Yes it will be as i believe forewarned is forearmed and I know not everyone experiences the same side effects but if youve seen and heard about them from this forum, at least you know you're not the only one and you can chat on here about any anxieties we may have 

Please be very careful do t take anything without reference to you oncologist alternatives meds may I terfer. Remember your friends cancer if not head and neck would be different be very careful what goes into your mouth. Personally I took nothing without oncologists permission. I only took cranberry extract rabiets prior snd stopped them for treatment. 
please like I said be careful trust the science. 

Hazel 

Ok i will ask before I take anything out of the ordinary 

Thank you

nice to see the thread is still being used and people find helpful. Some years old now and people like myself and Hazel are good examples of staying positive through the journey and treatment and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as I used to say. I have also copied my blog and share real life experience.

https://radiotherapythroat.home.blog

onwards and upwards

Ian 

Good morning Ian

I'm all set for radiotherapy starting on 12/1/26. There is just one problem. At night when I fall asleep my nose blocks up to such an extent that I can't breath through it. One of the things that will more than likely happen with my treatment is that my throat will swell and I won't be able to breath through that either. A tracheotomy will take care of that apparently but here are my worries. 

I won't get a tracheotomy in time and I'll suffocate. Probably at home before I could reach a hospital.

Maybe my cancer has spread into my nose which is why there is a restriction. That would make the upcoming treatment useless.

I'm just stressing at the moment to the point where I'd rather take my chances with the cancer. 

Who do I speak to?

Thanks

Miki

Thanks, they are definitely things to try but this has been going on for 3 months and I do wonder if the throat cancer has spread. I'll phone my MacMillan nurse today.

Hi try not to worry easy tj ssy hard tofu. I had 35 radiotherapy sessions tonsil and throat I had o breathing h issues in fact over  7 years on here I cent recall anyone d who needed emergency treatment you see your radiomen daily they are your first point if call tell them your fears sm sure they will help. Once treatment starts it all fall into lms f hugs  Hazel x

Thanks Hazel. My cancer is in my vocal cord and they're going to be hitting both cords just to be safe because I can't have chemo. I'm hoping I can get through this without a tracheotomy but I'm just in limbo at the moment. I don't really know what's going on. I just don't know. This is unusual for me. I'm still in decent spirits and stuff it's like I just can't be bothered with anything cancer related.

Maybe it's just a bit of a low point because I've got to wait 3 weeks before the treatment starts.

Thanks for getting back to me. Talking really does help.

Miki

Good Morning Miki,

Its understandable as mind as well as symptoms can play all sorts tricks....

so as far as spreading you will have had plenty of scans and I totally get the waiting for treatment can cause a low point... you just want to get started and get on with treatment but I was told by my consultant that the waiting period has little difference and unlikely that anything would spread that quickly between scans and treatment.. it might now always help while waiting as I was anxious to get on with treatment as well, but I had great faith and comfort from my consultant.

Either chat through with consultant/ macmillian nurse/specialist nurse for me was a godsend and she helped so much, so you should hopefully have one

for blocked nose even try olbas stick or vics vavour on chest so help clear tubes....also lot bugs going round and you may also have cold/ blocked nose because or other things...

Either way, it might be helpful to talk through with specialist nurse who can discuss your fears but to be honest the NHS consultant and teams are fantastic and will be monitoring you every step of the way with proper support as well as treatment.

Taking does help and plenty people on here more than happy to help you every step of the way.

Im happy to 1-1 email with you and my email address is on my blog link and also happy to have 1-1 chat if you feel that would help..

Many of us on here have been through the journey and although not always an easy one, we all go through and so many success stories on here.

My mantra was always think of the light at the end of the tunnel and there is a light waiting for you my friend

stay strong 

kind regards

Ian