Tongue Cancer

Hi CarolAnnSusan

It's great news that they've been very thorough and found the affected node early. 

Many of us on the forum have had radiotherapy treatment so just ask away when you need to and you'll get loads of helpful advice and support.

The treatment can be tough but it's imminently doable as we can all attest to.   Like any medication there is a long list of side effects but do remember that it's very unlikely you'll suffer with all of them and any you do get can be at a greater or lesser extent to someone else.  Someone posted on here just last week (can't think who it was at the moment) that in reality the effects of treatment weren't as bad for them as they'd feared.  You can also read numerous recent posts where people are into their recovery from the treatment and doing well.

Good luck with your meeting next week.

Linda x

Thank you Linda, that is a great help and comfort to me. Carol x

Hi everyone, an update on my situation.  Saw the oncologist yesterday and I will be having RT, 6 weeks of treatment, 5 days a week.  Very daunting for me and scary, but I know it has to be done to put my mind at rest as I am so fearful of it getting worse in my body! I have come to terms with it all a bit more now, and taking one day at a time.

They wanted to do my scan and mask on Monday, but is not possible to do yet as my wound hasnt healed up enough to fit the mask, which to me sounds very scary in itself after I had read the leaflets, its all the side effects as well that really scare me! Gosh I feel like such a whimp at times. Anyway thank you all for listening. Will let you know how I am going later on down this long and horrible road! 

Carol x

Thanks for the update Carol. It does sound daunting but taken a day at a time it’s doable. Lots of us have. I know it seems a lifetime away but 2 years down the line it’s like a distant blurry nightmare and life is good again. 
Yes there are side effects of the treatment but they don’t come all at once , you won’t get them for a couple of weeks and nobody gets all of them. 

The planning CT and mask fitting sound scary but they aren’t. The mask simply feels like a warm wet flannel over your face and the technicians will be talking you through all the time. 
Come back as and when you need to but no pressure. 
Remember, it’s saving your life for that telegram from the King

I love your end remark, with regards to the telegram from the King!!!..lol Thank you. Carol x

Hi Carol

I was absolutely petrified of the CT planning, mask and RT but (as others have said), they really are not as scary as you think. I am slightly claustrophobic but, never suffered during any of my treatment. The teams are lovely, talk you through and make sure you are ok. If anything feels uncomfortable before they start, mention it and they will try and fix your position. Music in RTis helpful and the treatment almost becomes cathartic. My mask making (as Dani says), was like a warm spa treatment. I am 1  1/4 yr post tonsil area cancer with 2 lymph nodes affected. I didn't get a lot of the side effects and never had a tube We are all so very different as I have found from reading everyones stories over the last year. All the best

Tricia

Hi Carol

thanks for update remember baby steps. Like Dani says we don’t get all the side effects and certainly not all at once. Just take everything a day at a time. Yes love Dani’s remark but which king ? Charles or William 

ferling like a wimp is ok. We’ve al had that feeling. The mask fitting is nothing to fear they just want your wound to have healed for your own comfort. 
keep in touch anytime 

Hazel xc

Good evening Carol , thanks for this update, i remember after my operation when my consultant said we want to me to have radio and chemo, and sent me away with the leaflets etc and to be honest i did not even read the side effects especially when he told me that most of them never happen, thankfully they did not for me and my journey was not as bad but we are all different plus i made sure pain relief was a top priority. Taking one day at a time is the best option although you might occasionally take a few steps backwards which is quite normal. Hope your wound heals up so you can get the treatment started, wishing you all the best,take care.

                                                       Chris x

Thank you Tricia. Carol x

Thank you Hazel. Carol x