Given the all clear from Tonsil Cancer

Hi all It's been 8 months since I last posted, life has been so hectic, my husband had a suspicious lump in his neck which we were waiting for a diabnosis! Unfortunately it was confirmed as T2 N2 M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil, it had spread into his soft palate and into a couple of nodes!! Our lives turned upside down! They didn't want to remove the tonsil as they thought that with treatment the cancer was potentially curable and they wouldn't be able to remove it all without having to take away some of the palate  too. He had a rig tube as they said he wouldn't be able to eat solids for a while,  He started treatment in May and had 35 rounds of radiotherapy and 2 rounds of chemo cisplatin, it has been very hard, the first chemo sessions went without a hiccup and the first few weeks of radiotherapy was manageable with good pain relief.  I think by week 3 he was only eating small amounts of soft food like yoghurts and ice cream etc, week 4 he was struggling getting anything down so went onto the feeds x he couldn't stand the nutricia drink supplements as the smell made him sick. You do get very dry so Always drink as much water as you can manage even if you have to put it down the tube as after chemo 2 he ended up in hospital for a week as the chemo along with not enough water made his kidneys struggle and got an infection he was on a drip for over a week and was so poorly I thought I was gonna lose him. After a few days he started to pick up and was allowed home after 7 days x the radiolarian after week 5 is really tough and he was fed up by now, but his outlook and positivity kept us all going, I can honestly say if he hadn't of been so positive and chilled out about the whole thing I think I would have crashed and burned!! It was so upsetting seeing my husband going through this gruelling treatment, anyway he  carried on like a trooper and he made it through his last session.  It took quite a while maybe 3 months or so to feel like he was on the mend he was so tired but still got up everyday and carried on. Eating wise he was slowly starting to eat and chew again and hasn't lost his taste or smell, some things taste different and he doesn't like Guinness anymore , that was his favourite tipple, but he is managing all solid foods now but can't eat spicy foods. Everything comes back slowly and gradually, give yourself time, it does take a while and feels like a lifetime but stay strong and positive I'm sure it helps.  We went away for a couple of days and had a break away from it all which was lovely life felt like it was getting back to normal! 
we had the final pet scan last Thursday MDT meeting was yesterday and we asked them if they would ring with the results as we didn't want to wait until the next appt which is next Friday to find out. The Macmillan nurse Rang with the fantastic words of I have some good news for you, the treatments has been successful and you no longer have cancer! I cried!! It was the news we'd hoped for and we're lucky enough to to receive. There is a small swelling on the scan they they are certain is just inflammation still healing from the treatment but will CT again in 3 months to be sure! We see the consultant next week so will have more understanding of everything then. 
May advice to you all who are going through this is to  get up everyday even though you can't stand the thought of having another treatment, drink as much fluid as you can, keep on top of the  pain relief they give you regularly a good morphine patch and oramorph helped a lot. My hubby hates taking tablets but I made sure he was topped up every 4 to 6 hours as you do not need to suffer it is there to help! He was a monkey a times if I didn't give it to him he wouldn't take it and then end up in pain, I think the treatment gets you down and you need someone with you as much as possible to try keep things going as normal as can be, rest as much as you can even if it means going back to bed and staying there. Take the advice the Doctors and nurses gave you and don't feel like your bothering them when you ring for advice and help, that's what they are there for, I don't know what I would have done some days if I couldn't speak to anyone, there is a telephone number that you can ring for advice 24hrs a day so not suffer in silence, get the help when you need it, and most of all STAY POSITIVE. Thankfully The treatment does work xx I really hope you all that are going through this awful disease can see a light at the end of the tunnel you will get there! 
anybody that wants to know or ask anything please feel free and I will answer honestly from our experience x the whole cancer forums and Macmillan services are amazing xxx 

  • Real good news & a uplift for me as I'm feeling low

    Best of wishes for a long and happy future x

  • Thankyou so much x I'm glad I've lifted your spirits a little x it has been a very stressful year I also lost my step father to bowel cancer in January, sadly for him it was too far advanced to do anything more xx he was a real inspiration to us all and he also fought very hard till the end,  he was an army man and taught us mind over matter,  he always said there is always someone going through worse, so enjoy life as much as you can when you can and always be thankful for what you have had and had the opportunity's to do,  he was so right and it certainly helped.  I am thankful everyday for everyone and everything I have in my life.. life is very hard and very cruel sometimes but we just gotta try and keep smiling   xx good luck to you all xx 

  • Hi Deeh1,

     

    Your story warms my heart up, as my partner just went through a similar ordeal and just came out of the other side (he finished his treatment 3 months ago)

     

    How is your husband doing now? Did he completely recover from the treatment?

     

    Kindest,

     

    L