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 Laura,

    Thats a lot to cope with for you and heart goes out to you.
    RIG sounds a bit of a nightmare but glad now sorted. Never had one so cant really comment but might have benefited from one with hindsight, but shame you had to go through that trying to get changed.

    Good news that the consultant happy with Mick and long may it continue.

    Keep as positive as you can I keep talking about the light at the end of the tunnel and the fact it exists.

    Hope Mick continues well in recovery and please keep us posted on progress.

    Onwards & Upwards
    Ian
     

  • Evening  you lovely lot . I thought I would give an update on Chris as today was day 19/33 so over halfway woo! 

    I went with him today as Thursday is doctor, dieticians& speech therapy day. 

    No wight loss probably due to all the mash and semolina I am forcing him to eat .

    very sore red neck with blisters - given a new cream gel.

    lost his voice this morning he was unhappy about that came back a little this evening but hoarse was told to drink more fluids to keep throat moist .

    Speech therapist happy  .

    Pain in throat becoming worse but he loathes to take  pain killers but has been told he must take them regularly and don’t fight the pain . He was given morphine to have during the night when it’s at its worst as it will work quicker than the regular co codamol .

    Doc was happy with him and is as good as can be expected but it could become worse over the next days! 

    Must say everyone in the hospital are absolutely wonderful . We are so lucky to have the NHS .  Kind regards Ginny x 

     

  • Hi

    That sounds like a lot of pain relief. I would check with a Dr over the co-codamol and paracetamol? As it sounds as though you are overdosing on paracetamol, as co-codamol contains paracetamol.

    Regards

  • Hi Diann

    Just to clarify my response to Ginny, if indeed response was regarding my own pain relief.

    I was on a lot of pain relief but never mixing  co codomol and morphine/paracetamol and hence my advice to perhaps mention to team. Paracetamol and morphine is fine but accoring to my medical team and GP, you should not take co codomol and morphine together due to side effects.
    All my pain relief was stictly monitored and controlled and was gentlly introduced, upped, then gradually reduced again.

    Regards

    Ian

  • I understood your pain medication Anchor . I know it’s strictly monitored. She told us yesterday that they worry about the paracetamols effects on the liver ! She also said pain medication is modified throughout treatment . I am sure Dinn was just as shocked as me when I read all the medication you had had . But I understood to be throughout  your treatment and not all together ... blimey you would be as sick as a dog ! X x Ginny 

  • Apologies if I’m jumping in on someone’s post but I can’t work out how to start a new one!

    Myhusband has just been diagnosed with cancer of the tonsils with spread to his lymph nodes, still awaiting final histology and consultant/oncologist apt for confirmation and grading. 

    However we’ve been warned to expect 7weeksof chemo/radio and possible neck dissection at the end of it. My question of why not removed the lymph nodes first was dismissed without answer. 

    I’d really appreciate hearing others experiences before we meet with them again next week. 

    Thanks all

    Jo

  • Hi Jo .... welcome to this lovely chat room . I can’t tell you specifically the answer to your question as my husband has the cancer just in his larynx with no spread so he is just having the 33 radiotherapy sessions . But what I do know is he has befriended someone having treatment with him who has tonsil and lymph . His treatment is like your husbands Chemo 3 I think and 30 radiotherapy sessions . I can see the lump in his neck so I’m guessing his wasn’t removed either . I am sure someone in this group will be able to answer your question better . Keep in touch with us . I have found this group fantastic & I am like you the better half ! Ginny x x  Ps you can’t start a new thread in the individual chat rooms well I can’t find a way so I always jump in on another too ! X 

  • Hi Jo 

    This is Hazel I am 8 month post radiotherapy for tonsil I cancer and several lymph nodes. I had 35 radiotherapy sessions and 2 out if 3 chemotherapy. Many reasons why lymph nodes aren’t taken straight away. Nit being medically trained I can onky give yiu my experience one of my lymph nodes  which wasn’t the main one was located in an area that would have been to difficult tinroutunely operate and my oncologist was confident the radiotherapy would work and it did by week 5 Larry as the called the big lymph had gone without the need for any surgery u was given the allmxlear in January niw in 5 year programme if hospital visits for check ups. 

    I have a detailed blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com which pulls no,punches in treatment and recovery. But there is  light at the end of the  tunnel I am on holiday in Spain at the moment and today bikes 48 km I am a 62 year old wimp of a female . The treatment is brutal the recovery can be long but the results can be good do you know if hubby is h p v 16 + it is an indicator of how the cancer got into tonsil more explained in my blog .

    welcome to our small and inclusive club that no oneness really wants to join but herecwe are to help if we canmy blog also has links tomIan  Anchor 1707  s blog as well.

    good luck ask any questions and will get back or someone will. Neck dissections aren’t always needed in fact they are quite rare after treatment  but don’t over worry am sure Emma whose hubby went through treatment and then had neck dissection will pop along

     

    hazel x 

  • Hi Ginny it’s the weekend how’s  hubby doing  ,e joy the 2  days off. How is p is his neck now ? 

     

    H x

  • Hazel . Was just thinking about you . 35 radiotherapy sessions blimey I don’t know how you did it . Chris seems fine tonight neck burnt as you know and voice is hoarse bit he is in good spirits . Yey for the weekend but for some reason he feels worse when he doesn’t have treatment . Sunday’s always feels worse than fridays so to speak . Oh well no 20 under his belt now . Have a lovely weekend and thanks for being so supportive to us all . Patients & carers you are very kind . X x 

  • Hi there Jo and welcome to the forum and sorry you find yourself here but we’re really friendly and help each other as much as possible. 

    My hubby was diagnosed with stage 3 squamous cell cancer of the tonsils with lymph node tumours in Dec 2015. He had 5 cycles of Cistplatin chemotherapy and 30 fractions of VMAT radiotherapy plus a neck dissection and had been cancer free for nearly 3 years.

    Our Oncologist and ENT surgeon didnt want to remove the lymph nodes prior to chemoradiation as they didnt want to delay treatment by waiting for his body to heal before starting and also there is a good possibility that the treatment will destroy the tumour in the lymph node without the need for surgery. They usually mention the neck dissection as they want to prepare you fir all eventualities. When you meet with them next week then I would definitely ask the question again .

    The treatment is definitely tough and arduous not just for the one having it but for the family too so please ask any questions you might have and we will try to help. Feel free to send me a friend request if you want to chat and Id be happy too.

    Im sure others will also drop by to offer their help and support. 

    Please come back and let us know how you get on at the next appointment and wishing you both loads of luck as you embark on your journey.

    best wishes

    Emma xx

     

     

     

  • Hi thank you for kind words ,it’s my way if giving something back if any help comes from my replying I feel like the treatment was worth it if I can pass my experiences on all the better. I was ok on the weekends maybe as itbwas sunpmmee I used to sit outside unseen the gazebo doing nit a lot if I remember rightly ..lol. 

    Hubby no longer allows me that luxury today biked 38 km in 23 degree heat plenty if factor 50 on my neck and lots if water with me. Will be here on forum as long as people are asking questions

    night offvto bed as the beach is calling in the morning one week left before we sail home m then hime 3 weeks then family holiday in Wales ,then home 3 weeks and we’ve booked a cheeky trip back out here making up for last year  which was a blur as yiu will understand

     

    h x 

Reply
  • Hi thank you for kind words ,it’s my way if giving something back if any help comes from my replying I feel like the treatment was worth it if I can pass my experiences on all the better. I was ok on the weekends maybe as itbwas sunpmmee I used to sit outside unseen the gazebo doing nit a lot if I remember rightly ..lol. 

    Hubby no longer allows me that luxury today biked 38 km in 23 degree heat plenty if factor 50 on my neck and lots if water with me. Will be here on forum as long as people are asking questions

    night offvto bed as the beach is calling in the morning one week left before we sail home m then hime 3 weeks then family holiday in Wales ,then home 3 weeks and we’ve booked a cheeky trip back out here making up for last year  which was a blur as yiu will understand

     

    h x 

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