H

Had results today from biopsy on tonsil and now know its cancer, its all been really quick what with scans and hospital visits so not really had time to think about it now it's just starting to sink in but I'm pretty positive, I'm told its spread to a lymph node has anyone else had this 

HiAli

I am sorry to hear your diagnosis, but the first thing I would say is there is always hope. Al my friend here has the same and is currently undergoing all the treatment. He is having a six week course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy over most of the week meaning daily trips. The first thing they have to do is make sure you have no teeth that will get corroded by treatment so need removing first,. They then measure you for the mask this apparently is quite comfortable. They then arrrange the neginnings of the treatment. It will not be easy so you will need a good support system around you - family, macmillans, friends especially when you have down days. Some people loose taste buds during treatment some can find swallowing hard but if you look back on our talks there are mouth exeercises to do. 

Find all the exciting food things you love that are highly flacoured and stock up you will need to keep your weight up and need things that are exciting to make you smile. 

good luck i am here is you want to talk. 

stay strong x

HI Alli

Sorry to hear your news but on the positive at least you only have to have one difficult passage chemo not chemo and op. I always try to find something positive out of everything if i can. Reminds of a really really old film I love about a little girl who lost her parents and had to go live with her aunt in a very old house. The aunt didnt want her and there were no children to play with so she made up good stories and used to find good things for the villagers etc. Then one day she had an accident and broke her legs and the villages all rallied round her leaving her pressesnts and telling the aunt all the stories. It might be considered pathetic in todays standards but helps me see the good in everyone and everything when sometimes it can be hard. (think age has also helped mellow me lol). Any dates? 

no news on me yet sigh so have arrange a telephone consult with doctors for 19th to see what they have to say and think. 

Had the cutest sparrow today in my garden so sweet. I was over the moon lthough it didnt appreciate my appearance! it tried to shuttle down the side of the garden by the fence I thought it was a baby mafia. !! Wol tells me they are planning a wedding party soon hmmm.

put out some fat balls on the table and np one seems to like them what a waste but no wonder they were reduced! cant blame the birds if they are rubbish. Trouble is at the moment the wind is blowing the seeds away. However, pigeons have been around as i have seen their silhouettes on my windows through the blinds. 

The jackdaws are nesting in my redundant chimney again i dread to think what fire hazard that chimney must be lol they come back every year. Think they must be quite successful. 

Think positive, 

stay strong 

x

looks lovely outside but things are a bit deceptive. there is a cold breeze in the air, no wonder i have animals cuddled around me. the weather is very disappointing because ilove seeing the new plants emerging and the daffodils at this time of year makes me smile and smiling is an imoportant healing process. I have eventually got some celiarac seeds emerging yay or at least i hope so and not weeds lol. will keep posted. 

the fat balls have still not gone so will have to replace with seed I think they are putting of the other birds and even the pigeons who are quite suspicious. Not sure how they can think a fat ball is dangerous but who knows. 

Al hope your feeling a bit better now you have finished your chemo sessions.

Alli hope your ok 

have started getting my brain working again it has not been easy with meds but the paper iam writing on hedgehogs is coming along slowly and iam getting quite interested into the ins and outs of pain, fear and stress and pain leading to pleasure etc. understand why we like chillies now lol and why pedro keeps m

licking his sore. 

apologies about writing not quite there yet keep making mistakes and having to go back and change. 

anyway going to do a different small job today 

stay positive and strong and smile your day away! 

saw a beautiful male blackbird on the bird table as soon as i had removed fat balls - quite a handsome fella. this morning woke to practically all the seeds gone but it is still quite windy so definately need to get some more. 

pedro decided to give me a heart attack this morning the hubby left the gate open and he was running out in the road. thankfully a lovely van driver had stopped and he came back aas soon as i called. didnt do my blood pressure any good lol it was 155 over 100 and pulse 112. i have to test at the moment but had been putting it off think it is connected to my neck. 

the little or rather bu=ig *** is now settled on my bed which i have crawled back into to have a cuppa and chill. 

sun is shinning again so deceptive looks lovely and would love to go out but its still cold. may do a job indoors. 

keep smiling and stay strong 

Morning

Wish I was as positive as you I'm in a bit of a dark place at the moment after speaking to the Macmillan nurse, I was asking what happens now and she said it goes in front of a board of experts and they decide whether treatment is curative or palliative I didn't even think there was a possibility it would be palliative and now feel so scared cried myself to sleep trying to be brave but feel so sad, sorry to be such a misery she did say I'm a young at the beginning of our conversation which is good but I'm 53 is that young so maybe she was just describing the process she did say she didn't have my information so she couldn't say what would happen so maybe getting ahead of myself, have to wait till the 14th till I know my fate, hope your ok

Alli x

Hi Alli 

I know the dark place your in and it is hard but until you know for certain there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and there is always hope always hope no matter what they say for instance there are many new trials going on all the time so it is possible you would be accepted for that. I think the nurses have to give you all the possibilities from the extreme palliative to the curative. I have been reading about my condition and it depends upon where the condition is to living 5 years to not having mmuch more problems. Unfotunately the waiting is again the pain in the preverbial because you wish you could be at the board discussion and be able to have your say after all they have your life in their hands. I remember mine the oh you are having more biopsies then we are referring you on as we dont think you belong to our clinic anymore bit like a piece of meat not do you mind because ...... 

just try to see that bit of light that always shines at you in the corner of your mind and focus on all the things you want to do then start to plan doing some of those and make a list of all the things you want to eat or have not tried and start eating them because if you have chemo which i cannot see why not then you mayb loose your sense of tast so start enjoying it while you have it. It is not the end of the world it is the beginning of a new chapter in your life one that mybe a pain but one where you still can enjoy life and have the wonderful family and friends around you. Be honest tell them when you are down but look outside see the bees - boy some of them are fat!! all those ladybirds at the moment, listen to the gorgeous bird song and be happy you are alive. I am here with you like Al all the way to listen to those worries and demons we all have if you want and write something that might bring a smile.

shrug those shoulders, wipe those tears, decide on one thing to wrote a list for. By the way I am also 53 so we are young!!! plan a distracting weekend. 

i have just planted 220 plug plants am knackered now! they are so tiny and fiddley will be great if they all survive we will have to see. Celeiarc seeds now emerging yay! not sure about the butter nut squash yet though. it has actually warmed up so get out and soak up the rays! 

take care, smile and stay strong x

Hi 

Thank you again for lovely positive words I e-mailed the Macmillan nurse and she called me back and said that there's no reason the cancers not treatable and to be positive, I think I just took her words literally and practically had my funeral planned so I am looking to the future again and I'm feeling calmer just hope the mdt feel the same, how will it work with you can they give you medication to keep your illness under control or cure it how are you coping, I know what you mean about the bumblebees they are huge my garden is full of worker ones that are black with red bottoms I wonder how there little wings get them off the ground sometimes lol I'm going to invest in a bird table and encourage the robin to keep coming back

Take care and thank you again for making me smile x

Alli 

Brilliant there you go the positivity of life. 

i went and got more birdseeds from the garden centre yesterday. The gardden centre is the only place i have allowed myself to go to due to my infection and covid. i actually have not minded not going anywhere am. a person who can obviously cope reasonbly well on my own if i have to. 

feeling a bit sore after planting all those plug lants yesterday but hopefully if they all grow my garden should be quite pretty this summer. the interesting thing is i dont know what they all are since it was a special surprise packet! i can see some begonias and geraniums but dont know the rest. so exciting!!! 

in reply to your questions thank you for asking - if it is like TB then yes cytotoxic medications are used and can cure. Have to have them for 6 months. if wengers disease then the same i believe. other reasons who knows i have to wait and see. iam checking vitals to give doctors next week when i spek to her and they seem worse in mornings airflow is down and blood pressure up am( slight hypertensive). not horrendous so removing of tonsil has helped. am very much in limbo at moment. 

love your fat bees too they are great critters and very beautiful to see. it looks cold today and a bit dull probably because sun is not peeping out yet. will have to ask him why not when i go outside. its the weekend and people at home would like to have a good weekend. 

have a good day today hubby has bought a nintendo switch a huge extravagons that we cannot really afford but i think he needs cheering up sometimes and he is aching to go out even if to supermarkets lol so it arrives today. 

we also have a zoom with some friends later to look firward to. 

my task for the day is a small section of floor to clean so i can make hubbby his cd shelving unit we have had boxed up for ages lol. reminds me of those peopple you hear about that have unfinished rooms for years - well since iam the only one who can do anything this bungalow is one of those !! it will never be perfect and superbly clean after all i sleep in the conservatory but it is mine. 

have a great weekend now you are happier with your condition and yes invest in that bird table its worth it not just for those birds but for your enjoyment too. Two positives out of one definately a plus! 

am going to feed the fat pigeon 

keep smiling and stay strong x

Morning

It sounds like you have a busy weekend planned hope CD unit goes ok I'm a disaster putting things together the wi sounds fun though, its the 19th you go to doc's isn't it hope that they can get you on the road to recovery as soon as possible, feeling an lot better today so think I may tackle some cleaning I'm still in the thinking phase lol

Hope you have lovely day xx

Hi see you have met another friend Bobby that is good - great to have as many friends as possible to discuss things with. 

Turned out my day is one problem after another lol - that is because i was expecting a day of fun hahaha should have guessed - anyway have no sorted out the problems and await my zoom talk. 

boy it is perishing cold outside took Pedro to the field and saw a metal detector looking for bits and pieces = cant say i was hugely impressed the only thing that interested me was a tiny farthing coin. Pedro just sat down and patiently waited he was not impressedd either! we wont bother in investing then he said he just keeps everything to himself so i was a bit peeved as the owner had stopped us walking on the field but then said he could dig it up and keep the findings - something does not compute perhaps she does not like our dogs? 

going to be frosty tonight and cold again tomorrow that will be fun the neighbours want us round for the outdoor barbeque with me in PPE lol wrap up warm me thinks! 

caught the two fatty pigeons havning ruckus in the hedge - more interesting than my measly seeds i think at the moment. 

have good evening 

smile and stay strong x

Yay the sun is shinning and what a wonderful surprise to hear from Al so thrilled to bits. 

Alli hope your having a good sunday.

Hoping the sun is not to deceptive since we are suposed to be going next door for a BBQ the first time me and hubby have been out except for doctros etc since Christmas and even if it is next door it will be nice. Still a bit dubious about meeting people incase i could be infectious, but it is outside so should be ok. 

think i over did it yesterday had a headache all night so that made me a bit hypertenisve this morning - am suposed to be testing for a week twice a day already forgot last night and only 2 days ion lol - useless!!! so i am sitting in bed writing this with morning cuppa recovering before i get up and guess what a huge fat pigeon has arrived lol.they maybe vermin but they are quite handsome. I am surprised he did not knock over the bird table when he landed! He is now stuffing his face - good. 

The nintendo arrived yesterday with the ring game - totally extravagence when we really could use the money on more sensible things like a skip, house etc but it  has already brought abig smile to the hubby and that is good to see him interested in something. i wanted the ring because i need to try and get some excersices done and refuse to do them to stupid people telling me to do this that and the other when i physically cannot so as this is moving the ring to do an adventure game i am hoping i can get round some of the moves with this! should be hilariously funny watching me try. I must at this point mention I have spinal stenosis in my lumbar vertebrae due to herniated disc i did at work years ago and arthritic hips, hands lol bit of a crock really lol. 

job fir this morning if i can manage is to get the cd shelving unit made hmm maybe a tomorrow job. 

well enjoy the sun and keep smiling and stay strong x

Yay the sun is shinning and what a wonderful surprise to hear from Al so thrilled to bits. 

Alli hope your having a good sunday.

Hoping the sun is not to deceptive since we are suposed to be going next door for a BBQ the first time me and hubby have been out except for doctros etc since Christmas and even if it is next door it will be nice. Still a bit dubious about meeting people incase i could be infectious, but it is outside so should be ok. 

think i over did it yesterday had a headache all night so that made me a bit hypertenisve this morning - am suposed to be testing for a week twice a day already forgot last night and only 2 days ion lol - useless!!! so i am sitting in bed writing this with morning cuppa recovering before i get up and guess what a huge fat pigeon has arrived lol.they maybe vermin but they are quite handsome. I am surprised he did not knock over the bird table when he landed! He is now stuffing his face - good. 

The nintendo arrived yesterday with the ring game - totally extravagence when we really could use the money on more sensible things like a skip, house etc but it  has already brought abig smile to the hubby and that is good to see him interested in something. i wanted the ring because i need to try and get some excersices done and refuse to do them to stupid people telling me to do this that and the other when i physically cannot so as this is moving the ring to do an adventure game i am hoping i can get round some of the moves with this! should be hilariously funny watching me try. I must at this point mention I have spinal stenosis in my lumbar vertebrae due to herniated disc i did at work years ago and arthritic hips, hands lol bit of a crock really lol. 

job fir this morning if i can manage is to get the cd shelving unit made hmm maybe a tomorrow job. 

well enjoy the sun and keep smiling and stay strong x

Hi

Sorry was a message behind and was answering yesterday's thought barbeque was yesterday told you brain is rubbish, hope bbq goes well but wrap up is Al ok I can't get back on there to see how his treatment went hope he is ok still trying to navigate this website pretty much just answering messages that pop up on my emails ill get the gist eventually lol x

Hi

Alli know about the menopause lol have gone throughthat early for various reasons but have only just started with some hot flushes lol typical! 

glad to hear Alli you have a bird table you will have to let me know what you attract so kind of Gary. Sounds like you have a good guy there. 

As I said brilliant to have more friends who have similar things but you have to remember each persons treatment will be slightly different and you will all react in different ways. Al is ok thanks for asking he will be pleased you asked and will no doubt tell all about his treatement etc when he is able to get back on here. I thought your lump was base of tongue not tonsil? or was i having a moment too??? 

So funny weather looked lovely this afternoon so we went next door with the idea that the BBQ would be nice and not too cold - heater on and a firepit looked good food cooking away nicely and all going fine enjoying it until the clouds came over and the sky darkened then suddenly hail storm!!! we courageously stayed put for about 20 minutes before beating retreat into their conservatory! 

it was a good relief from building the cd shelving unit that heard a lot of swearing! rubbish design and rubbish fittings too fiddly shelves would not stay together easily an utter nightmare!!! will not get a good review from me thats for sure. poor hubby he had a moujthful from a stressed me! and i then had to eat something because i felt sick afterwards. however, it does look nice and will look better when i remove the excess glue i had to use to help attach indiviudal pigeon hole units. iam glad it is done and dusted. i think i could have lived up to the ideal true menopausal woman!! 

hubby and i have decided nothing tomorrow we need to rest. 

Al rest well

Alli stay strong and dont think about the meeting any more until you need to. Enjoy the bird table.

keep smiling x

the sun is shinning again today yay the fat pigeons have been about lol. Am curled up with the dogs and cats having preverbial cuppa and taking it easy as i was up all night so am really tired now,. poor hubby got him up several times too, will make it up to him with a game later. 

Al hope you can enjoy some of the sun

Alli hope the bird table is set up for you to enjoy.

have a good day keep smiling and stay strong x

Hi

Hope your having a nice stress free day today I'm very impressed that you did the CD unit well done I have to get my daughter to help whenever we have to do flat pack the instructions are double Dutch to me, sorry the bbq was a bit of a wash out the joys of British weather eh still its nice to do something different, after the camera last week they found the tumour has gone from my tonsil into lymph node and attached itself to my jaw so chemoradiation I think will know we'd after mdt meeting, spoke to my gp this morning and he said it looks positive as I'm in good health so fingers crossed, Gary's lovely we don't live together but have been a couple for 15 years he's been a star keeps buying me goodies to keep me eating which I'm not sure is a good thing lol, I think the bird table might be a bit close to the house as like you just a wood pigeon that kept sliding down the side until it realised it had to get inside to get the goodies so will move it later as have little hooks to put on to put the hangy things with seed in on, how's the Nintendo going hope its fun 

Have a fab day

Alli x

Good morning All

Its so good to be back out of the rabbit hole that I fell into :)

And what is even better is to come back and find that this thread is running stronger than ever!  Thank you Elona for your time, thoughtfullness and strength in keeping this thread live.  Your messages have been a saviour to me.  It's great to come back and find so many amazing people on here.

I will run back through the thread and introduce myself and catch up with everyone over the next couple of days, so much to read!  And of course bring the blog up to date....  So much to do!  So much has happened over the last 4/5 weeks.  It's amazing to see so much positivity.

Right I am off to do some much needed work on the blog.

Everybody stay strong, be positive :)

Al' x

Hi All

Just reading back through the last couple of days threads and noticed  Wood Pigeons mentioned, I had a big fat Wood Pigeon visit me out in the garden yesterday.  Never before have we had one in the garden, but he/she came right up close...  Must be a sign :)

Hi Alli

I'm Al' (Dragon Fach), Just thought that I would quickly introduce myself :)

I have/had a T2 tonsil cancer, (Spread to local tissue and nodes) I say have/had as I have just finished 6 week radiochemo treatment and I won't know how much the treatment has worked for four months.  Four months is the time they leave it after treatment here (South Wales) before they give you a PET Scan to see if the treatment has worked, so back to the waiting game :(

Pre treatment I had many scans and biopsys, I had an op to remove my good tonsil (more biopsys) and 6 teeth removed.  I was confirmed with cancer on New Years Eve 2020 and my treatment, including all pre treatment finished on the 4th April 2021.  So all in all it took 4 months.  Having the teeth removed did delay the start of radiochemo by two weeks.  Also my treatment should have finished on Good Friday, but I was taken ill two days before the end and had to spend 5 days in the cancer hospital.

I went through theradiochemo virtually pain free compared to many.  However I did suffer with depression, hence falling down a rabbit hole.  They put the depression down to an underlying health condition which affects my nervous system.  The worst thing I had and still have is the total loss of taste which stopped me eating.  I lost a lot of weight very quickly due to this.  I am feeding using an NG Tube and can drink only water, this has been going on for three and a half weeks now.  This is all down to my loss of taste.. Though many that know me would say I never had any taste to begin with :laugh:  Not everyone loses all of their taste.

I've learned a lot over these last months, so if I can be of any help I'm here.  Everybodys journey is different, but in many ways also the same.  As the wonderful Elona has shown, you are never alone.

It's now 9:40am and time for my morning medicine regime.

Stay strong, be positive

Al' x

hi Al and Alli 

what a lovely start to the day seeing messages from both of you. 

the sun is out again and after i have spoken to the mortage man i can sit back and enjoy the day. 

yep the fat pigeon came up again. - my bird table is actually right up against the window and has not deterred the pigeon, a jackdaw was a little more dubious last night but came close. they are nesting in my reduncdant chimney pot. 

Alli - dont stop GAry getting you all those lovely things what a star you will want those brilliant things to keep that weight on and keep you smiling. 

seem like tonsils have a lot to answer for lol my condition spread from the tonisl into surrounding areas too. that is why i still have three areas in neck left. glad outlook is positive. 

so thrilled Al you are obviously feeling brighter and better sound nice and positive and am thrilled you have finished this treatment. take time to recover and re energise before you get stuck into too much. we want you better ! 

hubby caught ggrandad mini mafia running into next door yesterday he said he was quite busy and looked like he had enjoyed the party but disappointed nothing is left over. we have to clear the carport soon and make sure it is mini mafia prrof but i look at it and do not have the energy yet - one of those jobs you put of !!! 

the cd shelf was a nightmare then hubby said he would like another one !!!! what ! my brain has screamed aaaahhhhhh. another job to put of for the time being. 

think today we need to soak up some rays and enjoy the sun get thos endorphins and smile a great healing process.

keep smiling and stay strong x

Hi Al

Thank you for messaging me hope you are feeling ok today I see that you have an underlying condition that has made this journey even more difficult  for you, I hadnt realised there was such a long wait before they check the cancer has gone I'm being treated in liverpool I was originally being treated in chester which isn't far from me but they have changed as they say the hospital I'm at now is the best for this treatment, like you I have cancer in tonsil that has spread to lymph node and is attached to my jaw so after having camera down last week they have said it can't be surgically removed so chemoradiotherapy route I think my case is in front of mdt tomorrow so will know then so bit nervous, I have really enjoyed reading Elonas messages she is lovely and her words have cheered me up on days when I've been quite down, I have tried not to worry to much about the treatment and am being positive about the outcome from what I can see this cancers cure rate is pretty good

Hope you have a good day and would be fab to hear from you again when your up to it

Alli x

Morning

Hope you had .a better night sounds like you need to conserve your energy for the next diy task lol you obviously made a very good job of CD unit for your hubby to want another one, all good here have moved bird table further down garden and sprinkled seed on floor around it and have had a blackbird eat seed off floor but completely ignored bird table at least the bird foods ok was starting to wonder, the sun is lovely so thought I would go for walk later I'm trying to be as healthy as I can apart from the goodies off Gary it would be a shame to waste them lol, how is the hedgehog book going my neighbour was telling me she made the top of an old birdhouse into a hedgehog house and had a mum and 2 baby hedgehogs in it I think that is my next project a hedgehog hotel

Have a lovely day

Alli x