I've just joined this community and I just want to open up about my journey and how I feel now.
I was diagnosed with tonsillar cancer in March this year and went through 6 weeks of radiotherapy and 2 sessions of chemotherapy. The treatment was successful and I received the all clear at the end of August. Monthly checks so far have been clear but from being positive during and post treatment I am becoming increasingly axious about the cancer returning. I sometimes have some discomfort from the xerostomia, as dryness tends to change, and I get concerned that discomfort, along with my many other niggles, is a sign of a return.
Hi PJ5511 and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
That's great to read that you received the all clear earlier this year but worrying that your cancer might return is perfectly normal.
The online community is divided into different support groups so I'm going to recommend that you join the head and neck cancer group, which is a great place to ask questions, share experiences and get support.
To join, just click on the link I've created and, once you've joined, you can start a new post in the same way as you did here and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
It would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi PJ5511 I'm Dani and I hang out in the Head and Neck Cancer section which I see you have already joined. We are a friendly bunch so come and say hello. Tonsil cancer is caused by infection with HPV and is uniquely sensitive to radiotherapy with a cure rate in excess of 90% so that is a good thing to hold onto. I am almost six years out of treatment and living really well. Fear of recurrence is one of the things we have to live with but it eases with time. I know it's little comfort to you so early in recovery but keep that statistic I've given you in your mind. We learn to live with and mitigate the dryness and really there is lots you can do about it. As time goes on our surviving salivary glands kick in and though we are never quite back to normal it's acceptable.
Have a read of THIS article about recovering from cancer...It resonates with so many of our feelings.
Hopefully see you where I live. We have lots of help to offer
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below
https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com
