On week 2 of radiotherapy and chemo

Hi many years ago 2003 I had quinces which is extreme tonsillitis’s the pain  from my treatment fir tonsil cancer with affected lymph nodes after 35 radiotherapy sessions snd chemo sadly was worse for me. Remember we all react differently none if us are the same. I couldn’t swallow saliva ir water at times during treatment hence hsvjng n g ti e fitted at week 3. Sorry you’ve joined our club but welcome. Any questions just ask 

Hazel 

Thank you. I read your blog during the midnight hours post surgery and found it encouraging x 

Hi Clare. Oh bless you thank you for reading my rantings ! If it helps it’s worthwhile I started it has it was  the only  thing I could control in what was an uncontrollable situation. 
If I can help just ask any questions there lots of us in here who are post treatment and happily living our life’s.Take today I cycled 44 km not bad for a 65 year old lol 

Good luck with treatment you’ll get there we all do in the end 

Hazel x

Amazing!!x

Hi Clare

I had a lot of pain which hit me like a sledgehammer at the end of week three BUT proper analgesia made it bearable and I was comfortable, if not drugged up, for all my treatment. I must admit by the last week I'd had enough of it all. The hospital was on occasion a good two hours drive each way and my RT sometimes took the whole day if I had to see any of the support team, consultant or have blood tests. I was just weary of it all and when I had finished I took myself off to sleep for a long time.

Don't forget the side effects are profound but can be mitigated. Don't be brave. Tell your radiographers how you are every day and they can get stuff put in place to help you.

Hi Clare and welcome.

I had glandular fever as a teenager which badly affected my throat to such an extent that I could hardly get anything down and I've always suffered with terrible sore throats since.  I have to say, I wasn't able to draw on any past comparisons with my treatment.  It just felt completely different.

It's great to be aware of possible side effects but try not to overthink them.  We all react slightly differently so some people react to a greater or lesser extent than others.  Take each day as it comes and inform your team immediately if you're in pain or finding anything difficult so they can prescribe relevant pain relief.

All the best.

Linda x

Many thanks Linda. Are you fully recovered now?x

Well done Clare. You’ve broken the back of the follow up treatment now. I had one tonsil out plus a neck dissection and my throat had healed up nicely before they started the chemoradiation. Then it gradually got worse as treatment progressed but was never unbearable as the pain control was stepped up as things progressed. I managed to eat throughout, albeit surviving pretty much on custard and Fortisips for a week or two after treatment ended. Things then began to improve gradually.

Like Dani, I was pretty fed up by week 6 of treatment but you must hang onto to the fact that you will get over it. I am now just over a year post treatment and can eat anything, although I do need a drink with dry food as my saliva has never fully recovered. For the next few weeks you will really have to be very patient, take things one day at a time and be prepared that some days things may even appear to go backwards. ‘Two steps forward and one step back’ is an oft-used mantra in here, and for good reason. Try to stay ahead of any pain by taking your meds religiously. Don’t chase it. And DO take laxatives regularly as impacted constipation is a very common side effect of the pain killers and is pretty miserable!

We’re all behind you and are here if you need us. 

Thanks for asking Clare.  All my check ups have been clear but I'm still battling with a few side effects of my treatment.

Linda x

Thank you for your advice Mark. I’ve just read your blog which was very informative as well as  reassuring - thank you. 
Clare