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!

  • Hi Judy 

    Glad to hear you are ok and so is the hubby. 

    Have a good Christmas and keep safe x

  • You too Elona, I really hope you start to feel better soon, have the best Xmas that you can.

    xx

  • Oh Elona I'm so sorry your feeling so bad how much longer do you have to take the medication for could they give you different anti sickness tablets, its not going to be much of a Christmas for you just try and rest as much as you can not that it sounds like you can when your looking after poorly hedgehogs and trying to vacate the mini mafia, really hope you feel better soon 

    Take care Allison xxx

  • thank you Alli and Judy,

    the mini mafia wish you both a good Christmas they are secretly planning an invasion of the hedgehog party food but we have them sussed and the food us not in a large tub - will take a few teeth to get into! 

    the youn g mafia are getting very excited because they are expecting lots from santa this year even if they have been naughty they secretly know they will not get any coal. 

    the parents have been goingout a lot on the scrounge to see what they can find to amuse the kids, at the moment there are several pickings as it has not been too cold to freee over food left overs or rubbish to raid. they are also making their homes all snug and warm to cuddle up together when it gets cold. 

    the last procession went well - no real callamities thank goodness although Bruce got flung over the field and eneded up in a ditch breaking his leg so hes still on crutches. 

     

    am aiming on having a good rest when we finish work on friday. think i will curl up on the sofa with the fire going and the dogs and just mellow. 

    have a lovely time x

  • Hi everyone 

    me and the mini mafia wish you all a happy New Year - have a good evening and tomorrow and hope the 2022 is a much better year for all. 

    x

  • All the best hope you have a lovely evening to and feel much better in the new year, happy New year to the mini mafia hope to hear more of there antics when your feeling better

    Take care Allison xxx

     

  • Happy New year hope next year is a happy healthy one

    All the best Allison xxx

     

     

  • Hi Elona

    Hope everyone had a good new year and I'm hoping we all feel healthier, how are you feeling now has the sickness eased at all. After the latest visit with the oncologist he wants me to have another scan I've been having discomfort when I swallow and some pain between my shoulder blades he asked if I was having heartburn but I've been taking omoprezole for months to stop it, so sick of trying not to worry its exhausting its my mum's partners funeral next week so have to be strong for my mum and the kids. Sorry to be a misery hope your having a better start to the year

    Take care Allison xx

     

  • oh sweetie am so sorry that has got to be hard it always is when someone we love passes. my heart goes out to your mum and you all xx

    i hope the scan goes ok and it is just the lymphadenitis causing your discomfort. will be thinking of you. pleasse try not to worry. am here for you to talk any time x

    my treatment is not going so well either, i had to go onto vitamin D tablets that have helped lower the sickness because my levels were getting very low then had to have more bloods yesterday and today get a phone call telling me i have to go see the consultant wednesday. i have problems eating too everything i eat tastes wrong - my taste buds are shot to bits - i cannot eat a lot of things now fat in butter, cooking makes me sick, cannot drink milk eat chocolate, cannot taste sweet things they taste bitter, have just been eating carbiohydrates and now started on fruit. lump is still tender and flares up is depressing. i also need to get my eyes done again all of a sudden they have started to deteriorate. 

    the mini mafia have been on the move they have made a hole from my garden or next doors to mine on the other side now. little buggers are traavelling like gypsies to see where they can make the best nest. i think my compost is being used as one at the moment. obviously the hotelier is making good money to employ those useless builders - they give the game away when a pile of dirt is found where it should not be! (too muuch celebrating over new year). sorry will tell more another time. 

    take care 

    Elona xx

  • I'm so sorry your having problems I hoped it would have been getting easier for you the medication your on is brutal its every bit as bad as chemo by the sound of it, do you have to take it much longer, maybe the bloods you had done are showing its to much for your body to cope with. I feel stupid for being so anxious it could just be after effects from the treatment my oncologist is lovely but a man of few words and I have lots of questions  but usually come out of appt with more than when I went in lol, I'm going to take each day as it comes and try not to worry till I have the scan. I wish I could say something that would make you feel better please stay strong and try and stay positive this will be over one day and we can get back to a normal life again, hope the mini mafia behave

    Allison xxx