Advice needed please

1 minute read time.

FormerMember

5 Mar 2011

Hey,

I am caring for my mum who has throat (tonsil) cancer. She was diagnosed in Nov 10 with stage T2 N2 M0 which i believe is stage 4? Nobody ever did tell us the stage other than the TNM.

When mum was diagnosed they told her that as she doesnt smoke or drink that her chances of it being cured were around 80%. As much as i wanted to be happy i wasn't sure that 80% could be accurate as the cancer had spread from the right tonsil to the lympth nodes on the same side of the neck. They took out the right tonsil (primary tumour) and then mum had 3 lots of TMF? chemo treatments which were every 3 weeks. Mum then started 7 weeks of radiotherapy. Monday will be the start of week 6. On the mon of every week mum has chemo although last week and now this coming week the chemo has been cancelled as mum is not strong enough, white cells are low and her bone marrow is weak. Is this a rewally bad sign? Will it effect mums future recovery?

Has anyone else had similar experiences?

Please help as best you can, any info will be appreciated. Should we ask for a PET scan or pay for it privately if the NHS say no?

Kindest thoughts and wishes to everyone on here,

Laura x

FormerMember over 14 years ago

Hi Laura,

The NHS will not say no. Unless there is a very good reason for it. Which is highly unusual. Phone your Mums Consultant and ask him or the Medical team that you would like to have a Pet scan arranged for your Mum. See what they say at least it will put your mind at ease. Look after yourself.

Take care and be safe Big Hugs Love Sarsfield.xx
- Cancel
- Up 0 Down
- Reply
- More
- Cancel
FormerMember over 14 years ago

laura

I cant really help except to say so sorry for your Mum I dont have real mouth cancer I have facial cancer and at a stage now where they can do no more for me , I do sometimes wonder what these so called proffetionals know, other than breast cancer I had R T for 6weeks 15 years ago and 5operations after that.So it has been going on for a long time. Hopefully they will come up with something they can do for her, she's probably feeling really awefull at the moment just be there for her as you are at the moment. Sorry I cant be of any real help. I just wish you both all the very best.

Kessie
- Cancel
- Up 0 Down
- Reply
- More
- Cancel
FormerMember over 14 years ago

Thank you both so much for your replies. We are seeing oncologist tomorrow and I will ask about scan then.

Mum has started to hallucinate, is that normal do you know?

Thanks again for replying.

Laura
- Cancel
- Up 0 Down
- Reply
- More
- Cancel
FormerMember over 14 years ago

Hi my name is norma and i have just been diagnosed with cancer in tonsill bed. havent had any treatment yet and dreading it. I found a lump in my neck and they sent me for a pet scan. Surely this is the norm ? can i ask you how your mum is coping with the treatment? and what age she is im 57 and scared stiff
- Cancel
- Up 0 Down
- Reply
- More
- Cancel
FormerMember over 14 years ago

Hi Laura, I can't comment on the bone marrow being low, but I did have a very low white blood count during treatment for breast cancer. I had no resistance to infection so had to stay indoors and away from the possibility of infections until my blood count came back up. Some people do have their next treatment delayed because of this, but my oncologist decided to go ahead and, luckily, I was fine. I'm sure it will just be a blip which many of us go through during treatment.

I don't really know anything about the hallucinations. Could they be caused by any medication she is on? My dad suffered hallucinations due to the morphine he was on.

I hope all goes well for your mum at her appointment tomorrow and onwards.

Best wishes, Christine xx
- Cancel
- Up 0 Down
- Reply
- More
- Cancel