Hi

I just wanted to thank everyone involved in this thread, as reading it has been incredibly helpful over the last few weeks.

My husband had a swelling on his neck diagnosed as cancerous at the start of this month (April 2019).  It was a shock: he's never smoked, rarely drinks, cycles regularly, eats sensibly and is in good health - or so we believed.  Since then he's undergone a CT scan and biopsy which have confirmed the tumour as being at the base of his tongue and HPV16+.  He hasn't had his tonsils removed, as the sugeon doing the biopsy/panendoscopy thought they looked OK, but going by the scan the consultant thinks one has been affected, as well as some lymph nodes.  He gets assessed by the dental team tomorrow and has an MRI booked for the end of this month, plus whatever other appointments are yet to be arranged, with chemoradiotherapy due to start in about 4 weeks.

The last couple of weeks have been stressful (to say the least!), but this - and a couple of other similar threads - have been incredibly useful, as have the wonderful blogs by Ian and Hazel.  Having an insight into the treatments and their side effects meant that we felt quite well informed about what lies ahead even before speaking to the hospital consultants, and instead of everything being a blur, we were able to take in what was said and manage to ask some sensible questions.  Without all of you generously sharing your experiences it would have been a very different story.

Because of that, I wanted to let people know how important this thread has been for us - and that all your tips for coping with the treatment etc have been gratefully noted!  It's not a good situation to find ourselves in, but we feel pretty positive that we'll come out the other side in one piece.

I hope everyone who has posted, or who might be reading this, is doing well and continues to do so. 

Thanks again, and best wishes to you all

Hi

I just wanted to thank everyone involved in this thread, as reading it has been incredibly helpful over the last few weeks.

My husband had a swelling on his neck diagnosed as cancerous at the start of this month (April 2019).  It was a shock: he's never smoked, rarely drinks, cycles regularly, eats sensibly and is in good health - or so we believed.  Since then he's undergone a CT scan and biopsy which have confirmed the tumour as being at the base of his tongue and HPV16+.  He hasn't had his tonsils removed, as the sugeon doing the biopsy/panendoscopy thought they looked OK, but going by the scan the consultant thinks one has been affected, as well as some lymph nodes.  He gets assessed by the dental team tomorrow and has an MRI booked for the end of this month, plus whatever other appointments are yet to be arranged, with chemoradiotherapy due to start in about 4 weeks.

The last couple of weeks have been stressful (to say the least!), but this - and a couple of other similar threads - have been incredibly useful, as have the wonderful blogs by Ian and Hazel.  Having an insight into the treatments and their side effects meant that we felt quite well informed about what lies ahead even before speaking to the hospital consultants, and instead of everything being a blur, we were able to take in what was said and manage to ask some sensible questions.  Without all of you generously sharing your experiences it would have been a very different story.

Because of that, I wanted to let people know how important this thread has been for us - and that all your tips for coping with the treatment etc have been gratefully noted!  It's not a good situation to find ourselves in, but we feel pretty positive that we'll come out the other side in one piece.

I hope everyone who has posted, or who might be reading this, is doing well and continues to do so. 

Thanks again, and best wishes to you all

Hi Jaxter,

Thank you for your kind words and i'm really pleased you found the thread and both blogs helpful.

I'm sorry to hear of the diagnosis but its good to note your positive attitude as I am a firm believer that is a tremedous help.While you will have read of the challenges, you will also have read the positives and noted that the light at the end of the tunnel actually exists
Please keep in touch with progress and also post away here on the thread.

Let me know if I can help in anyway at all.

Onwards and Upwards
Kind regards
Ian

This throat cancer  Family blog has been a lifeline for me . My husband had his 13/33 radiotherapy session today almost halfway ! Just making another batch of full fat semolina ! . It’s puddings  for breakfast dinner and tea in this house ! Hugs to you all . X x  Ginny 

Hi Jacter this is Hazel aka Radioactiveraz thank you for your kind words about mine am Ians blog pleased that our shared experience s have been of help you you. How strange yet again your hubby is a keen cyclist. One tip I can give him when hsving radiotherapy tell him pick s few of his favourite bike rides and do them in his head including any coffee n wee stops it helps pass the time likewise scans n mri s I found it really distracts from what’s happening. I am now back  to biking ok most I’ve done us 50 km and am not fast but OMG it feels good. Feel free to send a friend request if you want them we can chat a bit freer if you’ve any personal questions 

please keep in touch and onward n upwards as Ian and I say 

hazel x

Hi Ginny no problems only too willing to help   Must day semolina was never my favourite st school but it’s surprising how childhood food quickly become a staple of our new diets. 

13/33 well done the next stages may get difficult but positive mental attitude gets us there. 

Kerp in touch. Hazel 

Good stuff Ginny and edging towards halfway through.

What a great idea re semolina. I used to love as a boy and forgot all about it. 
Now you have put me in the mood, I'm gonna have some.

Hope all going well and hubby coping ok but please keep us posted with progress.

Onwards and Upwards
kind regards
Ian

Have to echo this, prepared me so well, a Godsend.

Cheers you can pay us later. Lol xx Ian think we need to get that book going ? 

H x

Hi Ginny

Just reading your post re puddings,brought back memories.

When hubby was just over halfway in RT he said semolina was scratchy like eating sand. So many foods that were ok suddenly werent.

There was a pudding years ago called cremola 50/50 semolina custard,no longer marketed,but it was easily swallowed(I added a big splash single cream too).

I came across this site easytoswallow co uk. If you havent been there already :-) As I recently had surgery myself and couldnt eat, but as Ian calls it the " bush tucker" feeds I couldnt face day in day out and I have been determined to eat to the point of food obsession.

Theres no doubt about it pain when trying to eat kills your appetite stone dead, Add to that the loss of taste/bad taste.

Good luck & hope all goes ok for you both xxx

OMG I remember cremola and I loved it . It was bright yellow I remember and much more tasty than semolin a. Thank you for the website link I will certainly take a look. His throat has in the last few days just started to become sore so soft foods at the moment he is also type 1 diabetic so food could become a problem for him . We know that there is a lot more nasty to come . He is very upbeat and very positive at then moment . Started on the paracetamol something he has never really done but it helps before food. Still drinking a lot and no taste loss yet . Bit of a red neck and applying the cream . All tips are noted and written down . Love this throat cancer family chat room . X x Ginny 

I think we do Hazel lol