Pauline

So when do you start your radio therapy and do you know what type you are having

we are here to support you through this, I’ve had 30 sessions over 6 week period as have many more on here, so we will guide you through it step by step

its different for everyone and what works for some don’t work for others, but I’m sure between us all, we will try and make it as easy as we can

so shout whenever you want

vatch

Hi Sandy.  I'm new to this forem. Was just reading your post from last year. I just finished 28 radiation treatments for vocal cord cancer two weeks ago. I was wondering how the treatments affected you . My side affects are worse now than when I was having treatment. The coughing and choking is horrible and feels like a lump in my throat. Coughing is causing pain in throat with bloody mucus....wearing me out cause it goes on all night. Sorry for rattling but frustrated...I hope things went better for you. Could you tell me how long I can expect this to go on . Thanks for listening . 

Hi malalennie

everyone goes through the same treatment differently and we all have similarities and differences.

however I think we all find that 6 weeks of intense treatment takes time to recover from and our age has an impact on that.

if I can advise upon your immediate mucus problem ..... yep that one Hans around for a few months ... we’ll it did with me. Ask your hospital for a portable nebuliser machine and use it for 30 mins in the morining then once again at night .... it helped me.

my advice to you, especially in the early days of recovery is as follows:

physically- don’t expect too much of your body, it’s an amazing thing but it has just gone through the most gruelling cancer treatment and it now needs time to recover. If you start to push things too early, it will go on strike and start shutting things down and this is when we end up back in hospital on drips and it sets the recovery process back. Listen to your body and do what it feels like doing and no more at this point.

mentally-it’s difficult, you have now finished treatment and you just want to feel better, but you are not, why not and when will all these things go, and when will you feel better again. We all do it we want instant results and answers. The real answer is that it takes time and as I said we are all different. It took me 6 months after treatment to experience what you will come to accept as a new normal. Don’t put yourself under pressure and set backs are normal.

i wish you all the best in your recovery and be amazed by yourself, you have got through it ... now comes the slow process of recovery.

im now 4 years post treatment and life is good

let us know how you get on please

vatch

Vatch... could have been me penning your comment, so similar were my sentiments.   I am now 6 months post treatment for right vocal cord cancer stage 1. I had an exploratory op where a lesion was removed, at first thought benign, but then was malignant. A further day surgery laser treatment shortly followed. Then 4 weeks RT to ensure nothing was left after the surgery. I dreaded the thought of the RT but sailed through with only minor discomfort. As with many others the worst was left till last, the 2 weeks after RT ended, I literally coughed for 2 weeks solid, day and night. Totally exhausting. 6 months on I am also living with the “ new normal “ , constant clearing of throat due to mucus which will not go away. Annoying but a very small price to pay for now being cancer free. The 90% cure rate for early vocal cord cancers appears to have been correct in my case, I hope ! Under supervision at the marvellous ENT department for the next 5 years, I feel in very capable hands and am fighting fit. There most certainly is light at the end of this particular tunnel and I would tell all fellow sufferers the same as you, it will improve with time, don’t get despondent, todays technology and amazing NHS staff will see to that.

Thanks..was glad to hear from someone...the coughing and choking is horrible...I dont have the searing pain in my throat as much ..but still get little blood at times..nights are  the worst.  One minute I'm so dry..then full of saliva then choking up mucus..disgusting lol...I was treated 4 months for sinus infection and bronchitis till I completely lost my voice and got into an ENT...I had a nodule ..ent removed it and biopsied the vocal cord.yup cancer...stage t1...28 radiation..went well...now to get thru the side affects...glad to hear you are improving and thank you for sharing...I know I'm not alone in this

Vatch

Thank you so much for the incouragement..

I needed that..its hard for me to slow down but boy these side affects are kicking my butt...I had breast cancer stage 3 seventeen years ago...guess maybe my age makes a difference but the radiation in the throat area is rough...thanks again

I have to say that throughout my fortnight of non stop coughing I didn’t experience any blood in the mucous, mine was white and frothy. To put your mind at rest I would mention it on your next check up or if you’re really concerned raise this immediately with your GP. As with all side effects it’s a “ horses for courses “ affair, we all react differently. Always here should you seek further advice, best wishes....

thanks again...just a worry wart here lol