Hi Caroline 

sorry to hear your diagnosis , but everyone on here is lovely , I had mine fitted Wednesday morning fitting was ok I’m just experiencing a lot of pain after , and I don’t usually feel pain ? Gonna give it another couple days then phone them if it hasn’t gone , don’t worry about it though from what I’ve head the benifits far outway the pain hope all goes well and keep us updated 

maria

HI Caroline,

 sorry to hear that you too have fallen foul of this miserable disease.

The likely outcome is going to be very good but it is a rocky road. After all the initial terribleness and soul searching I found all the medical staff really helpful. Once the intial dust had settled I realised it was a question of 'doing the time'. The treatment.. or rather the side effects to treatment are awful. But, and as I emphasise, it is simply a question of doing the course and allowing the medical people to guide it all.

I had a PEG. It was okay... sorta. No issues. Just a big inconveniance and hated it tbh. However it really worked for me in terms of my progression through treatment. I was given a pump and could chuck fluids down it at night. But also used it for Huel, a complete  nutrition solution, and which I was told by the hospital nutritionists was NOT recommended. Slapped wrist there!  But it worked and a month or so after radiotherapy was able to have it removed. That is swiftly done with a tug and a dressing.

btw. I was sedated for insertion. I knew NOTHING. It was fine. No doubt you will be too.

Please be comforted by the fact that prognosis is VERY good for this cancer.  I certainly appreciate the absolute dread it creates. Google doesnt help in that respect. 

I found some of the blogs handy:  'Vatch' that used to post on this forum has an excellent account of his journey:       gammaraygary.wordpress.com

But also there are a few threads on here well worth sifting through. ie www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../squamous-cell-carcinoma-of-the-tonsil

One thing that impressed me was the excellent service and treatment provided. I was in very good hands.

Wishing all the best for you.  
Please do not hesitate to message me regarding any questions. The forums here are a good source of info and some great people keen to help.

Paul x 

Hi Hazel, 

Thank you so much for replying. Good to hear there is light at the end of the tunnel. I've had sone pretty dark days since diagnosis. 

Caroline

Hi Paul, 

Thank you so much for your comments. My oncologist has told me the treatment is pretty brutal but that it is a curable cancer. I'm going to just take each day as it comes, but I will be asking for as much sedation as possible on Tuesday! 

Caroline 

Hi Caroline yea think it is quite brutal but as long as it’s a good outcome think you have to think of that , that’s what I’m trying to do , yea have everything they can give you haha good luck let us know how you get on xxxxx

maria

Hi Maria, 

Not sure if my reply to you posted earlier? I hope your pain eases and if not you def need to contact the medical staff. I'm going to ask for as much sedation as possible on Tuesday! 

I've written off the next few months, but from what others are saying, there is a light at the end of the tunnel,  as even tho the treatment is brutal, it is a highly curable cancer. 

Sounds like we will be having our treatment at the same time so always here for a chat. 

Caroline x

Hi Caroline yea if it carries on gonna have to contact them cos I can’t move , yea it does what hospital are you having yours ? Mines the big one in Cambridge not allowed to put name apparently , will be nice to keep in touch and to have someone else going through what your going through 

good luck for Tuesday and keep us updated 

maria

HinCaroline You aren’t on your own Re:the dark days.Strange as ut sounds once treatment starts yiu get into the swing of things ,I was diagnosed after biopsy  June and treatment started 16 July . I too took comfort from my oncologist s words treatmentbus brutal but results are good .He said if he wasn’t to get cancer it’s the pone he would choose, best piece of advise keop off  Dr google  stick  to cancer U.K. and  Macmillan, my blog and Ian’s blog are accurate as far as we are concerned just don’t take  everything as gospel as although we have the same diagnosis our paths through it are all individual.

Find out if your cancer centre has. CD players mine did and I made up several cd s all no longer than 20 mins and I only got tinthe  end of one  of them once that was when we all forgot I had left my earrings in ! Usually 10-14 mins and youare out again xx

keep in touch 

Hazel x

Hi Hazel this sounds like a really stupid and trivial question but can you wear nail varnish and make up , just wondered cos sometimes just makes you feel bit better doesn’t it 

maria