Tonsil Cancer - Whirlwind Week

Hi All 

Firstly Hats Off to the NHS in Wales, they have been super amazing since my diagnosis on New Years Eve. Thank you all 

The title of the post is Whirlwind Week and this is why:

New Years Eve I have a phone call from ENT confirming tonsil cancer.  Very apologetic confirmed over the phone.  Wants me in for a biopsy.   Later the same day I get calls from ward team and covid test centre booking appointments.

Monday 4th January i have a covid test at 9.30am. Results back same day, negative for Covid19.  On route to test centre call from pre assessment team asking me to go in straight after my covid test for my biopsy pre assessment.   Forgot to mention biopsy booked for 7th January. 

Tuesday 5th January have an ultrasound at 9.30am and an MRI ar 11.00am.  The ultrasound was an external ultrasound of my neck. They decided to take two needle biopsies of lymph nodes which took some doing as the nodes were so solid they couldn't get needle in... Thank goodness for local anesthetic :)

From ultrasound they decided to send me for a 3d scan of my jaw.  This was done primarily in case I need any teeth removed pre radiotherapy treatment.  Apparently radiotherapy can cause your back teeth to crumble.  Don't panic not everyone has this done.  i believe it totally depends on size, position of tumour and the amount of radiotherapy you need.

After the jaw scan I went straight for my MRI.  Think I  had two 10 minute sessions,  the second 10 with dye injected into my blood.  I had also had this done for a CT scan on 18th December.

Wednesday 6th January day off.  Which I used to eat as many nice things as possible :)

Thursday 7th January 07.30am its minus 4 degrees c and I'm back at the hospital with my overnight bag ready for another biopsy, I was told to expect to be in hospital overnight.  Due to covid we have to wait at the entrance.  Just 3 of us, asked lots of covid related questions and temperature checked before being escorted to the clean ward.

The ENT surgeon comes to see me to explain the procedure.  Remember everyone is different.   So for me they are going to remove the good tonsil and send it for tests.  What? Not the bad tonsil?  The reason for this is because when you have cancer in one tonsil it is pretty much a done deal that you will get itin the other.   Also by leaving the cancerous tonsil in it allows for more treatment options.  If they cut it out there will only be one treatment path.

During the tonsillectomy they also took biopsies of my bad tonsil and my tongue.   After the op ENT told me that it would take about 7 days for the results so they expect to be calling my Wife and I in a week on Wednesday. 

I was allowed to go home as long as I had eaten something, drunk something and had a pee.  I was home by 7pm the same day.

Sunday 10th January its 6am and I am sat in bed writing this post.  Next to me is a glass of water which I sip all night, my 6am pills and a lip balm.  My bottom lip took a battering during surgery and is very swollen and sore.   The cancerous side of my throat and shoulder is still painful and the right side is even more painful from the tonsillectomy.  Even my lymph nodes seem to be complaining  :)

But you know what, I don't feel sorry for myself,  I don't feel sad.  I'm going to lose weight, but hey I'm 5ft 6inch and 13 and a half stone (male) i could do with shedding a few pounds ;) 

I know this is just the start of a long hard journey,  but I'm ready... bring it on I say!

Parents
  • 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

  • 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

  • Good Morning Alli

    It is a nervous time for you, the waiting is always the worst.  I can't tell you how relieved I was when I turned up for my first day of treatment, it was like 'Let the battle begin!'.  You will feel that you lose some battles along the way, my first feeling of loss was when I had to have the NG tube fitted (ended up being a good thing).  But you have to lose some battles to win the war.  I will be thinking of you today.  Wednesdays are when my MDT meets too.

    The reason it takes four months after treatment for a PET Scan (to see how the treatment has worked) is two fold.  Firstly the chemoradio carries on working after the actual treatment finishes, how long for I am not sure.  Then your own body takes over.  Secondly they used to check much earlier, but found that they were often detecting lumps and sending patients for biopsys.  More often than not the biopsys were coming back clear.  They found that if they left the scans for four months after treatment there were less people with lumps, which meant less unnecessary stress on patients going for unneeded biopsys.  This may or may not be the same in Liverpool.  I did ask when I first met my oncologist what will happen if the treatment doesn't work, he answered with 'Lets take each day at a time'.  You hear that a lot, and it's good advice.

    Although it is a four month wait, and my radiochemo treatment has finished, I still have weekly review meetings with my MDT, I have one today.  And the cancer hospital is always on the other end of the phone, they can't do enough for you.

    Again, thinking of you today...  Let us know how you get on.

    Stay strong and hold on to every bit of positivity.

    Al' x

  • Good Morning Elona :)

    Hope all is well with you this morning.  I am feeling better each day, my blood counts must be on the up yay!

    With two cats we dare not have a bird table, which is sad as I grew up watching a myriad of our feathered friends from Pigeons to Woodpeckers...  Plus the odd cheeky squirrel.

    Elona have you ever grown sprouts?  I planted some seeds in flat seed trays just a couple of days ago and placed them on a south facing window sill.  Starting them indoors.  They have gone absolutely crazy!  They have pushed all the soil up like a muffin in the oven, loads of shoots have come up already.  Should I transplant them to pots?  Bare in mind they were only planted a few days ago.  We do not have any type of greenhouse and the weather is too up and down to transplant outside.  Even my herbs are still indoors.

    We have some friends coming from England to visit on Sunday, so yesterday we were busyspring clearing the garden, new solar lights up...  so many lights.  My amazing wife has a big delivery of plants coming this week.  She bought me a very colourful metal solar Peacock yesterday.  It shines feather patterns on the walls at night.  We needed a new bench for the front garden, but could not afford one.  Wife has a light bulb moment, you know how we like to repurpose.  We had an old day bed in the shed so a lick of paint and a waterproof matress cover Boom a new bench!  looks so nice I will have to chain it to the house.  We got lucky on FB Market Place too, we found a matching metal and glass table for a tenner.  Just getting outside and doing things is making me feel so much better and I am sure is speeding up my recovery.  Just have to be careful not to burn out.

    Who are mini mafia?  I have missed something whilst I was away lol.

    Sun is shinning here today in the valleys both outside and in my heart.  Can't wait to get out into the garden.  Hope that the sun is shinning with you too :)

    I hope that today is better than yesterday, but not as good as tomorrow.

    Al x

Reply
  • Good Morning Elona :)

    Hope all is well with you this morning.  I am feeling better each day, my blood counts must be on the up yay!

    With two cats we dare not have a bird table, which is sad as I grew up watching a myriad of our feathered friends from Pigeons to Woodpeckers...  Plus the odd cheeky squirrel.

    Elona have you ever grown sprouts?  I planted some seeds in flat seed trays just a couple of days ago and placed them on a south facing window sill.  Starting them indoors.  They have gone absolutely crazy!  They have pushed all the soil up like a muffin in the oven, loads of shoots have come up already.  Should I transplant them to pots?  Bare in mind they were only planted a few days ago.  We do not have any type of greenhouse and the weather is too up and down to transplant outside.  Even my herbs are still indoors.

    We have some friends coming from England to visit on Sunday, so yesterday we were busyspring clearing the garden, new solar lights up...  so many lights.  My amazing wife has a big delivery of plants coming this week.  She bought me a very colourful metal solar Peacock yesterday.  It shines feather patterns on the walls at night.  We needed a new bench for the front garden, but could not afford one.  Wife has a light bulb moment, you know how we like to repurpose.  We had an old day bed in the shed so a lick of paint and a waterproof matress cover Boom a new bench!  looks so nice I will have to chain it to the house.  We got lucky on FB Market Place too, we found a matching metal and glass table for a tenner.  Just getting outside and doing things is making me feel so much better and I am sure is speeding up my recovery.  Just have to be careful not to burn out.

    Who are mini mafia?  I have missed something whilst I was away lol.

    Sun is shinning here today in the valleys both outside and in my heart.  Can't wait to get out into the garden.  Hope that the sun is shinning with you too :)

    I hope that today is better than yesterday, but not as good as tomorrow.

    Al x

Children
  • Hi Al and Alli 

    morning to a sunny day looks cold and brr it was last night freezing! but it looks lovely today may try and get outside for a short while. 

    love hearing about all the veggies being grown i love growing things from seed it gives such pleasure seeing the tiny heads peeping through the soil and emerging into the daylight. then eac day seeing the small seedlings grow bigger anbd bigger, stronger and stronger. 

    AL i would ot transplant until the seeds have grown to about 1.5 times the depth of tray or you can see the roots well. otherwise it gets a little difficult. if they are growing too tall and 'leggy' you mayneed to give them a little real air by putting them outside in the sun during the day for a few hours to harden them of and encourage some root growth until they are older and redy to produce. 

    some herbs are hardy like rosemary and some thymes so even in wales should be ok outside. 

    Alli i decided not to grow tomatoes this year as i get over run with them and currently have 5 tubs of tomatoes sauce in freezer! they are though a good plant to grow and you can grow in any good compost it does not hvae to be tomoato compost; start in a smallish pot that you buy it in then when you see roots at the bottom of the pot replace with one twice the size. you dont want too big an pot at the end or all growth will go into roots not tomatoes. whn it grows get a bamboo stick to hold it up and gently tie it to the stick belwo a stem so it does not slide down and you will get a nice tall plant. you will need to pick out stems growning between arms but can advise later on if you want. 

    ahh hedgehog houses have five in the garden - three in outside area and two in rehab area. not in usea tmoment but the feeding area is. miss my l;ittle prickly friends but dare not have them back yet. have written chapter on equipment for hospital just deciding what next. have also written introduction to research paper. 

    Al mini mafia is the rat population lol hubby makes stories about them for me because there is obviously a good rat run underneath the houses here and we get tunnels emerging and sometimes little mafia appearing. 

    Hubby informed me last night gradad was a bit tipsy because he had found out two niece were pregnant ! i told him to let him know not to get too excited as they will have to move on. 

    going to take it easy today hahaha.

    oh i have a butternut squash emerging thankfully i realised the silly seed was growing the wrong way so had to help it a bit not very intelligent!!!! quite a few celeriac now and sweetcorn but diasppointed with plug plants a quarter of them are not doing well. i suppose that is the risk you take with these. think i will get enough though to make a good display. 

    anyway keep smiling and stay strong soak up the rays! x

    Alli - love the birds on your table yay!!!! enjoy xx

  • hi 

    bit of a duller morning but thats ok over did it yesterday and feeling it. keep saying mellow day thenkeep pushing myself  sometimes a bit too much. for instance i dismantled  half the old hen run yesterday lol

    listening to the news this morning does not bear well for my appointment all those people still waiting on procedures and surgery wow, (4.7m) scary for them. 

    Alli fingers crossed you hear as soon as possible after your MDT - i had to wait until friday to hear from mine. 

    Al hope your getting some rest and not doing too much too soon, after getting better. take it easy andlet body do its work. 

    in door jobs today and perhaps a little fitness on the nintendo ring lol (i should say i can only manage 2 minutes at the moment but that two minutes is fun!). i also cheat !!!! i cannot squat due to my back so i sit down on a chair lol, i cannot run so i fast walk because me leg goes so it is all about adaption but i did like pplatform games or sonic when younger and this brings the child back. a couple of minutes of fun is worth hours of nothing. 

    started another chapter on hedgehog book about the diet. and nutritional properties of insects and found an interesting research on insects as human food - yuck!!!! i dont mind trying many things but not sure about eating insects. hmmm what next!  - mind you i watched master chef last night and dont fancy trying sweetbreads either - the texture puts me right of. 

    i saw the blue *** couple last night was really happy they have not been into the box yet it maybe because i have taken the run down there or is still too early for them i dont know but lovely to see them in the garden. hoping eventually i will get a more bird friendly garden but the baby trees need to grow up a bit more so i can put some more bird boxes up. Pigeon visited again this morning he is not scared of the table and where it is so pleased even if pigeon he is quite handsome. 

    well must stop being too lazy no wonder there is no day left by the time i get up - mind up am up at 4am for meds so my exscuse. !! 

    take care keep smiling and stay strong x

    Alli - try not to worry - distractions needed today because whatever you do will not change outcome, and your interest is their purpose. they will choose the best course for you. positivity needed. thinking of you x

  • Morning

    Another sunny day so will get tidying done in garden still have a pile of leaves to rake up, hope your ok Elona and not trying to do to much the Nintendo sounds fun I think your more likely to do exercise when you enjoy it I don't understand people's obsession with the gym, maybe I'm just lazy lol, Al the day bed sounds fantastic and will be a lovely place to chill when your friends come to visit and hopefully we will have some lovely weather soon, the Macmillan nurse called after the mdt meeting and said they were going to give me the chemoradiation and its curative so was very relieved, she thinks it will last for 7 weeks and will be daily and I can get transport there and back as I don't drive and Garys back at work now so that helps, don't know the details yet she said I'll have an appointment with the oncologist next week, Al how does it work do the sessions last long I think its 3 lots of chemo and the radiation is every day, the bird tables been busy the Mrs blackbirds stopped patrolling around the bottom of it and decided to try it out its obviously the new place to be and the birds are bringing there friends its lovely to watch

    Hope you have a lovely day take care

    All I x

  • Brilliant news Alli and wow that was quick they are obviously on the ball where you are. Think Al got this telephone call the following day. what i suggest is to enjoy yourself now and relax for a day or two then plan lots of things to keep your spirits up and soft food very tasty to help those taste buds last as long as possible. Also high calorie food easy to eat - sloppy. remember keep smiling and whenever you are too tired just read our posts or sleep we will be here. 

    the sun has emerged here eventually but it is cold have loads to do and geting frustrated not being able to do anything when i want. did clean a little bit of my floor in dinning area and cleared a bit more of the hen run. I also managed two minutes on the nintendo lol but they introduced a different exercise so have to work out how to do it another way lol. 

    So pleased your bird table is a huge success have you got your binoculars yet? lol. 

    Al you and your wife are amazing inventive sounds great and lovely to have friends over, something to look forward to and entertain in your lovely sounding garden. the peacock sounds beautiful. Your wife has good taste. 

    it is going to be abeautiful evening shame it is still cold. 

    keep smiling and stay strong x

  • Hi Alli

    Good news that it's curative :)

    Mine too is very curative and I was given a 6 week treatment course of chemoradio, which I thought was the max that they could give.  I would go in early on a Monday for potentially 6 hr Chemo, my chemo was cisplatin.  I say potantially as depending on how well the chemo went, sometimes the machine would keep stopping and you have to wait fo a nurse to start it again.  If all went well chemo would be closer to 5 hours.  After chemo on a Monday I would then go to the radio department.  Radio was over very quick and I actually found it quite relaxing and theraputic.  The hospital is 20 miles away so the whole day took around 8 hours from home and back.  When you are closer to your chemo I will give you some tips on making the day go quicker.  I was worried about sitting there for 6 hours, but to be honest the day went by really quickly.

    Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I would travel to the hospital for radio.  The radio itself lasted from 10 to 20 mins, but with the travel the day took around two and a half hours.

    Pre treatment I had to see a restoritive dentist and go for a mask fitting. 

    The restoritive dentist looks at your teeth and looks into the future.  He/She has to decide if any of your teeth are likely to need removing for the rest of your life.  If they decide that this is the case they will remove them pre treatment.  I had 6 teeth removed.  The reason behind this is because the radiochemo/chemoradio can destroy teeth that aren't strong.  If this happens during treatment it can cause a lot of problems.  Hopefully you won't need any removed.  I now have a strict daily teeth cleaning regime.  I have to use prescription toothpaste and this is for life.  Also my own dentist is no longer allowed to remove any teeth.  If they feel any need removing I have to go back to the restorative dentist who will try and save them.  if you do need to have any teeth removed it may put your treatment start date back a bit.  They have to wait 10 days after removing any teeth before starting treatment to give the gums time to heal.

    The mask fitting was like a spa day, I can only imagine as I have never actually been on a spa day.  I found it very relaxing.  They warm the material up and then mold it to your face where it hardens.  The mask is to keep you in position on the radio machine.  It has lots of holes in it so you can still see and breath.  If you are at all claustophobic I would tell them.  They can't do enough to make you comfortable.

    I also went in for an op to remove my good tonsil and take some biopsys prior to treatment.

    I only completed 5 of my 6 chemo sessions.  Prior to my 6th I felt that my body could take no more, I took advice from my MDT and they were happy for me not to complete my 6th.  They did say that there was a good chance that due to bloods I wouldn't be able to do the 6th anyway.  Today I still feel that that was the right decision.

    They will probably talk to you about having an NG Tube fitted at some point during your treatment.  I was determined not to have one fitted.  I felt that it would be a battle lost.  However around the end of week four I had lost too much weight due to not eating properly.  This was down to loss of taste.  They talked me into having an NG Tube fitted. I could have cried, but better to lose a battle to win the war.  I had it fitted and now it is the best thing ever.  Without it I would never have been able to fight back as hard.

    With regards to weight there is no ideal weight that you can go into this with.  They will weigh you at the beginning and then you'll have a percentage that you can lose before they start to worry (you may have to ask how much you can safely lose).  losing too much weight not only means you are not getting enough nutrition but your mask wont fit properly. I spent a bit of money on some scales so that I could keep an eye.  My scales matched the weights at the hospital.  I did go for a lot of walks to improve my fittness pre treatment, and carried this on for as long as I could during treatment.  We also invested in a rowing machine to help with fitness pre and post treatment.  I am not a gym bunny by a long shot :)

    Alli there are loads of bits of advice that I can give you, but this post would be a book long :laugh:  As you reach each step I will  tell you what happened. helped, didn't help me.  Do keep in mind that we all react to the treatment differently.  What I will say is never be in pain, if you are in any kind of pain let them know and they will sort it for you.  

    I hope that this has helped

    Stay strong

    Al x

     

  • morning 

    AL you are quite amazing reading what you have told Alli the fight for fitness and eating etc. The journey has been fought through sheer determination I can see. I am so glad you are through this and able to help others now. 

    I hope everyone has a good day today the sun is out again. We had some rain yesterday but not enough to water the plants. However, good news some butternut squash are emerging they just needed a push and a talking too! Al has your wifes plants arrived yet? My little plugs are struggling to cope half of them seem to be pulling through the other half are battling the battle of survival too. 

    Have made a list of questions for my doctors for monday so am going to print a copy of and drop it of at the doctors so they can get an idea for monday dont want to speak to someone with no knowledge. Managed to find a paper on necrotising granulomas in the head and neck which was quite interesting. Unfortunately did not say about management. My lump is being christened Fuego -spanish for fire because thats what it feels like when it gets inflamed. 

    right had better finish my cuppa and get myself motivated for the day! 

    keep smiling and stay strong x

     

  • Good Morning Elona :)

    Thank you for the veggie advice...  I'll have green fingers before I know it!

    Well the day bed come garden bench is complete and 'chained' to the front of the house.  Not that I don't trust anybody, but there has been a lot of garden thefts lately.  Its very big, but very comfy.  We also purchased a cantilever parasol to keep the sun off, gets very hot out the front, but now need to purchase weights which cost more than the parasol, bloomimg cheek!

    Also in the process of converting the old garage/shed/stone/brick outhouse into a multipurpose building.  It's 10 x 15 feet inside.  We want it to be usable as another room with bed for people to stay, a party room, a workshop and art room.   We've been watching a lot of George Clarke for ideas lol

    I have visions of you on your Nintendo, I did think about getting one for fittness...  Are they any good?  Sounds like you are having fun which is very important.

    Loving hearing about yours and Alli's bird table visitors.  Think I may have to look at making an anti cat bird table when my shed is finished.

    I have eaten many insects, and they weren't that bad.  I spent some time in Asia where it is common place, they are very high in nutrition and protein.  It wouldn't surprise me if in the not to distant future insects become part of the western diet, mosy burgers and flydogs lol.  I did draw the line with fried terantula though!

    Sunny here in the valleys today, time to be outside and make the most of it.

    Hope you have a great day.

    Be strong

    Al x

  • Hello 

    I'm having a few technical issues and thought I'd posted a message but it didn't work hope I have more luck now lol, hope all goes well at doctors Elona and they come up with a course of treatment for you its sounds awful that its a burning pain in the lump like the name though lol, Al its really helping knowing that you got through the treatment and are still smiling and positive its giving me hope that I can do it, hope I'm as brave as you, I have day bed envy its sounds lovely perfect for lounging on lazy summer days, nearly forgot Al how did your mdt meeting go hope it was ok, all ok here I've been feeling really healthy for a sick person just get a bit tired I've been trying to go for a walk each day or do a bit of vigorous cleaning and eat a bit healthier as I'm not the fittest and lockdown and being furloughed didn't help, the bird tables been a bit quieter since we mowed but there is a family of wrens that are regulars think they are nesting in the hedge its like I've put a birdy restaurant there for them the wood pigeons a regular as well it's sussed were the food is now, saw the robin round the other side of the garden so have hung a bird seed feeder there for him if to encourage him to come back he's so cute

    Hope you all have a lovely day take care

    Alli x

  • Hi Elona :)

    We must have posted at the same time yesterday :)

    What a great idea writing down questions and handing them in pre appointment.  I can never remember the things that I want to ask when I see someone.  I'll come out of the appointment and my wife will say 'Did you ask..?', 'Nope', 'So did you ask..?', 'Err, Nope'.  I did start to write them down for my weekly MDT meetings, which helped no end.

    Sadly the plants have not arrived yet, apparently they will be here by the end of the month, all 125 of them!  They will be ready to plant straight outside as long as there are no late frosts.  She took a chance and bought them from a new business, it is a group of growers who have got together during lock down to sell online.  They keep in regular contact.   I have decided to repot my brussles today, they're just going too mad in the flat trays.  Some of my herbs are looking like they could do with a bit more room too.  Peppers, tomatoes, carrots and either the onions or potatoes are starting to show.  I say either onions or potatoes as she can't remember which she planted in which bag lol.

    Managed to finish clearing half the shed project yesterday ready to start renovation.  Sunny here again today, I have decided that I am going to chill today.  Start the renovaion next week.

    Hope you have a great weekend, good luck for Monday.

    Stay strong

    Al x

  • morning 

    well sun is shinning again but is quite cold have had to turn on the heating back in my room. 

    Al Day bed sounds brilliant you two are really clever, shame about the thiefs that you have to tie it down to the house. a cat resistanbt bird table sounds like a good challenge for youj next! 

    Alli wonderful to hear boaut the birds in your garden a family of wrens - how cute! and love robins, 

    my back garden is getting a bit clearere each day the hen run is now down just got to dismantle the hen house - shame as it is a good one but things dont last and would have to be really disinfected for a new family. lots of heavy stones to move and place around the garden one at a time me thingks and some help maybe needed too. the previous owner was a reclamation yard person and this garden was littered with all sorts of building materials, some of the stones thoug are huge and not unpleasant to look at also i dont think i could lift into a skip if i had one so i am raising flower beds with them. 

    did not do any fitness on nintendo yesterday as had done enough but i do find it a lot of fun. the ring is an adventure game like sonic the hedgehog but to move you have to use the ring - you squeeze it in, out  al depending upon what you want to do and do squats of knees up. the good thing though that i like is that it is based on your ability so it measures you doing things so if you cant you can pretend. - for instance i cannot lift heel to ring so i do ring to heel. for me it has been worth it. hubby quite likes watching me. then we play some games like bowling, shooting aliens together! 

    having hair cut today for first time in a year - yay! am going to go radicle and change the style - long on side of lump and short on other side with slope on back. this will also remove some of the red hair dye am going au naturele at moment until i know i can dye my hair again lol. 

    well thats my excitement for the day - and sadly will watch the funeral later. 

    aaah just caught baby mini mafia on bird table the rat! literally!!!! i need a mini mafia plan! 

    have a good day everyone and keep smiling x