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

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

Did Ian just spell  the word,   that is a combination of a few words........ wrongly?  ;-)

lol Graeme, I mis spell all the time and as for grammar ...less said

in my defense slightly it's because I follow Hazel blindly and learn from the master.

Onwards & Upwards and to Infinity & Beyond...( Toy Story 4 out 21 June at a cinema near you in UK)

Ian

Hi Ian 

so pleased  you know your place and that is blindly following me,the master Obe one Knobi .

Hope sleep is still going in the right direction?

No typos on this post !!!!!! Lol 

The special one H xx

Hi Ian

Are you snd Hazel getting royalties from Disney Pixar for advertising and if you are can I have a piece of the action too - lol Maybe Hazels done a deal to get them to turn her forthcoming book ( in which I am to be played by the delightful Kate Winslet !) into an oscar winning film !  

As you say onwards and upwards 

Emma 

lol Emma

yup. offered to write a book with Hazel and suggested we do  a film.
I'm getting Al Pacino for me for all my dramatics and you are more than welcome to join us as Kate Winslet. Was thinking we might be looking at Quentin Tarantino though as a director. It might be more of a horror movie than Disney lol
But my onwards & upwards and infinity and beyond sayings do derive from my admiration of Buzz Lightyear from Toy Story and now you have put in a seed in my mind for advertising royalties.

Thanks for asking Hazel and sleep is getting better. Still blips here n there but I would defo say progress is being made. I'm just amazed at how i'm still tired or am I confusing this now with just being lazy

Wonder if anyone is now more paranoid and checking their spelling now I posted comments about the special one?

Onwards & Upwards

Ian

Hi Ian

nope tiredness is still a factor hence my 20 min no longer lunch time naps. You’ve had your thyroid checked haven’t you I’ve read we should have it done every 6 month so might be worth making a diary note . 

Well if we’ve set of a paranoia maybe not a bad thing will stop everyone worrying about what they’ve got if only for a few mins. Yep let’s go with Tarantino deffo Emma you and Nikki can be supporting actresses oops not pc I know xx

H who honestly got O leval in English and English literature 

onwrds n upwards bet ian got tickets booked already for Toy story 4

Hi Ian amd everyone. 

Today I have updated my blog with it being one year since I was put on the cancer pathway.i have put various comments and tips that may be if use to fellow sufferers and partners. 

Www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com

Also details of my charity bike ride that John our daughter and me will be doing on Word Head and Neck cancer day 27 th of July,which is also the last full competitive day of the Tour de France as well ,but nope not  doing that sort of distance !!! I am just grateful to be in a position to be able to ride my bike !!!

Good luck to all who are in treatment or recovery ,I will still be around to answer questions and in my own way make you all laugh at my typos !!

Hazel,xx

Hi ian amd everyine 

well I’ve finally flipped and no haven’t had alchol in 380 days !!!Just posted a reply to my self yep I’ve finally  flipped. 

Please see post above as I ain’t writing it out again Lol  !!!!!!

Also read my blog have updated today

www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com

Hazel x

Hi Hazel,

As I follow you blindly I read your update yesterday as soon as it came out. I'm sure you have more followers than Justin Bieber.

Good interesting update and enjoyed. Re your tips, it's funny how little things stick in your mind, but your tip of buying Cupranox toothbrushes was a godsend and it's always stayed with me. I still use them to this day.
i'm with you on the alcohol situ and am 335 days. 30 days till I hit a year and quite chuffed and don't plan to start again.

Keep up your good work and your typos. ( just a thought - what would you be like if you posted while you were tipsy !)

Onwards & Upwards

Ian x

Just read your update Hazel a lot of people will find it useful I certainly do, regards the alcohol I’m back drinking in small amounts I was never a huge drinker but I do enjoy a pint so i’ll carry on with the odd one as long as it feels right. I can feel my weight creeping on now unfortunately it’s going on my stomach so i’ll have a look into my diet from next week. 

Keep the typos it’s all part of the Hazel charm, I can’t imagine you without them now :)

Dave

Just read your update Hazel a lot of people will find it useful I certainly do, regards the alcohol I’m back drinking in small amounts I was never a huge drinker but I do enjoy a pint so i’ll carry on with the odd one as long as it feels right. I can feel my weight creeping on now unfortunately it’s going on my stomach so i’ll have a look into my diet from next week. 

Keep the typos it’s all part of the Hazel charm, I can’t imagine you without them now :)

Dave

Hi Dave and Julie 

Thank you  the drink I mightn’t have had one a month to  be honest I couldn’t do with the headache s decided easiest way was not to have one. My mouth is still fairly delicate a bit like me a delicate little flower Lol !!!!!!

yep my typos are better than a times crossword !

Hope holiday going well ?

Dont know if you’ve heard latest from Ed Woodward there is enough money to re build the team ,maybe sell Pogdba and there will be more !

i will keep my missives coming for a long while yet. 

Weight never goes in where’s yiu want it to I am holding stable at the  min somwill stick with that .

take care keep in touch H xx

Julie says hello and thanks we are enjoying it here just what we needed, my mouth is pretty delicate too when I try something even mildly spicy it doesent stay in my mouth for long, it shows you how powerful saliva is and all it’s uses.

Im not looking forward to next season Hazel, Woodward needs to step out of the way and we need to appoint a Football director in my opinion.

Dave

Hi Dave and Julie 

Agree he hasn’t got a football head at all.

saliva until yiu are like us with limited. I try to explain to John but onky us that are going through ut know Have you tried the xylitol chewing gum from mercadona supermarket over there it does stimulate its trident dental in case  you’ve forgotton I brought 20  packs of 4 bixes baxk with me 

enjoy the sun drizzle here.

h x

We found the Trident yesterday in a Spar I bought a pack to try, I like it and will stock up before coming home tomorrow.Another Hazel top tip thanks.

Dave

You’re welcome I have my uses ! Like John  says especially when it comes to spending money !, lol 

h x