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
  • Hi Ian

    i am 7 weeks post radiotherapy hang

    In there it’s a tough road I did 35 radiotherapy sessions 2 chemotherapy.

    i have also done a blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com takes u from diagnosis to present day.newlymarried on here is good if u have any questions just shout out. Mine was HPV 16 + cancer of right  tonsil and lymph nodes 

    hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    good luck 

  • Hi hazel I see this was 2018 I was wondering how you got on and could tell me the treatment you went through , I have just been diagnosed with tonsil cancer and going for my first CT scan tomorrow any info would be gratefully accepted.

  • Hi Davy

    Totally understand and its tough time waiting for results but as you say Wed will soon be here and knowing your treatment plan is the first step forward.
    Treatment nowadays is so advanced and technology available now is amazing.

    It is tough on partners as well and I have a special shout out for all partners in my blog as they are so important for support before,during and after treatment. 
    All the focus is on the patient but my support team was particularily helpful with my partner and it was  at times, easier to relay information when both at appointments.

    We are all rooting for you and all here if you need any help,support or advice.
    Let us know how you get on Wednesday and this is the start of your recovery when you know what treatment plan is.

    kind regards
    ian


     

  • Hi Chrissy

    sending my best wishes to you both and it can be really tough during and after treatment so hang in there and hope once procedure carried out, it all becomes a little more comfortable and bearable with swallowing and able to sip and drink water.
     

    kind regards

    Ian

  • 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 

  • 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.

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  • 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.

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