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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,

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'

Hi Judy. 

Im just about 2 weeks post my last fraction and literally until the final day I had zero burns. My Oncologist was gobsmacked. Then a couple of days later.... Holy breakout!!! My whole neck went red raw and a bit weepy at times. Left with a dry crust which seems to renew daily.. it is slowly but surely getting better... keep up your application of Flamigel or what equivalent they have given you, keep the area clean and it will heal.

I've already noticed the right side of my neck which had the lesser dose is already 70%+ healed..  left is getting there but taking more time.

Mucus is evil, but again, should settle once his radiation levels start coming down.

One thing I am learning is everyone's recovery is different, alot of people have common side effects, such as the burns, the mucus.. from there things will differ, and like everything, it differs from person to person.

Atm, my main after effects are excess saliva (as apposed to lack of!) Which is making me cough up every so often especially using my NG Tube. Along with my neck burns!

I am only 32, and very much used to being in control of my health (and the confidence to deal with others!) And have leaned that this process is one of the most brutal treatments going, that and its a Marathon, not a race.

The side effects will get better but will take time. 

Speak with his Oncology team, Carbocestine and Nebulisers can help Mucus. 

Hi Judy. 

Im just about 2 weeks post my last fraction and literally until the final day I had zero burns. My Oncologist was gobsmacked. Then a couple of days later.... Holy breakout!!! My whole neck went red raw and a bit weepy at times. Left with a dry crust which seems to renew daily.. it is slowly but surely getting better... keep up your application of Flamigel or what equivalent they have given you, keep the area clean and it will heal.

I've already noticed the right side of my neck which had the lesser dose is already 70%+ healed..  left is getting there but taking more time.

Mucus is evil, but again, should settle once his radiation levels start coming down.

One thing I am learning is everyone's recovery is different, alot of people have common side effects, such as the burns, the mucus.. from there things will differ, and like everything, it differs from person to person.

Atm, my main after effects are excess saliva (as apposed to lack of!) Which is making me cough up every so often especially using my NG Tube. Along with my neck burns!

I am only 32, and very much used to being in control of my health (and the confidence to deal with others!) And have leaned that this process is one of the most brutal treatments going, that and its a Marathon, not a race.

The side effects will get better but will take time. 

Speak with his Oncology team, Carbocestine and Nebulisers can help Mucus. 

Hi, thank you everyone for your replies, we have been applying the Flamigel 3 times a day since day 1 but I think because he is fair skinned it's affected him more, the radiologist says it is how they would expect at this stage and the nursing staff say it's not infected even tho it's raw, weepy and crusty, he can barely move his neck!  They have given him some Flamazene to put on when he's finished treatment on Tuesday and they promise us it's amazing stuff, let's hope so  
The mucus is his other big issue, he is unable to swallow anything apart from tiny sips of tea and even then he coughs and chokes.  He has Carbocisteine and he uses a steamer a few times a day which does help a little.  He has a RIG tube so he's living on Ensure complete and has all his meds this way too.  Amazingly to date he's only lost around 4.5kg.

 This forum has been really helpful for me (albeit absolutely terrifying at times) but I am that person who wants to know everything, I believe that forearmed is forewarned, hubby on the other hand would rather not know what's coming but I do try and prepare him for each stage. Only 2 days to go and we can begin the long road back to recovery
Thanks again