hi enjoy celebration s 

keep in Touch am back in Spain for a  few weeks  Riding my bike and slapping the factor 50 on but at least in a better place than a year ago when I had it all to come 

living proof there’s light at the end of the tunnel 

H x

Thanks Hazel- well we are happy-will hopefully be happy -for proper- post scan-but to go out for a drink or meal isn't quite on the cards just yet! But we managed lunch which was nice. Enjoy Spain and the sun. Joy xx

Hi Laura 

deep breath time I’ve heard that something like 60% of scans show hot spots that’s why my oncologist wouldn’t do one until week 15 post radiotherapy although think 6 weeks is a long time for results and even worse waiting another 6 weeks. Think I would be having gentle eird with oncologist.dont worry too much Emma who is a regular poster on here her hubby was still showing cancer cells had a partial neck dissection and us now 3 years into remission and living life to the full she’s is on here a [@Newlymarried]‍  sure she wouldn’t mind if you asked her a few questions she was a nurse as well so is well informed  

h keep in touch xx

Hi Joy

will do glad u enjoyed lunch I celebrate with sparkling water n occasionally slash out with a dash of lime juice. Lol alcohol ain’t passed my lip s mind u didn’t drink really before treatment so no big loss. 

Tske yesterday’s news as positive and the pet ct scan as icing on the cake as it’s only that will give the definitive answer that we are all waiting for. The consultant knows what he’s looking at clinically what he cantsee the scan sees The big picture  makes sense . Hope I didn’t spoil your day yesterday 

h x

Hi Hazel-No not at all-I appreciate your honesty & I was taken by surprize as thought yesterday was just a check to see about healing etc.Our Oncologists words were 'Its been successful clinically, the treatments worked' we asked-'what so thats it???????' he said-'yes that's it-no tumour, its gone', then went on about follow up care/advice etc-follow up scans for next 5 yrs etc.....so as you can see it was like 'result day' but.....and a big but-we know the proper all clears scan result, but were-naturally delighted and pretty taken a back. Different Drs have different ways of speaking to people I guess. I'll say 1 thing-there's been alot about HPV virus in the news today! All about cervical cancers-not mentioning much about throat cancers presenting later on in life-sadly, but good boys will get the vaccine next year.

We only found out today my husband was hpv positive (yayy!) after asking several times! (wasn't on computer....)

Went to a 'brave the shave' this evening (hubbys 1st night out-well 'hour' out in about 3 months!) at pub my old school friend raising money for our local hospice by shaving her head! they had £1500 at about 10pm-so that was good, but good he wanted to & did manage to stay out for an hour-very proud of him at the moment.

Anyway have a good weekend all-enjoy the nice weather x

Hi baby steps Ian the way forward okmsomeday 2 steps forward and one step back but it’s all going jn right direction. Yes saw when h p v on I pad a brief mention if the link to head n neck cancers but that’s all. Here’s hoping by 2050 everyone will have been vaccinated but it’s a big hope as like so many other babies come so peole don’t or won’t and unfortunately it onky takes one encounter me n my hubby have been together since we were early teenagers but hey look at me.  Good job we can laugh about it  me n John that is my oncologist said poss John could have got it from  his mum via birth canal it can linger that long but that’s anither story. Lol maybe. We will never know but onwards and uowards

enjoy weekend plenty if factor 50 on those necks everyine 

H x

Oh yes-that's right it's more of an accurate check for sure.

Does anyone know-random question...if the HPV virus is destroyed after radiotherapy? 

Hi

There seems to be a lot of confusion about HPV and what it means for those who discover their cancer is HPV related.

What we were told was that HPV infection causes changes within cells which then take years to become active and cause problems.  So, reading between the lines, just because you develop an HPV positive cancer doesn't mean you have an active HPV infection - what it means is that at some point you contracted HPV and instead of being cleared completely it caused changes which then lay dormant with the potential to cause cancer in the future.  The CNS basically said to me that HPV infection wasn't something we needed to worry about.

So, no idea how right she is or what the reality of how having had an HPV cancer affects the 'now' of life, but her explanation has a logic I could follow.   Perhaps other people have been told other things?

Ok that sort of makes sense...we asked the Oncologist about it (& I've read alot about it). My husband asked does the virus, which has been dormant for years...keep bouncing back & forth during intercourse, if so is it wise to use condoms to prevent either reoccurance or me getting cervical cancer.....not something I considered but something my husband asked & the oncologist said it was a good idea to do so (use condoms) but to be honest I don't think he was sure. From what you are saying it would not be necessary, but no one seems to know for sure. I'm sure the risk is low- but worth an ask.