combination chemo and radiotherepy

Hi Lady66H I am Hazel I am al it’s 2 years post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes, I had 35 sessions of radiotherapy and 2 of a planned chemo treatment.Not ire of what yiur cancer is so difficult to say more is it tonsil , base if tongue or elsewhere? No need to be scared treatments hard but doable 

I am pleased I went through treatment otherwise I definitely wouldn’t be here today living my life. Can try and give you some more I advise  if you wish to elaborate  on what cancer you have am sure others will,pop,along as well

good luck 

Hazel 

I think that probably covers the majority of the group members Lady66. My advice with not much detail to go on (quite understandable) is to go with what your team thinks is best, the outcome for us head and neck patients is really very positive and getting better all the time.

No point in pretending it's anything other than very hard work and brutal at times for some but there are loads of us on here who've done it and come out the other side, maybe a little bit diminished in some respects but all very much alive and kicking.

Can you give us a bit more info on your diagnosis/treatment plan? Then maybe you can get some more specific advice.

Hi Lady66h

Ive just read your profile and see you've posted.more details of your treatment there.

I think maybe you  need to have another conversation  with your team so you know exactly what the pros and cons are of the 2 treatment options and the possible outcomes.  Hopefully you'll be in a better position to make more of an informed decision.  If you're able to go with someone to be an extra pair of ears and maybe ask questions that might not occur to you all the better.  Whether this will be allowed with C19 I don't know.

It is daunting when you need to make such decisions so I wish you all the best.

Linda x

Hi Lady66h, i agree with what the other people have said and as Linda said because of the surgery you have had beforehand you need to know the advantages and disadvantages. I had surgery followed by radio and chemo but in a different area of the head and neck,i also noticed you had reconstruction to you top jaw/lip where i had work done on my lower jaw /lip. The reason they do follow up treatment is a belt and braces approach to make sure they have given it their best shot in getting rid of the tumour. Something worth asking is, would it be advisable to not have the treatment now and see what happens then have the treatment if the operation was not a success. Personally i never gave it a second thought and opted to have the treatment after my operation but i did not really know the ins and outs of it all and just wanted the cancer gone, try not to get too worried or scared as many people have been through a similar journey with positive results. Wishing you all the best. 

                                                                            Chris x

Hi Lady66H

i go with what everybody else has said

I’m sure you’ve had the discussion with your team already. I think you need to know what the situation is either way 

Is the further treatment belt and braces or is there more disease to mop up?
What happens if you wait and see? 

Can you have somebody with you at your next appointment? 
My cancer wasn’t a surgical option so my treatment was radiotherapy and it is a tough ride but doable. Nearly 18 months later I am well, eating most things and doing all the stuff I used to do before the doctors got their hands on me. 

Surgery to remove nose and bone in top lip, rebuild top lip with bone graft and skin graft. Provide prostectic nose. I have been informed that I need combination treatment 2 sessions of chemo and six week’s daily radiotherapy. Has anyone had this treatment and how did they cope