Hi there Venice 1971

Welcome to the forum and so sorry to hear of your husband's diagnosis. Please dont feel alone as we are here to offer support  if we can. I am also a nurse and to be honest Im not sure if it was a help or a hinderence as I think I tended to fear the worst and over think everything which created more stress especially when I felt I should be able to do something to make him feel better - after all thats what nurses are suppised to do - but I couldn't. 
My hubby had 5 cycles of cistplatin and 30 fractions of VMAT radiotherapy. Unfortunately he also needed a neck dissection as the tumours in his lymph nodes didnt respond to the treatment. We are now lucky that he is 3 1/2 years in remission and cancer free.

Please keep in touch and feel free to ask any questions you might have and I'll try to help if I can. 
Good luck and best wishes as you start your journey.

best wishes

Emma aka Newlymarried 

Thanks so much for your reply. We do know too much. He had an ultrasound today of this thyroid as it showed up on the PET scan as coincidental finding. The Radiographer had no interpersonal skills and scared the life out of us and said think its malignant and then told us the mets was from that .... he obviously had not read his notes properly that the cancer was his primary and mets from that....then I got home and unwisely googled it (never again) and convinced myself it was the worst type...and had major panic. Have now calmed down and decided to go back to being rational. Its a rollercoaster of a ride. Hope your both okay . So much reassurance knowing we are not alone 

Hi Thanks so much for the message means a lot. He was admittted with a second post Tonsilectomy bleed which was pretty scary. Now settled and back to work. Radiotherapy starts 5th feb and chemo 6th. Its just the waiting game now waiting for treatment to start. Has an appointment for RIG feeding tube next week in case he needs to use it. I just want the treatment to start and get to the possible worst weeks and past them. Know too much :( but its also helping me realise we could be dealing with so much worse.. But thinking like that does not help as its all relative its still cancer and he has to get through it. Thinking he will probably need the neck dissection but hey ho there is always hope he wont. Hope all okay your end and thanks so much for thinking of us x 

Hi there Venice1971

we seem to have a lot in common as my hubby also had a post tonsillectomy bleed - on boxing day night 2015 - at day 10 post op ! Definitely scary to see everyone rushing around in AE and him being rushed to theatre. My hubby had a RIG and to be honest it was invaluable. By week 4 I was putting all of his meds and water through it as he couldnt swallow and we had a feed pump with a back pack so we could take it with us and he didnt have to have the feed overnight.

This part is the worst bit - the waiting and knowing its coming but once you get into the routine of Chemo and Radiotherapy- meds   feeds, tube flushes,review appointments, dietician appointments etc the being busy helps. Paul also had a PIC line that I flushed at home which was really useful for bloods, IV fluids , chemo and he was admitted with sepsis so could immediately get Ceftazadime in AE when his veins were shut down.

This can be a difficult time for you as his carer to so if youd like to chat and ask any questions then please send me a friend request and I can give you any tips that may help.

best wishes

Emma