Bronwen,

I wouldnt stress too much over the timelines as I was also told by consultant that that kind of delay wouldnt really make any difference either way.
It took me threee attempts at GP to get referred ( arounf xmas/jan and then I was mis disgosed initially with flux by first consultant, wasnt diagnosed until around June then fastracked through system.
I then had to get surgery to remove what they could as well as tonsils removed. Reover from that , then surgery again to have back teeth removed/ mask fitted etc before RT started, so we are talking probably in the region of at least 11 mths wait , when I knew something wasnt quite right, until I started treatment.I was approx 5 months after being  then officially diagnosed before my RT started.
I too was concenred over time was taking to get treatment started but was re assured by my consultant that the timelines were of no real significance or concern to him.
Targets are set by Governments to have all NHS Boards meet certain standards and they are held to account for and monitored more as a performance indicator rather than it mean any great medical implication over the reasonably short period that would be considered time critical by a consultant ( well certainly according to mine) 
None the less , I understand the agnst and frustrationonly too well and you just want to get started, but it wont be long now so try and stay as positive as you can.

regards
Ian

Thanks Ian and Hazel for your words of wisdom and reassurance. I guess this is a great lesson in the power of patience (never my forte!) Macmillan have put me in touch with our local hospital patient advocacy team, so hopefully they can help to ensure its ticking along.

It's very helpful for me to vent my anxiety here, so that I can keep it from my partner - so thanks again.

Bronwen

Phew and breathe   Glad it was 

Hazel x

Hi Hazel 

I was going to text but it would be toooo loonng. I saw your world press posting, wow is it really 3 years, huge congratulations. Thank John for the spell checking ( cheeky wink).  

Cancer wise, I'm still classed as 'no discernible signs of cancer'. Remission in old speak.  Dry mouth...yup tick but at least I can spit enough to seal an envelope now! Actually it's not too bad and for those on the cancer journey, the thinking used to be that post treatment you didn't really improve after 2 years.  From my experience I've had significant improvement since 2 years milestone. 

thank you for mentioning burnt tongue! I was going to ask consultant at my review later this month. Now I don't need to ( cheeky wink).

 I'm sorry to hear that you have been in the wars as well since our last contact.  Fibrosis is very painful from my limited understanding, I hope that it doesn't have a huge negative impact on your quality of  life ( I wouldn't count passing veg peeling to John as a negative impact, smile.

Plans to return to Spain? It's getting near that time of the year.  
take care both of you and thank you for continuing to provide you valuable support, you are a grand lass.

Lori xxx

Hi Lori funny you should say Spain will text you 

fibrosis is fine I have no pain. Burning tongue if I have cheese or yoghurt but hurts otherwise I can manage it. Yoghurt n cheese are fermented foods so niw I cook cheese pizza cheese on toast quiche annfibe. Oh tge jits. 
great you're catching me up 

h xx

Hi all I'm on week 4. Can't eat or drink. Using the peg tube. Is this normal 

Hi yes unfortunately it does happen I was end of  week 3 W when I had n g tube fitted. You can keep trying to dip small dips of water. But put everything ever down the peg meds included. I started oral extinguisher week 3 if recovery it's s slow prices but we all get there. Hazel. My blog is www.radioactiveraz.Wordpress.com with links to others that may help. X

hi im going through the same as you 30 sessions   10 done and had 2 chemo  so far  hasnt been  as bad as i was expecting   the only thing annoying me is my  taste for food is fadeing away oh and just feeling a bit crap day after chemo   i wish well

Hi

I'm afraid so and quite a few of us on here experienced the same side effects.
I didnt have a tube and struggled for quite a bit on Ensures etc.

You need to keep hydrated my friend and get some fuel in as hard as it is.
Have a word with your support team and/or dietitian as I found them really helpful.

Also lniked my blog to share with you as well as Hazels - should give you some kind of road map we went through and hopefully some tips for you to consider.

Reach out if you feel I can help in anyway

radiotherapythroat.home.blog

regards

Ian