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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

Afternoon, but late today man delivered compost for garden and Pedro wanted attention. 

He was abit better yesterday on his new front lead harness but did put the brakes on in the new estate. I think it ws actually due to the high winds that spooked him. He is now resting nicely curled up next to me unawares that he will have to try again later! the front harness did work though it did make him walk closer to my side than before which was good. 

Thanks Al for your kind words I needed them. 

I think facebook maybe a good idea but i would check with the administrators first that they woulod not sensor ths pictures. They have been a bit daft recently with some of the things they are not allowing. I have made harmless comments and they have been denied. The other thing would be to ask questions to the people who want to join otherwise we could get anybody. The other thing is as administrator unless you want someone else to also do it have you time and energy?

AM thrilled Al that you are eating and 5-600cal not bad start and a burger lol what a start!! I find some things still get caught in the back of my mouth on occasion so this may always be the case now. Hope the pain starts to ease soon. 

Alli try not to get too nervous about thursday we will all be thinking of you. I am sure hopefully all will go well. Try as many distractions as possible beofe then. 

Mini mafia junior was out again in the carport last night we suspect he has been left there on guard to report back with any changes until the time has come for their retalliation. Grandma will certainly have a say in what happens. 

Al it will certainly be exciting to see baby love birds sounds like you have had experinece with them before. They are beautiful birds. 

Boy it sounds like we have all had the wind. It certainly has been singing its way through my garden and lifte a parasol here too - not far thankfully but shows how strong it can be. Bet it was bad down in Wales. Valleys do seem to get the wind gusting through. Have not cheked on my plugs yet. At least the sun is trying to shine through. 

yay finished the wall and painted the window this morning so floor to finish now then fire place and coving lol. Will be good to get that done. One bit at a time lol. 

have found a foreign disaster movie called the wave on Amazon pretty good. (norwegian i think about a flooding). 

keep smiling and have a goo day x

Hello

Al that's great news that you are starting to be able to eat again I hadn't realised that tastebuds could come back so soon so it gives me hope, haven't had a McDonalds since before the lockdown so will maybe be able to have a big Mac when all this is over if I can open my mouth wide enough that is( I'm sure ill find a way lol). Sun is starting to come back out again so have retrieved the recycling that was strewn all over garden only one casualty one of my green bunny garden ornaments lost an ear but I managed to glue it back so he's nearly as good as new. Good news that Pedro's getting used to the harness Elona, it sounds like your going to have the room done in no time just don't try to do to much. I don't go on Facebook Al but if we could sort it I'd give it a go. Im not feeling to anxious at the mo I've been keeping busy  doing cleaning and jobs around the house and yesterday the kids set the tv up in my room and I can get catch up on it so I may get so comfy in there I won't  want to come out

Take care and enjoy the rest of your day

Alli x

Hi Al

Forgot to say the chemo drug I'm having is called carboplatin, they are giving me this as I am partially deaf in one ear and have tinnitus so some chemo can make it worse according to doc x

Afternoon, 

raining nicely here - good plants still need a lot, even the little plugs i have just transplanted this morning. Its good to see that i have not killed of all the plugs lol. 

Rum tum managed to scare of the pigeons from the bird table today he gave them such a fright poor things hope they come back later. Birds cannot see glass so they must have thought t=he was just about to get them. Mind you they are fat so they could do without a feed now and then lol. 

Gandapa mini mafia is going senile! he thought the fake funeral procession was a marriage and started doing a jig on top of the coffin. He then got incredibly drunk he got into Aunt Agathas bed who was not amused. Grandma gave him a right talking to but he just laughed it off. Consequently the whole protest turned into mayhem and nearly everyone got drunk falling over each other laying around showing their tummies and long tails caught up uin each other that when they stood up they fell over again. no wonder the plan has not been decided yet they are still suffering and untangling each other. The two on look out Junior and cousing are not amused having to miss out on all the fun. Grandma told them that until they are old enough to be their own bosses they have to follow the rules whether they like it or not. 

Glad Alli you managed to clue the ear on your garden bunny. Thankfully we did not get any damages, but the garden is at the moment quite a mess having taken down the old chicken coop. A skip arrives tomorrow so we should be able to get rid of a lot of rubbish then. Hubby will have to help. We have a plan he carries things on his lap and i wheel him it works well. some of the larger things like the chicken coop and run i may have to get a neighbour to help. THe one good thing about being ill this year is being able to do the house and garden lol. It amy take four times as long but i probably would not have been able to do if i was still working. 

how are your plants Al.

Pigeon is back for second attempt this time Rasputin has his eye on him - stupid cat he cant get him either!!! 

take care all keep smiling x

Hi 

I love the mini mafia stories Elona they make me smile, looks like you have the rain now hopefully without the wind, I know what you mean about the wood pigeons they are so greedy they never stop eating they are so big when they are on the bird table no one else can fit on lol, 2 new visitors a magpie and what I think was a blue *** which was exciting. Hope you are ok Al and still managing to eat more solid food how soon did your taste change when you were having treatment, I've bought more soft food today so think I will be ok. I'm having a rest now been cleaning for 2 days and im shattered I've been getting breathless lately which is a scary sign trying not to worry, treatment tomorrow I think im as prepared as im going to be. Don't overdo things in the garden Elona good idea to get neighbour to help 

Enjoy your day

Alli x

Hi Alli :happy:

Thinking of you today.  With the chemo all you can do is sit or lay back and relax (sometimes I was given a very comfy recliner chair or a bed).  The drips are plugged into the mains and on wheels, but you can unplug them to stretch your legs or use the facilities (one of the nurses should show you how to do this).  Then once unplugged you learn to dance with your drip, Strictly will have nothing on you by the end :happy:

Both Chemo and Radio can affect your taste buds, taste receptor cells.  I had my chemo over 6 weeks and it was around week two that I noticed changes with my taste.  Once my taste started to change I lost it very quickly, within a few days, all taste was definitley gone by the end of week two.  It wasn't just the taste, textures of certain foods became difficult to eat too, this was due to changes in the saliva.  Not everybody has such drastic changes to taste.

I have been very naughty and not used my tube for two days now, this is not what was discussed with the dietician :devil:  My thought was to make myself very hungry by not having tube feeds.  It worked as I ate my first full size dinner yesterday, two lamb chops and roast veg.  I am starving now and it is only 8am, I have been having a slice of toast with butter in the mornings but today I am going to try porridge.  I've not been able to eat porridge since I lost my taste.  The hardest part is getting all the right vitamins and nutrients which the tube feeds supply.  I may even remove my tube at the weekend. 

Try not to think about losing taste, it may not happen.  Or you may just lose certain tastes.  If you do notice it happening, or you start to struggle with certain food textures tell your dietician.  There are mouth washes that they can give you to help and they do help.  Also a loss of taste can affect your weight.  Some chemo can also affect your appetite, again if this happens tell your dietician.

Most of all relax today, we are all thinking of you.

Stay Strong

Al x

Hi Elona :happy:

Sun is shinning here today, glad now to have a break from the rain.  Although I do believe that somewhere in the UK has had some quite heavy snow today!

We noticed yesterday that some of our plugs have been eaten and a tomatoe plant has strangely disappeared, sinister goings on in the garden... Cue sinister music, evil slug stage left.  Can only assume its either slugs or snails, although we've spied neither.  Did you know there is no point in throwing snails over the fence as they have very good homing senses and will find their way back.  And no doubt bring some friends with them.  I do believe that Hedgehogs like a slug or two.  In our old garden we had a big family of slow worms which kept the  shelled and non-shelled fiends at bay.

Voting day today, still have no idea who to vote for.  It's easy to make promises on a shiny bit of paper stuffed through the letterbox.  And OMG!  Did we have a lot of gumph through the door!  Now I know where all the trees have gone.   Think I might just close my eyes and pin the tail on the donkey.  Where is Screaming Lord Sutch when you need him?  :happy::laugh:

Hope the sun is shinning on you, apparently you are in for some warm weather on Sunday.

Stay Strong

Al x

Morning 

Alli - thinking of you today hope all goes well. 

Al thank you you made me laugh cant wait to hear more abiout the sinister movements of the garden it reminded me of tales of the unexpected! 

Hubby and i have decided not to vote today - i forgot to sign up for postal vote as i am still suposed to be shielding and Clacton district does not generally change its counsillors much anyway. We would have definately made the effort if it had been a general election. Hahahha yes we could do with more Lord screaming Sutch!!! 

I think we had a jay in the garden on the hedge/fence yesterday it was hard to see because of the light but it was very handsome. Alli i love blue *** we had a nesting box that was used by them yearly until this year and i think that is because of my mothers cats that were here have spooked them, hope they come back again. 

Standoff with cousin mini mafia who sneeked onto bird table in the dusk yesterday. Was being observed very closely through the windo by Rum tum but cousin was brave and seemed aware that rum tum could not get to it. i had to open the top window to get it to move. Mind you it had stuffed its face by them!! 

I have decided my garden needs some lights so I have seen and am going to recreate a watering can dripping water onto the garden and the dripping water is a curtain of fairy lights. i have ordered a curtain of white lights and have an old watering can just need a post to set it up and we should be ready. Things dont always come out as well as my brain says but we shall see. 

Have good day and keep smiling x

Hi Elona :happy:

I hope Ali is feeling ok, she would have had a long day yesterday.

I love Jays, thay are without doubt one of my favourite birds.  I lived in Hampshire for 10 years and the place that we used to walk the dogs was full of Jays, I had never experienced before so many in one place.  I could sit there and watch them for ages.  I don't think that I have seen one since living here.

We have lots of lights in the garden, every year they are replaced or added to.  I expect you can see our garden from space!  Loving the watering can idea, I may have to borrow that :wink:  I am going to transplant my herbs into pots today, still not going to risk them going outside.  Mind you the sprouts were transplanted outside a couple of weeks ago and they're doing well.

I removed my feeding tube yesterday, 4 days ahead of time.  Watched a 'How To' YouTube video and out it came :happy:  I wont lie I was nervous but it was such a relief once out.  And a lot easier than I expected.

Lovely and sunny here today, not warm though.  A lot of rain heading in from the south west tomorrow so will have to make the most of today.

Stay Strong

Al x

Hi all.

So, treatment finished on Tuesday. Sufficed to say I nearly yanked the bell off the wall

Saw my Oncologist same day as well in Clinic. He has said he's pleased with how I've coped with the intensive treatment (I don't feel pleased but!!!) My outer skin is a bit itchy but Flamigel sorting that well. He also went on to feel around my neck and had a little look inside. Said because things are so swollen he can't necessarily say it's gone but used the term 'I currently have no reasons to think the treatment is working and going in the right direction' so... took some comfort from that.

Throat discomfort isn't toooooo bad. Basic fluids are still a bit sore to go down but having guzzles every now and again, have even been trying some fruit juices but mouth still way too sore.

My NG Tube came out for the 5th time a few days back, tried to go onto Ensures but with the amount of Phlegm rattling around, my tummy just won't have it.. ended up vomming so I drove myself back to my Unit and they refitted it for me. Finding that I can only be in certain positions with it (like bolt upright in bed). Otherwise I get loads of coughing fits, I have to keep them controlled otherwise I end up wretching and we lose the tube!

After treatment they said that I should start getting some improvement After a week or so, but generally varies from person to person. So kindly hoping that the Mucus buggers off reasonably quickly. 

Great to hear on your recovery DF... keep pushing. 

My PET Scan is being booked for in 6 weeks time. So should be 2nd or 3rd week of June. Plenty of time to concentrate on recovering. 

Hi all.

So, treatment finished on Tuesday. Sufficed to say I nearly yanked the bell off the wall

Saw my Oncologist same day as well in Clinic. He has said he's pleased with how I've coped with the intensive treatment (I don't feel pleased but!!!) My outer skin is a bit itchy but Flamigel sorting that well. He also went on to feel around my neck and had a little look inside. Said because things are so swollen he can't necessarily say it's gone but used the term 'I currently have no reasons to think the treatment is working and going in the right direction' so... took some comfort from that.

Throat discomfort isn't toooooo bad. Basic fluids are still a bit sore to go down but having guzzles every now and again, have even been trying some fruit juices but mouth still way too sore.

My NG Tube came out for the 5th time a few days back, tried to go onto Ensures but with the amount of Phlegm rattling around, my tummy just won't have it.. ended up vomming so I drove myself back to my Unit and they refitted it for me. Finding that I can only be in certain positions with it (like bolt upright in bed). Otherwise I get loads of coughing fits, I have to keep them controlled otherwise I end up wretching and we lose the tube!

After treatment they said that I should start getting some improvement After a week or so, but generally varies from person to person. So kindly hoping that the Mucus buggers off reasonably quickly. 

Great to hear on your recovery DF... keep pushing. 

My PET Scan is being booked for in 6 weeks time. So should be 2nd or 3rd week of June. Plenty of time to concentrate on recovering. 

Hi Sam

I never got to ring the bell.  There was one at chemo and one outside radio, I didn't do my last chemo and I was hospitalised with nutropenic sepsis two days before the end of my radio.  So I am so glad that you rang it so hard :happy:

So good to learn that you are coming out of the other end, I think that you had a much rougher journey than me through the treatment.  Hopefully your post recovery will be much smoother.  I removed my Ng last Thursday, like you I had to be bolt upright with it, and lost over a kilo already, not that I mind too much as I could still do with losing a few pounds :laugh:  Told by dietician yesterday to drink a pint of full fat milk a day for the protein.  

6 weeks to PET Scan is quick, I have to wait 4 months from the end of treatment which leaves me 3 months from now...  Yet another waiting game, although ENT did say that visually it looks like it has at least retreated.  My tonsil and lymph nodes have definitely gone down.

I hope you mucus buggers off soon, it is an absolute pain.

Here is to our recovery, may it be sooner rather than later.

Be Strong

Al