Hi Ian 

just dropped by to say good luck with your treatment. The blog is a great idea to get things off your chest and to help others coming behind you. My hubby had chemoradiation- 5 cycles of chemo and 30 fractions of VMAT radiotherapy Feb to March 2016 and has been in remission since July 2016. 

Hope things go smoothly for you.

all the best 

Emma 

Hi Emma,

Thank you for your kind words and good wishes and great news re hubby in remission.

kind regards

ian

Hi Ian

Just to say if you have any questions about what to expect - tips etc on how to get through the 6 weeks then ask away - Id be happy to help. My hubby had primary tonsil cancer with right sided  lymph node mets In his neck.

best wishes

Emma

Hi Ian

i am 7 weeks post radiotherapy hang

In there it’s a tough road I did 35 radiotherapy sessions 2 chemotherapy.

i have also done a blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com takes u from diagnosis to present day.newlymarried on here is good if u have any questions just shout out. Mine was HPV 16 + cancer of right  tonsil and lymph nodes 

hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

good luck 

Hi there,

Many thanks Emma & Hazel for positive comments.

Well my first week is over and touch wood - so far so good.

In a routine now and all my appoitments are 9.00am which I prefer.

I am literally around 8 mins from house to hospital and have a free daily car park ticket and park right outside dept.
Have been taken on time and Wed appt was taken at 8.58 and back in car 9.15!

Very slick operation and staff are brilliant.
Made a large batch of home made tablet for the staff Thursday which they appreciated and seen advanced nurse practioner who advised of potential side effects to come.
I'm sure they will but will deal with them as treatment goes on.

So week 1 has been absolutely fine with no real side effects and apart from little more tired, I just have a power napo and fine again.
Will update end week 2 and hope more of the same.

Best wishes to all

kind regards
ian

Hi there,

Well week 2 is now over and again so far so good.

Little more tired and would say started to notice more mucas but that apart I have not really felt any discomfort or noticable side effects.

Aware goinf into week 3 next and potentially when more sied effects will kick in but will have to deal with as and when they arise.
Will post another weekly update next week , good and bad and hope helps someone in similar circumstances.
Happy to answer any questions based on my own personal journey.

Staff in radiotherpay are wonderful and consider it a blessing we have the wonderful NHS.
Not always right but by and large wonderful system and people and when you consider the cost of treatments we do not have to worry about the cost or health insurance etc over and above the diagnosis.

Kind regards to all
ian

Hi...My hubby was also diagnosed with throat cancer in January this year he had stage 4..it was a very brutal time with 15 weeks of chemo and 6 weeks of radiotherapy..by week 4 he started having the neck burns which looked like a nappy rash (he did use the cream for his neck well before radiotherapy started and throughout treatment) the burns continued 2 weeks after treatment finished too which he found were very painful..on the 12th September he got the all clear and went back to work 2 weeks ago..it’s so nice to get back to normality after a very long painful year . I’m also here if you have any questions.

best wishes and good luck

Tina

Hi there,

Well end of week 3 now and the initial 2 week honeymoon period with treatment is over as side effects really started to kick in this week from around Wed onwards.
Tongue feels quite swollen and buring at back of mouth and gums sore where teeth removed.
Sore to swallow or even yawn. Can't open mouth fully now/
No redness or skin irritation as yet.

Taste buds have got to pot and its a weird sensation as you eat with your eyes as well.Most foods kinda disgusting and few things I can take that still has a bit of taste and easy to go down.

I take cornflakes when soggy and eating plenty ambrosia rice/home made rice with cream.
Funnily enough Drumsticks squashies swwets are nice and soft and easy to go down as well as still tasting ok. Having to eat as a function now and not really because I look forward to as it tastes weird and little hard to swallow sometimes.
I am drinking 2-3 lires water or ribena each day which I am told helps with the mucas etc.

Also now on oral morphine from yesterday and its particularily sore during night.
Take 2 soluable paracetamol 4 times a day and also have Difflam oral rinse which I find helps as well.

Still trying to stay positive and was told it is a tough treatment but I am getting all the support and help from the wonderful staff.
Just take each day as it comes and can still work from home, so far, during day for a few hours and nap in afternoon.

Although tough, has to be done and I guess no pain no gain applies here and working towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

I did say I would log good and bad but with the appropriate treatment/medication and support, edge on in my journey.
I wish you all well and will post end next week in the hope that it helps at least one person on a similar journey.

Kind regards

Ian

Hi Ian good luck sorry not replied earlier didn’t see comments ,goodness’s luck and please keep in touch any questi9ns just shout and either me or Emma will help. It’s a long and winding road we are all different

Hazel Blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com

Hi Ian hang in in there I luckily never lost taste buds but works both ways as lots of things I just can’t eat now 9 weeks into recovery and 16 lab lighter just had a piece if hubby 60th birthday cake first in months. 

I am on iramorph still plus 4 times a day co codomol and ibuprofen the pain isn’t pleasant when it comes and nap twice a day do u have a humidifier for bedroom worth it’s weight jn gold be careful with rubena as last thung u want us your remaining teeth to rot my oncologist recxominsds plain irvsoda water but keep brushing teeth n should be fine xx