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

morning what a scorcher!! 

its already so hot we wont venture out today!! - if you do keep safe and sun creamed!! 

mini mafia have got their paddling pools out again - no natural ones this time they have all dried up so they went and bought several and used peoples hoses to fill up over night - hoping people will put it down to watering their plants. lots of parasols up that look like the oxbow daisies in the field so no one will notice and a lot of splashing about. there are a few trying to bomb the water with their bods to the parents dismay but kids will be kids. lots of water pistols as well poor Grandpa ws reading his newspaper and got suddenly wet with a water pistol. at this pojnt everyone went silent - shock horror - the most respected member of the clan - thankfully he just smiled with a glint in the eye and moved away - the child were quite sheepish for a moment before suddenly going mad again. 

no madness here even the dog is having a lie down!! 

keep smiling xx

afternoon - short note to say hi and hope everyone is ok. very hot today and tired got up early as i have to try to get up at this time for work - have to go back soon but was a struggle.good news thiugh lump on neck has gone down again now a pea size so thats promising but i do want smething to show on CT or i will get one of those we dont know nothing to worry about answers that are useless so bit worried about that. also need an answer for work rather than we dont know if they can say was or is but imptoving etc will be good. fingers crossed. anyway thats thirsday. sent in sputum test am what joys!! 

keep smiling xx

feel i have done a days work already!watered the garden, fed next doors cat and managed to get up early again!! going to be a scorcher again and the thunderstorms we are broadcast may just miss us by the looks of things. 

pedro is already lying around despite having gone out several times already! Shugs is too warm she did not want to eat much - until that is I showed her some ham!! Pedro never needs encouragement to eat in fact he waits patiently until she has finished to see if he can polish of anything else on the plate. 

my sweetcorn is so high it reminds me of the the Stephen king film in the tall grass where the people got lost and could not find their way out. it towers over me that if it was in a field i would certainly get lost lol. 

the pigeons were desperate for food aghain last night they even ignored Shugs barking at them to come down and eat! 

have good day and keep smiling x

keep cool today its sweltering!! keep safe and keep smiling x

morning 

well yesterday i had the CT treatment. went in expecting neck and chest to be told it was also abdo and pelvis too. iv put in for contrast felt very weird - got a little panicky then settled doughnut not as bad as MRI tunnel but thats tolerable too. contrast went in and boy that is strange felt internal body temperature getting very hot especially groin area then intense feeling that i am wetting myself!!! but i am not - they said that would happen and very strange does not last too long. CT is a lot quicker than MRI too so hopefully fingers crossed it shows up something and gives diagnosis. 

treated ourselves to fish and chips on the way home first time in well over a year. - yummy!! 

not so hot today lloking forward to opening ceremony today lathough still not sure it should be gooing ahead but then hey scary times more covid yesterday wish people would be sensible. 

take care and keep smining xx

mini mafia are planning their own olympics so watch this space ...

morning 

what a night it was last night the mini mafia started of their olympics with the athletics, well pole jumping. this consisted of a bamboo stick being sprung of because gren bamboo sticks are quite bendy. now no one had tried this before so the sinjon ambulance were on hand for any broken bones. 

of course the young men were eager to try and show of but being true gentle men hehehe decided to let the girls go first!!  Annie from number 10 opted to go first and went to the start of the run up, she courtseyed and smiled then look ahead .. of she ran getting faster and faster then she plunged the bamboo stick in the ground and leapt ... flop! she didnt go far - one foot - the embarrassement meant she ran away crying. Millie next she started gigling before the gun went of then ran for it she managed to get a coupple of foot longer - no one had cleared the bar yet!! after about ten goes the girls were getting the hang of things and were allowed more than one go so Millie went again this time she got it righjt and wooooooooo she flew over the bar laughing the men below were moving back and forth trying to catch her on the way down in a bed sheet. 

men or boys next of course they were looking a bit bravado and some were ok some were considered a bit girlie then Ned had a go. He ran up leapt and flew high into the air over the top of the corn to a lot of cooos then fell into a patch of nettles! yeeeouch!!! of to the senjon ambukance for dock leave treatment and that was the end of his pole vault but he did manage to get a medal despite being wrapped in bandages. 

the runnning tomorrow if it gets cooler. 

keep smiling folks xx

morning 

waiting results is so tedious !!

mini mafia were getting ready for their cross country running yesterday the proper athletics was postpone due to the weather not turning. 

the men were pouting their chests out - they have got this in the bag lol. the elderly men had been out in the field marking the run and making sure it had some nice things to cross like a muddy stretch, a rocky orad and a hilly one. (the youngsters had no idea whjat they had put them selves in for, they presumed it was just a run round the corn field).

the gun went of and off they ran... hurdle one the mud patch and suddenly they stopped ... and looked .... trouble was this stop was so sudden the ones at the back bumped into the ones at the front sending them flying into the mud!! splutter plutter ... but it meant they started moving in the right direction. the more delicate stopped and decided they were not going any further! this halved the pack. 

round the next corner was the rocky road and grandpa had made an almost hill climb at the same time it was tricky and very difficult they had to catch their breath at the top. 

the hill climb seemed abreexe after that and they could see the finish line ahead so the top three strted running and sprinitng .... however, as soon as they passed they saw the sign one more lap to go....

have a good day and keep smiling xx

Hi Elona

Hope your ok I know what you mean about the waiting its torture hope you don't have to wait to long for results,  I am just back from a week in Wales which was lovely although a bit hot have to stay in the shade anyway and were a scarf to protect my neck after the radiotherapy, I  have just had date for mri on 31st August to see if the treatment has worked, its a bit early I'm hoping that's a good thing as I had a phone appt with the oncologist were I told him my tongue is still raised on one side were the tumour was in base of tongue, he did say it was probably inflammation so fingers crossed, I'm feeling very well in myself but have another load of blisters in mouth which is frustrating. Hope Al and Sam and Judys husband are doing well I kind of understand them not posting anymore you just want to forget all about cancer and try and get some kind of normality back, I can't even watch adverts about it I either feel happy or in a total panic wondering wether I should be writing my will or something, I'm still smiling most of the time lol hope you all are to

Take care Allison x

HI

Alli so glad you managed a week away I bet that did you the world of good. Glad things seem to be going ok and hopefully will continue to do so and the blisters are nothing. 

work have decided I cannot go bqck yet until I get some results so I do not get affected by anything else or if TB infect anyone. suspect also cheaper for them on furlough for the last month! 

neck having flare up has been very itchy and rash and spots on it driving me mad!! but have no conultant to talk to about it and doctor didnt know anything so have to put up with it for time being :( 

mini mafia are gearing up for more olympics .....

keep smiling xx

Morning Elona

Hope the rash has eased and the itching it must be so frustrating at least you don't have to worry about work for a bit, have you had any news on your scan yet the waiting is a nightmare, all ok with me just counting the days till the mri mouths still sore but its eased a bit.

How are the mini mafia Olympics going ?

Allison x

Morning Elona

Hope the rash has eased and the itching it must be so frustrating at least you don't have to worry about work for a bit, have you had any news on your scan yet the waiting is a nightmare, all ok with me just counting the days till the mri mouths still sore but its eased a bit.

How are the mini mafia Olympics going ?

Allison x

Been a wee while since I posted here (My appologies!)

Just thought i'd post a little update on how things are and how im doing, good to see everyone on here doing better!

So, I finished my treatment officially on the 4th of April with my last lot of Radio. A few days before that I think I said I was stuck in Hospital after a bad reaction to my 2nd Cisplatin.

After about 6 NG Tubes flying out over those few weeks, my NG came out about 4 weeks ago as I began to eat again.

Since then, been seeing my SALT/Diet team as well as my consultants,

NG tube was still in on my first proper appointments post end of Treatment, literally about a week later (Despite some horrid swelling in the corner on the left side of my mouth) I began to start eating again, over the next week or so the swelling went down and I was back able to eat pretty much normal again. I'm still struggling with certain foods and textures, so things like Pork and Drier bits of chicken are a big no no as I struggle to swallow them and generally most meals I have to constantly sip at something to make sure it goes down!

I have continued to lose a fair bit of weight (This began when I started with my NG) I began at a portly 24st (154kg) and i'm now down to about 19st (Around 120kg) which I feel a hell of alot better for I can tell you!!!!

Had my latest appointment last Monday with ENT, had a look down again with the scope and they say at the moment, they see nothing of worry or concern and had already booked me in for my MRI (which falls on the 11th, 2 days after my Birthday!!!) hoping this is going to be a fantastic way to enter my 33rd year!!!! Consultant has already said he will be watching for my results like a hawk and as soon as he sees them he will be in touch!

Been back on Alternate duties at work, either working in our Emergency Control room phoning back delayed 999 calls or out doing COVID Swabbing for staff, going round the stations picking up kits and then dropping them off at the lab. Makes me so happy to be back in my uniform again (albeit it's a couple of sizes too big now!!! :laugh: )

In all, feeling about 90% back to my normal self, minimal lasting after effects from the treatment (My neck as healed completley now)

Disappearing for a cheeky weekend away with my good lady tonight in Wales to nothing but a pod and a hot tub!!!

Keep going guys!!!! it doesn't seem like it but things will get better!

Love to you all

Sam 

Hi Sam

So pleased your feeling better and getting back to normal, I know what you mean about the weight loss I've lost  2stone and feel so much better as I was a bit of a chunk lol, I finished my treatment the 16th June and have had mucositis since the second week of my treatment some of it went then I got another load of blisters that don't want to go, unlike you I've only had phone consultation with oncologist so no one has looked in my mouth but I'm told its normal even 7 weeks after treatment, I'm feeling well in myself but have lost some hearing in right ear and I'm already deaf in left so that's been a shock again I'm told its probably because of treatment, I still have some swelling in mouth which is worrying and still plagued with mucus, my mri is booked for the 31st I'm hoping that its a good thing that's its sooner than expected. Hope everything goes well with your scan and you have a wonderful birthday keep us posted

Take care Alli x

Hi Sam

how wonderful to hear from you we had wondered how things were.

I am thrilled that things are getting better and you are getting away for a cheeky weekend with the missus, have a huge amount of fun!!! 

I dont think people realise how much you guys go through even after treatment until things start to improve so it was interesting and informative you writing about your tube. However, i am glad you are back to eting and your consultant is pleased with progress. 

take care and keep in touch xx

Morning, 

no news on scan yet but only been a couple of weeks and told can take a month. 

have a few up and down days but not too bad today. 

glad your doing ok thats brilliant hope it continues going from strength to strength!!. 

Mini mafia decided to have a go at steeple chase the other day, they restricted it to men only because they were not sure the women could cope - being sexist of course!! the race started really well, the men ran round the field then turned of to the hurdle and started jumping over, the first four jumped over the right side with ease then Ron tried to come round the inside and .... disappeared!! there was stunned silence from the audience for a minute and suddenly he appeared two metres sdown the field ??????? he had fallen down a rabbit hole that the designers had over looked!!! consequently he was disqualified and the hole covered up wih some sticks. 

the kids had a javelin race but it had to be undertaken in a different garden because no one had had time to pracise and didnt know how to throw the stick so it was going everywhere and nearly blinded one side liner!Little Miss Sally actually won and beat the boys with her two metre throw. 

in the boxing ring there were bodies all lying around with black eyes and sores with no obvious winners it appeared it was being used more to take out disbutes than a medal sport! 

the hot worm stall was doing really well the ground had almost been cleared of worms so there was talk of having to change to something else batter fried centioededs was suggested. 

more to come ..

keep smiling xx

Hi guys.

So, MRI went ahead on Wednesday. I had my results yesterday.

My treatment appears to of been successful and there is no sign of any Cancer.

Absolutely overjoyed. 

Keep your head high guys. This thing is beatable!!!!

Hi Sam

what lovely news, I'm so pleased for you. My hubby is 6 weeks behind you, he sees the consultant again on Monday and he is going to look into his throat with the camera as the last time we saw him a month ago he was still healing then hopefully he'll arrange his scan, keeping everything crossed.   His eating is very similar, he can manage most foods but has to have lots of water to help it go down, spicy food tho is out for now. We are going to ask for his Rig tube to be removed if his weight is stable although he still needs to drink one or two Ensures a day to top up the calories.  His only problem atm is tiredness, he gets tired really easily, do you?   Hope the others are doing ok and that we can all get the same fantastic results.

Take care

The fatigue went after about 4/5 weeks post completion. I feel as back to normal as I can in that respect. However I imagine we have an age gap and with me being 33 I think it's allowed me to recover from that a bit easier perhaps?

Diet wise, things are more or less normal... like you've said, spicy is a big no no!!! And I have to have a drink with what I eat.

Hi Sam

That's amazing news I'm so pleased for you, I have my mri on the 31st so fingers crossed

Alli x

Yes I imagine it is a bigger advantage, hubby's 60.

Hi 

Sam am over the moon that you are all clear that is fantastic! you certainly must be on cloud nine. 

Judy hope your hubbies scope goes well on monday but glad he seems to be doing ok. 

Glad your doing ok Alli. 

am now being sent through haematology because CT scan showed enlarged lymph nodes on both sides  so they want verification it is not lymphoma nut thankfully they are pretty sure it is not. they say I have now got latent TB so if haematology agree it means six months of treatment. so on the up. 

hope everyone is enjoyng the sun 

keep strong and keep smiling x