Radiotherapy for Throat Cancer

Hello all,

I have posted my little story on introduce yourself and basically I have been diagnosed with Stage 1 Throat cancer.

The prognosis is hopeful and I remain cheerful and positive. Its taken a while for the actual treatment to start so glad to get on with it at last.

I started my first day of radiotherpy today and have 29 more treatments to go over 6 week period.
I have made a little computer programme that logs my side effects and summarises episodes of each heading and I plan on keeping a daily log of how things went/ how I feel ( good and bad ) and map out my journey. I find it therapuetic.

I will share periodically in the hope that even if it helps one person as well as myself  it will be worthwhile.

So day 1 was fine and I dont really feel any difference or notice anything.
One small point is that the mask made was slightly harder than when it was first made as it has set little harder over the weeks and was a little more moveable on the day made.
Took about 10 mins for actual radiotherpay treatment itself.
Drove home fine.

Meet with advanced practioner nurse every Thurs to discuss progress.
Aware might be a little different along the way but all good after day 1.

 

kind regards

Ian

 

Parents Reply
  • Hi Chrissy, hope everything goes well for your hubby and he can get rid of the peg tube, I'm now on antibiotics for a month as I've got infection in mouth, other than lack of saliva and food not tasting nice I'm doing ok back up hospital August, please let us know how your husband gets on please 

Children
  • I'm currently on dose 11 of 35 for maxillary sinus cancer. I was told the radiotherapy would hammer my mouth and tongue. I underestimated by how much. After only 2 weeks I can barely talk. Im struggling to eat, drink and swallow. I sleep 20 hours a day. My tongue, even in a resting position, stings. Brushing my teeth stings. It's to a point I honestly could cry. They've given me numbing mouthwash which stings. Synthetic saliva spray which stings. Oral gel which stings. Water stings. Juice stings. Cocoedemol stings. I cannot get ahead in any way shape or form.

     

    Does anyone have any advice for pain relief other than the ones I've listed already? 

    Thanks. 

  • Hi Matt 

    I got to a stage where lukewarm water 15 seconds in microwave some days 10 seconds took the edge of the water. I couldn't drink two water still can't only bottled water.

    But during treatment I had same issues as you. I had 35 sessions also. May week 3 I had a n g tube fitted you may need one or if you've a peg start to use it. Fir st least 5 weeks I rinsed my mouth but all medication food  supplements snd hydration went via the tube. The treatment is brutal it has to be purely where the radiation is targeting. Our mouth area is sensitive my blog may help you   www.Radioactiveraz.Wordpress.com

    hazel x

  • I may request a feeding tube. It was something I wanted to avoid. More to prove I can do this myself but this is just really uncomfortable. I'm happy when I'm sleeping because the pain isn't noticeable. The oral gel (bonjela basically) doesn't do a thing and makes more of a mess than anything else. I'll give your blog a look at anyway. Thank you

    Matt x

  • Hey Matt, 

    Sorry to hear your are struggling, it sounds like you need to be on more pain relief (oramorph + slow release morphine) speak to your macmillan nurses) the blogs on here are really helpful. Best of luck

  • Hi Matt, I really feel for you, I nearly refused a feeding tube so glad I didn't, I had it in for 4 months I put virtually everything through it when I was at my worst it helped so much bypassing the mouth, hope they can find something for you to improve things, I put water with my mouth wash so it wasn't so strong on my mouth/tongue.

  • How easily would they give morphine though? Do I request that? 

  • Oh Bushy

    I hope the infection clears soon 

    will post after hubbys procedure 

    x 

  • My hubby was prescribed morphine as a just incase he needs it!  Never needed to tho.

    Hope you can get some relief soon 

    Chrissy

    x 

  • Hi Matt don't be silly there's no prizes for avoiding a feeding tube. If yiu need it yiu need it imagine the next few months no food very little nutrition or hydration you will end up hospitalised Nevee mind recovery that phase I can be just as hard as treatment  as once yiuve had yiur last radiotherapy it continues to work for many weeks read some of the threat in here .Please be sensible .Aw for mouth issues ask for gelclair it may help . But ti be honest radiation virus are just that burns they burn the cancer away and although the planningbtrys to avoid damaging new tissue it can't be helped healthy tissue gets radiated. 
    morphine is readily issue single form of oramorph tomstart with inwas in 40 mil a day at my worst many have fentynal patch's as well. We don't get hooked as long as a phased withdrawal is done when time to finish. 

    Hazel x

  • I'm in the hospital now as it happens. I've just had a word with the dietician. She's very concerned. She asked me for the pain on a 0-10 scale. 10. Its without doubt the worst pain I've ever felt, and I've had a brain haemorrhage. They're prescribing something that works like morphene but isn't morphene. It's hard to concentrate to be honest. She suspects a possible infection so prescribed antibiotics as well. She's very nice and understanding. All I'm doing is a series of nods and shakes. Thank you again for your reply