I hope you get to hear from others soon about the possible long term side effect from having radiotherapy post laryngectomy for a T4 but in the meantime I have found some information about this on our website. I'm not sure how much you know already but if you would like to find out more just click here.
You can also give our cancer nurses a call to discuss this as well. Their number is 0808 800 4040, which is free to call from a UK landline, and they are available Monday - Friday (except bank holidays) between 9a.m - 5p.m.
Hello Vatch
Thank you for responding - Happy New Year to you - my husband is due to have the radiotherapy very soon - he is now 6 weeks post Laryngectomy for a T4 SCC larynx- I understand it's external radiation for 6 weeks/ 5 days a week - he is so worried that it will affect his present taste and swallow which is good since the op that he states that it would be the end for him if this should happen and he would no longer cope - I think the consultant said something about Arc Radiation Therapy ?
Thank you once again
Tomotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy (vmat) are two types of intensity radiation therapy. The aim is to target specific area with a high intensity beam.
normal radiation blasts a wider area
the benefit is that it does not impact on organs and vessels that don't need to be and therefore the after effects are less longer lasting and damaging.
everyone goes through this treatment differently so although I can relay my experience that's not to say you husband will go through the same. However this is a difficult process to go through and taste, swallow function and speech will be impacted, but as I said, it's different for us all
i have given you the link to my blog. I wrote this going through my treatment for three reasons.
1. To help me get through and understand what I was going through
2. As a update to all my friends and family so that my wife was not having to say the same thing a million times over to different people
3. To help others about to go through this process
please be aware that some of the information in my blog may be upsetting, but this is my personal journey, I have a friend who sailed through this, but I am not aware of many who have done so.
here on this site And on my blog page, I have spoken to lots of wives who's husbands are going through this, but only a few blokes who are actually going through it. This site and my blog are here for both
hi this is my first attempt at a chat i hope i can be of help i had laregectomy july 2018 this thingm about not being able to cope with, reduced taste and such is all aquestion of being positive and being gratefull for ehat youve got it is supprising what you can accept when you have no choice i am playing the devils advocate here to some extent but i am trying to say what seems to be insurmountable one day turns out it isaant dont let negative thoughts win once you get on top of them it becomes easyer
