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!

  • Afternoon

    Well today has been eventful decided lovely would do a little more weeding then phone rings could I go on BBC Essex radio and answer some questions on cat microchipping and cat behviour. Not until 2pm (turned out 2.15pm) and only lasted 5 minutes lol so morning spent topping up knowledge - not needed lol.

    Topping up pond after mending a patch last night and getting pond sealant all over my fingers - what a mess!!!! i remember the time we had a patch that was sticky not now have to cut a circle and use this most horrendous black sealant took half an hour to get fingers clean!11 then computer didnt recognise them to touch sign in as i had rubbed the top layer off!! hoping it has worked or everyone will hear me whereever you are!! 

    no sign of mini mafia as yet we are hopeful that they have relocated although hubby thinks he saw grandpa yesterday having got himself lost going home and ended up here. 

    Ended up in bed yesterday at 4pm lol shattered and fell asleep so funny woke up and wondered if it was today and then realised it was only 2 hours later. probably end up doing that tonight going early. too much excitement!! 

    hope you are all ok and doing well. 

    keep smiling 

    x

     

  • Afternoon,

    a rainy day today but has had a few dry spots so time to get compost on garden and plant my plugs all done except the begonias. The garden is now beginning to look good and iam pleased i have had the energy to do it. my coca cola smelling geraniums, hybrid foxglove and others all in. 

    watching more ghost wars getting quite suspenseful. Pedro and cats have joined me but they are not that fussed lol just a warm bod to lie next too. 

    Undercoat is on the chimney breast so tomorrow can paint it then when i can put the new tiles on. I love it when a plan gets together. 

    Hoping you are all well and doing ok. 

    keep smiling x

     

  • Hi Elona :happy:

    The trip to oncology went well.  They're not sure what the lump on my head is, they're not too worried about it at this time.  They think that maybe the steroids that I took during treatment may have shrunk it.  They're not going to take any chances though.  The plan is that they're either going to scan it at my next PET Scan, or they're going to send me to a dermatologist, or both.  They're going to discuss it at their next meeting.

    Turns out the reason my taste buds and throat have taken a bit of a u-turn is because I have oral thrush again.  This has coated my tongue and throat.  I only had it a few weeks ago, but apparently it is common to have it multiple times post treatment.  So more mouth washes and meds, plus I have to brush my tongue with Bi Carb.

    I also found out why my good tonsil was removed.  Although the risk was low of the cancer spreading to my other tonsil the risk was still high enough to warrent removing it.  This is because had the good tonsil shown signs of cancer post treatment the human body would not handle the 6 week treatment being repeated.  Which would have made the cancer hard to remove with any success.   All makes sense now :happy:

    I will keep that in mind with the Sage, I too am an insects favourite meal.  Perhaps I will plant all the sage outside next to the citronella candles :laugh:  I should have shares in citronella.  Does the pond not attract the midges too?  Horse Flies are my worst, after being bitten by them I look like Freddie Krueger from Elm Street!

    A call from local radio eh...  From this moment onwards you will now be known as the cat lady :laugh:  My cats aren't chipped, they're completely broken!

    'My coca cola smelling geraniums?'  Please do tell me about these.

    Hope you have a fab weekend :happy:

    You too 'Keep Smiling'

    Al'

     

     

  • Hi Alli :happy:

    Just a short one to let you know that we are all thinking about you.

    Stay Strong

    Al' x

  • Afternoon,

    Hope everyone is ok.

    Al glad the oncologist is ok with lump on head but hope it gets sorted at next treatment. Ingteresting about the tonsil removal. If that had been the case i would have had to have two operations because they had not toally diagnosed mine at the tonsilectomy stage. 

    Not a pretty sight Freddie Krueger! the pond has a few midges but because it is a koi pond with no plants it is not too bad. 

    Geraniums can be flavoured with several scents. You crush a leaf inbetween your fingers and then smell it. The coca cola one really does smell of coca cola and the apple one really smells of apple. There i another flavour but it was not very good, not sure if there are other flavours or not, may have to look it up. 

    Cleaning a bit today to get the house looking at least a little respectable for our friends tomorrow. Dropped hubby at Asda for a walk around and get a few things. He quite enjoyed it. I sat in car doing a suduko, not brilliant at them but can do medium ones. It kept me occupied and i was not going to go inside. 

    Now finishing the ghost wars, turning sci fi now aliens as ghosts. Meat loaf does play a good part though am impressed. Huge fan of his songs. 

    Finally have Pedro also lying next to me at last he is quiet for a time has been very demanding today wineing a lot for attention and balll throwing. little *** decided to lie full out last night on bed leaving me very little room!! as it is i have a small square to sit with knees up resting this on them to write lol. 

    We had a blue *** fly into our carport i took a little while to fly out but it was really pretty love seeing the birds. Was surprised when hubby didnt know many bird breeds. will have to educate him. awaiting pigeon feeding time. 

    Alli and Sam hope your ok. x

    keep smiling x

  • Afternoon, 

    had a great morning with friends consequently i am shattered now and voice has nearly gone. shall fall asleep this afternoon probably. They brought me a metal hedgehog to go in the garden but it is so cute might keep it indoors. Sounds like work has not changed one bit! shame really. 

    Diet out the window this morning so all day - they brought cake and crisps and tea!! so hubby and i will treat ourselves to having chinese for tea. good job as i have no energy for cooking. 

    Finishing watching ghost wars also still holding my interest which is good, often series dont do that or have some boring episodes but this is good. 

    Hubby says he thinks the mini mafia are sneaking about again and that this morning they were clearing up the mobile restaurant out in the carport. They obviously did not do that too quietly because Pedro was showing interest. The restaurant must have been smelling good because people had come from all around to participate in the menus and i was told they were quite reasonably priced. Cleaning up was a little more chaotic they had left a couple of wrappers around so hubby is going to tell them to be a bit more careful. 

    When my friends looked around the garden they made a few comments about the good life, it does sound strange when i say over there is the veggies, sweetcorn, butternut squash, celeraic, there is the apple, pear, plum trees then there are blueberries, blackcurrnat, saskatoons, the summer truffle and walnut tree!!! i could be as nutty as they were lol. 

    anyway have good days hope things are not too bad,. 

    keep smiling x

  • Hi, sorry to jump in on your posts but have any of you suffered with burns from the radiation, if so how long did they take to heal?  
    My husband has 2 more RT sessions left for cancer of the right tonsil and lymph nodes but he has terrible burns which are actually more painful than his throat at the minute.  This, along with the horrible mucus which makes him choke, is really getting him down and I feel so helpless as I can't physically do anything to make it better. I Would appreciate any advice, thanks.

  • Hi Judy 

    I am sorry to hear about your husbands situation and I hope it improves soon. When Al is on he will reply to your thread here. 

    No one has mentioned the burns to me but mucus is a *** for everyone it seems and some people react more than others. what has the nurses and consultants said? does he have a tube in? 

    The best thing for you is to try and keep his emotions up as much as possible. Try all distractions and have hope that is important. you are probably the most important person apart from oncologists etc in his life and it is not easy on you iam sure so you must also have some you time. if you dont look after yourself and destress then you cant be there for him either. we are here for you to write and keep in touch any time you like. x

  • Morning,

    wow the rain has come down torrendous down pour. I sleep in the conservatory so it sounded so noisy ! yet the animals took no notice!! and are flat out. Thankfully hubby had taken Pedro outside for a play before he lay next to me on the bed. lazy ***!!! (I cant talk). 

    the rain will do the plants good but as long as they dont damage the baby ones i had planted. i cant wait to see the colour coming out. iam so pleased with what we achieved this last week. 

    Oh my gosh i saw a news report yesterday about a town in New South Wales Australia where the grain had a bumper year and a drought meant the mice had reproduced so much they were running across peoples pillows at night, school desks and where everywhere wow it was amazing and awful at the same time. I am glad my mini mafia are not that bad!! i dont think i could cope seeing and feeling mice creeping everywhere and trying to bite me etc yikes. 

    oh sun is coming out thas promising. Mind you a lazy day today is in order - hope you all have a good lazy day too and relax get as much rest as you all need. Enjoy the day do something enjoyable.

    hope everyone are doing ok

    take care

    keep smiling x

     

  • Hi Judy

    Firstly no need for any apologies, you are more than welcome to post on this thread whenever you wish.  Feel free to come here even if its just for a general chat.  Like Elona said, you need to also make time for yourself.  It's really difficult I know, but try not to burn yourself out with worry and stress.

    I really feel for your husband at this time as his body is going through a lot and I know how down it can make you both feel.  It may not seem it right now, but it will get better and easier.

    I am just over a month the other side of treatment for T4 Tonsil Cancer (6 weeks radio and chemo) which had spread to nodes and local area.  I was very lucky with regards to the radio burns on my neck,  Radiology supplied me with a cream called Epaderm right at the beginning of treatment.  I applied this three or four times a day to my neck and head for the duration of the treatment and still do now.   The cream definitely helped a great deal.  My wife just reminded me to tell you to keep the cream in the fridge as the cooling helped a lot too.  Obviously do check with your M D Team.  I am hoping that Sam will see your post too as he was given a different cream and went through a different experience to me.

    With regard to the mucus, as well as the different mouth washes and sprays, we loaned a nebuliser from the cancer hospital which helped a great deal.  I would enquire at your hospital if they have ones that they lend out as a good one is very expensive to buy.  I have heard that some doctors surgeries also lone them out.

    I wish both you and your husband all the strength in the world.  We are always here if you need us.

    Be Strong

    Al'