Hi there

So sorry to read about your diagnosis. 

It must have been so frustrating to have visited your GP on so many occasions before you were referred for investigation (not an uncommon story on this forum). And now you're going through this with your treatment and recovery, it's no wonder you're awake at 4AM and no doubt feeling rather fed up! :-(
 

Sadly, it appears as though I'm the only one up on the forum at the moment and my knowledge of throat cancer is severely limited. 
 

There are some wonderful contributors on this site and I hope that they will find your post later on in the morning and can assist you with some better support. 
 

I just wanted to let you know that you had been heard. This is a great place to come to for emotional support and so please stick around. 
 

CG xx 

Edit: PS...I love your cat picture

Hi Emerald,

Am sorry to hear of your diagnosis and know from first hand expeience the frustrations and side effects of treatment.

I would say we have made some progress in the past 20 years to be fair as the treatment and techonology/science applied to radiotherapy treatment is far more advanced. I agree that some of the timelines and referals to ENT to get the diagnosis can be reviewed,
I was diagnosed with throat cancer and am just over a year post treatment and was told by my consultant that it is one of the worst areas for treatment but one with the best chance of success and cure so I took a lot of positive from that.

There are quite  a few challenges during and especially after treatment and during recovery but please do try and remember that there is light at the end of the tunnel and there is such a high statistical chance of complete cure.

I kept a blog from the get go and found it not only therapeutic but also wanted to share experience with others in similar circumtances and perhaps help. I have posted the link for you below and it may be worthwhile to have a read anh hopefully it can raise awareness of some of the experiences and timelines as well as helpful tips picked up along the way.

I also started a thread here titled "radiotherapy for throat cancer" and its under Living with Cancer.
There are over a thousand replies/reponses and there was quite a commuity spirit among us all who were going through same treatment no so long ago. There are also many tips and bits of advice both in my blog ( and a link to Hazel's) and also on the thread that hopefully helps as well.

While I know how extremely difficult the whole experience can be, try and stay as postive as you can with the thought of the light at the end of the tunnel that the treatment plans bring.

Let me know if I can help further

radiotherapythroat.home.blog

regards

ian

Hi Emerald star

i also echo all of Anchor 1707 comments , I have to agree with him there has been massive forward steps in the treatment if Throat cancers ,in not only the last 20 years but in the last  5 particularly the IMRT radiotherapy is so precisely targeted to a millimetre and the margin s taken are precise to protect our throats and mouths I am 16 month post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes , Like my oncologist said the treatment is the most brutal of most if cancer treatments precisely because if where It is with ours mouth , we eat we drink we breath we talk it’s every function to survive . But survive and thrive we do I have a blog detailing my experiences along with links to several other sites. Including Anchor and Gamma Ray Gary who has now reached the magical 5 years any questions please ask .whete about some is your cancer ? Is it orapharangeal ie back of tongue ,tonsil s? I was h p v 16+ which is the virus that caused my tumour .

Hazel x

Thanks for the reply. You are very perceptive I woke  last night feeling like a razor blade was stuck in my throat. My mouth was like sandpaper. I cried my eyes out. I even considered not continuing with treatment. It's so severe the side effects. I'm not in a great situation I ended things with my partner and my family have been very unsupportive. Our mother died young of cancer 30 years ago. I'm the same age she was. My sister twice had nodules removed from her throat, they were benign. I assumed I'd be the same. 

Hi and thanks for the reply. I'm no expert I'm simply going by my mothers treatment 30 years ago and my ex. Both had similar horrendous multiple doses of radiotherapy and they had chemotherapy this is the aspect that has not advanced. 7 weeks of radiotherapy every day is not advancement as far as I'm concerned. I thought there would be a quicker more advanced up to date treatment. The diagnostics has improved. Not the amount of treatments. Doctors assume you will accept anything just to stay alive. I do not feel this way. 

Hi I'm scheduled for  35 radiation sessions. My taste has already gone after 10 and I feel as if I have a razor blade stuck in my throat. I read your entire blog, am shocked recovery takes so long. I am doing the same as you did with the water. I feel it's comforting and exercises throat as i drink it fast. I'm shocked how suddenly my taste has declined I can't taste food at all and bad poison taste from all food. I do not know how I will get through another 5 weeks. I will take pain meds as you advised. I am only 45. Can't believe this is happening.  Thank you, 

tHello all I have also gone through this twice in different ways .The first came in 1980 with a lump on my throat I went to hospital to have it removed ,it being a Brancial cyst surgery leaving large scar on throat .I had no more trouble except a persistant sore throat until the lump came back in the same place as the last time identical in shape and size.I went to local GP who red flagged me to hospital.Attended hospital for a biopsy and then returned a few weeks later to get the news. Tonsil Cancer my consultant started everything going and the thing I remember him saying "this is very severe treatment and if you see food and its not nailed down eat it"I was sent to a Cancer Centre in Belfast for 35 radiotheropy and 6 chemo. I went first to the dentist then to get my mask made which was no problem for me but I do understand how scary the mask can be for some.Anyway to move on I was getting my treatment daily travelling to Belfast meeting with speech,diet and physio .I wasnt able to eat and had a feeding tube inserted to feed me.  I just was not fit to do it any more and was admitted to hospital I had gone from 88kgs to under 63kgs.I was so tired and I was getting sick and dislodging the feeding tube.In over Christmas and I finished my treatments on the 4th of Jan  2019  got home later with a table full of meds and tubes and masks and all sorts .Now more than a year on I am eating without any pain meds, Pasta and veg ,meat in very small pieces. Every week I manage somthing new the food does not taste the same I dont know if it ever will again,wine is horrible and burns my mouth. Im doing great now Im still very tired and weak but Im doing good.It is tough going getting through this but it is managed so well by the team .The NHS treatment I received on this journey was brilliant. I hope this was alright to write here and helpful to someone.Art

Thanks for sharing your story. I feel honouted for peoples honesty. I was never hospitalized and forced myself to eat every day. I'm 2 weeks over radiotherapy and almost back to normal, skin is clear burning is gone. People don't believe I'm ill which is annoying as I'm still suffering. I'm tired and get chilled easily. My doctors are amazed at me they say I've exceeded all expectations. I still have to follow ups and scans and check ups which is messing with my plans to emigrate. All over it's a horrendous experience.