I’m so sorry to hear of your diagnosis but so good to hear that your feeling positive..
My husband was diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer in January..he had chemo and Radiotherapy and finished his treatment in July and finds out his results next Wednesday..we have everything crossed...feel free to message me if there’s anything you would like to know...
Ny hubbys is on the epiglottis and has secondary on the lymph nodes (that was really big but the chemo shrunk it and can’t see it now) he had radiotherapy everyday for 6 weeks Mon/Fri..
if possible try and get this cream from the Dr (doublebase dayleve gel) and apply liberally around his neck as soon as he gets it..it honestly helps with the radiation burns...my hubbys burns didn’t appear until the last 2 weeks but the cream helped through the treatment and the healing of the skin after..
When you say it’s “ not worked “ what exactly were you told ? In my case the lasering removed the cancer but to be 100% certain that a few remaining cells were not left active I was advised to have 4 weeks RT as an adjuvant. I had read all sorts of awful things about RT side effects to the throat and was worried but took the advice. In the end I came through relatively unscathed, hopefully your husband will do likewise. As suggested wallop cream on the targeted area from day one, it really helps. I took honey immediately after each session which I’m sure helped. I also gargled with baking soda and salt warm water several times a day. You will be getting fitted for the mask soon , it is quick and painless. Each session will last roughly 20 mins whilst they measure you up precisely to the beam , the actual radiation lasts only for a few minutes. The staff are wonderful and make you feel relaxed. My advice is to breathe deeply and try not to tense up whilst the mask is on, it really is not uncomfortable and you soon adjust. All the while remember that this is a means to the end of being cured, which is highly likely with early vocal cord cancers. 4 months after my RT finished there is no sign of it on my vocal cords and I am under review for the next 5 years. Hopefully your husband will experience likewise. All the very best, should you have any queries as you move forward don’t hesitate to ask.... I found this forum very reassuring... you’re certainly not on your own with this.
Ahh yes I definitely agree with the honey..I bought 500g of Manuka Honey from Holland and Barrett for my hubby and he said it really helped so I bought another 2 while they were on a deal also the baking powder/salt mouthwash is good...it does seem a long process 7 weeks but it goes very quickly but I found my hubby was a bit depressed when it all came to a standstill and his treatment finished...your hubby will probably suffer with a lot of phlegm too but the Dr should give him carbocisteine to help with the secreations...
I also agree about this forum being so helpful..I wish I found it back in January as my mind was all over the place.
When his consultant saw him he said if he couldn’t get all of it with laser he wasn’t going to touch it and will go for rt instead thanks for your advice where do I get cream from
It does seem odd that you were told your husband was going to have laser and now they have decided against it. Having the laser and then a short course of RT if the surgeon is concerned that anything may be left behind appears to be a more usual course of action. You still haven’t said what stage the cancer is, this would have an influence on action taken. Anyhow, at least you now have a clear treatment plan and can prepare for it. Any chemist will sell acqueous cream, it is inexpensive and keeps the skin moisturized throughout the course of RT. Find out the total amount of radiation he is to receive and in what daily doses, your oncologist will be able to explain this to you both. In a 7 week course I wouldn’t expect your husband to notice anything for the first 3/4 weeks and then any side effects such as sore throat, swallowing difficulties and fatigue might materialize to a lesser or greater degree dependent on his state of general health, age etc.Usually any side effects are at their worst the last 2 weeks and 2 weeks after treatment is over. It is all very manageable and the 7 weeks will fly past. GOOD LUCK.
Sorry think it stage one on his larynx as the team explained today had meetin his cords are like figure 8 sideways an the cancer is on the join in middle he may have to have chemo 1st an 3 rd week as well as rt but not sure until we go hospital an it starts he goes for 7 wks 20 mins each time mon to fri thankyou any advice is appreciated
Stage 1 vocal cord cancer is very cureable, I’m sure your oncology team have reassured you. It appears they are not being clear about your husbands treatment plan however. Firstly it was lasering, then RT, and now they have mentioned possible chemo as well. I would ask them to give you a definitive plan of treatment so that you can prepare accordingly. Perhaps the unusual positioning of the cancer complicates treatment somewhat. Usually it is on one or both cords , is clearly visible and easily treated with lasering. However, the most important thing is that it has been caught early and is highly treatable. The sooner you know what you are facing the better, urge your team to make this clear.
