldn’t have done it  it so I reply no choice it’s that or die. Plus at Halloween looks good with lights in it !!

have a good weekend

Hazel

Hi

My husband has been diagnosed with cancer in the tonsil and right lymph gland and was told it was curable but it has now been 2 months and still no sign of having the radiotherapy or chemo as they are now check his chest. He is very anxious as they said it is a fast growing cancer and feels it needs to be sorted out as soon as possible.  Would like to know how long you generally have to wait before treatment starts as its now 2 months and the hospital are not going to review him until 12th December (although they did say after Christmas but my husband objected) and he hasnt had the mask fitted yet either.  

Lynn

Hi Lyn

sorry your hubby has joined this exclusive little club but welcome and you’ve come to right place don’t worry easy to say nit to do. The n h s do have protocol to follow Ifrom diagnosis they should start treatment within 63 days I was exactlyb63 days looks like your trust ar e over running . My  oncologist says weeks don’t make that much difference as ince treatment starts ut is aggressive but like yiu say they do aim for cure .also look at ut this way if they were major concerned they would have him started sooner rather than the allocated waiting time  hopefully.

i am 12 weeks since my last radiotherapy session and from diagnosis day well even before I have kept a blog itbgoes into detail .

www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com also a guy called Gary who is nearly 4 years into remission has one which helped me as well

www.gammaraygary.wordpress.com

i go into detail about the mask it literally takes 15 mins and tell your hubby don’t worry it’s painless . Let me know if yiu look at the blog please plus any thing else you want to know we are here for each other .looking back it’s tough treatment but a positive attitude is the biggest thing you can have along with a supportive family .re the chest x Ray it is normal I had chest x Ray plus pet scan they are checking thatbnothing has spread .

Regards and take care

Hazel

Hi Lyn

As Hazel says welcome to our small but supportive group of both patients and their carers. My husband was diagnosed with tonsil cancer and lymph node metastasis in December 2015 - in fact on the 8th its burnt into my brain and he started active treament on the 8 th Feb 2016 so exactly 2 months later. The Oncology team need all of the scans etc to be anle to make a decision re what treatment is appropriate. There are then other preperations such as a dental review - do any teeth need to be removed- will he need a PEG feeding tube prior to starting- will he need a PICC line for chemo delivery - so it does take time. Maybe contact the Oncologist secretary and ask to speak to the Oncologist and vooce your concerns or do you have a specialist Macmillan nurse you can talk to.

Good luck and ask any questions you might have and we’ll try to help.

good luck and best wishes

xxxxx

Hi Lynn,

Am sorry to hear of your husbands diagnosis and understand the anxiety.

I started having symtpms in Jan and to cut long story short and in bewteen wrong diagnosis/meds and treatment it took me until August until properly diagnosed and again told curable. Was told not to worry as I raised the same concerns over treatment wait, but had to get teeth removal first,recovery period then mask fitted, then appointments sorted.

I literally just finished my 6 weeks radiotherpy this morning and although its seems a long time, I was told the extra fews weeks/months would not really make any difference to treatment plan.

I do understand though , that you both want to get treatment started and hopefull you can get your dates as early as possible after xmas in a few weeks time

i wish you both well.

kind regards

ian

Hi all

Well finally finsihed my 6 week treatment this morning and strange feeling as mask came off for last time (no i didnt leep it) and although some kind of relief this part finished, aware still have some recovery period to go.

Met with advanced nurse practinioner afterwards and just a little concern I have not been eating and drinking enough this past week/10 days and lost around 9/10 pounds ( which normally I can afford to), but a lot to lose in short period.

So basically have been prescribed 6 ensure drinks a day for 2 weeks before weel being clinic follow up meetingin cpl weeks amd have to try and make sure that I take these drinks along with 4 litres water a day.

That plus all my medications lol

So for some reason I feel a little flat and thought I would be more upbeat as mask came off, but little blip, i feel, re weight loss and having to have 6 ensure drinks a day plus 4 litres water.

But on the bright side, its part of recovery and told its all necessary to help recovery quicker so I will do as im told and heed the advice given and knuckle down and just look upon as additional medication to be taken for only a little 2 weeks and hope some appetite comes back soon afterwards.

At least I have taken 3 weeks annual leave from work next week, so plenty of rest and chilling doing not a lot.

if its ok, I will keep posting as I go as although my initial thraed was to outline my 6 weeks treatment, its not really ended today so will keep on posting in the same hope that it helps at least one person

kind regards

Ian

Hi Ian 

wecome to the Ensure club I am getting 50% of my calories still this way 12 weeks after RadioactiveRaz finished. 

Little tip if you are struggling with getting them down then down with complan you get from any supermarket plus mix with water then mic the Ensure I Tom it yiubare winningb2 ways inreaseingvthe liquid un take and calories in one fell swoop .took me a few weeks to work it out what to do but once I did the weight loss stopped. I lost 18 lb in last week and first few weeks after 

If you can take any comfort I am typing this while eating a warm pork pie with Baxter’s consommé as dipping liquid  Baxter’s soups are good I usually make my own but couldn’t stomach any home made ones for ages  

Congratulations on finishing Radiotherapy your flat feeling is totally normal you won’t consciously realise but it’s loosing day to day contact with medical people .

pleas keep in touch we are here to help each other’s plus like u say if we help one other person it’s job well done  my blog has over 1500vies as far as USA to New Zealand. Don’t struggle along message or contact your nurse we are all here to help each other get through this  I see my oncologist on Monday lunchtime hoping for pet scan date .

on another’s note rung  bu p a travel insurance yesterday they will insure me nit against the tonsil cancer but a yearly policy for me n hubby £245 with max stay 90 days so we’d were well pleased as other quotes to include tonsil cancer were over £2000! Let some face it isn’t coming back n am sensible enough to jump a flight home if need be will only be in Spain 2.5 hours away.

anither plus I slept 7.5 hours without getting up had two sip sleep if water at 0200/0400 then tablets at 0700 n went back for another 2 hours 

try and enjoy the weekend sleep nibble sleep drink take it easy hare n tortoise n we are tortoises 

take care

Hazel

Hi Hazel,

Thank tou for your words of encouragement and thats a great idea of mixing ensure with water as gives both fluid and intake of calories at once. Defo going to try that so thanks for that.

They are are not too bad, but after a while bit naff and 6 a day!! wowsie lol

I know its just another part of the journey and recovery period and will get there in the end and soo nhope to be in a position to enjoy some nice food again that I can taste.

I have a spreasheet made up and log everything as its a lot to remember every day with so many different medications/fluid/nutriant intakes so makes life little more easy to manage to ensure ( pardon the pun) that all are taken when meant to.

I must be costing NHS a fortune with all this medications/supplements etc and one of the reasons why we should all be so grateful for our wonderful NHS system.

Not sure what situation is elsewhere, but in Scotland we pay nothing for any medication or prescription we need, no matter what or how many.

Hope you continue on your journey as you seem to be doing amazing and wish you well and keep up your fab work. You have been great and have helped me along quite a bit with your words of encouragement and tips and I agree if you or i can help at least one other person with this journey. it is so worthwhile sharing.

kind regards

ian

Hu Ian yiu are welcome 

I had spread sheets galore logging medicine n food still log my food intake calorie wise Took everything to dr st hospital he appreciated it as well could see at a glance what I was doing .

totallybagree re n h s don’t have to pay for anything jn engkand either ,my dressing for my burn in neck Cost £70 a time and never ince did hospital say no I did take spare ones back but they said they would have to throw them away as once they have  left the hospital classed as contaminated which is a shame. Likewise the nebuliser they didn’t want that back either which seems a waste of money .

i have had a few problems with dr and budgets wouldn’t prescribe me Ensure wanted to do ameys I couldn’t drink them they were grainy so that was a battle that I eventually won .

just had 2 Yorkshire’s pudding and a bowl of corned bees hash so it does come back eventually just baby steps all the way .

Thank younfir kind words keep in touch and the ensures are deffo better thinned down 

hazel x

Hi Ian

how organised are you ! Spreadsheets for everything we didnt even think about using them to keep track. We can definitely understand the flat feeling when you finish treatment. I think youre so concentrated on getting to appointments - seeing Medics and dieticians etc when you finish you feel abit cast adrift. I have to say our experience with tbe Specialist Macmillan nurse was non existent. We met her in tbe clinic on diagnosis and that was it - no phone calls or appointments so if you gave a good team then use them for advice.

Keep on with the ensures as you may still have a tough time to come in the next week or so. My hubby was at his worst by about day 12 post treatment finish- so sleep ,eat and get as mych rest as you can.

Keep letting us know how youre doing and you’ll soon be on the home straight.

best wishes

Emma

Hi Emma

Many thanks for words of encouragement and will be getting plenty rest and sleep.
Will have to soldier on with the ensures but hoping to exchange one or 2 a day with the same amount of calories and tin ambrosia custard/rice and imagine as long as the calories goin in , thats the main thiing.

Its just another little struggle, but will get though it and hopefully be on the home straight soon enough.

My team have been brilliant as have all the staff and could not have asked for more support and encouragement from them. Have so much admiration and respct for them all.

But will keep posting as the words of ecourangement are helpful to get over this next little hurdle

kind regards

Ian