Post radiotherapy recovery

Hi there and welcome. I had tonsil cancer too and things peaked about 2 weeks after the RT finished. Recovery was gradual after that in very much a 2-steps-forward-and-1-step-back kind of way. Within 12 weeks I felt I was getting back towards normal in lots of ways.  Lots of people in here will undoubtedly give you lots of good tips and info. All the best 

Hi. Thanks for the reply. I was 2 weeks post radiotherapy yesterday. Looking forward to feeling a little better - slowly.

Cheers

M 

Hello, I also had base of tongue cancer and radio plus chemo. My treatment finished on the 26th August, I was told that I would continue to feel unwell for a few weeks after treatment finished. I therefore assumed I would start feeling better. Have to say I wrongly assumed and continued to feel sick for another month. Now 4 months after treatment I have good days and less bad days. I totally agree with Markel, it does feel like 2 steps forward 1 back, there was an excellent article shared on this site by Dani (beesuit) yesterday about recovery, I think it was under the heading “fatigue” . It really sums up the slow and different paces of our recovery , good luck with your recovery Debbie 

Thank you and all the best

M

That’s a real milestone!  (I finished mine 2 years ago this coming Monday.) Hopefully you’ll have plateaued now and you’ll start to see small improvements. You have to be patient and keep to your painkillers regime absolutely religiously. I also found going out for a good walk every day was hugely beneficial both physically and mentally. It was a struggle at times but so worthwhile. Good luck!

Thank you for this excellent info. A day at a  time I guess

M 

Hi I  tend  to say recovery is a marathon not a sprint. Often by 6 weeks there a turnaround point some days 2 steps forward one step back. I flew to Spain week 8 albeit I’m the oddball in that respect we flew to our own apartment and I was still mixing food and ensures. By 12 weeks more proper food was being eaten. But as my oncologist said at the start he would cure me but apologised for taking a year out if my life he was right in both things. All you can do is listen to your body I had radiation fatigue and yiu can’t fight that I became an expert on the 20 minute power nap. 
read this article 

www.workingwithcancer.co.uk/.../After-the-treatment-finishes-then-what.pdf

Hooe this helps my blog below might help

Hazsl x

Thanks for your answer. That all sounds very sensible and positive. Patience is the key I guess. A day at a time .

M 

6 weeks to eating soft food

Cocteaufan68 said:

Hello…..on average, as an estimate, I know everyone will be different, but how long after 6 weeks of radiotherapy (small tonsil cancer) did folk start to feel less discomfort in their throat and mouth area ?

12 weeks to eating a steak. Couldn’t taste it though

I would say that there will be a few disappointments along the way. Your favourite food may be inedible but persevere. Forget it for a while and try again. 
In the early days food is fuel. If you can swallow it then just get it down. It took me a year to enjoy an avocado and three years to live my Baileys again ( not that I have a strange diet you understand ) 

The best meat to try later is slow cooked lamb or a very rare steak. 
You’ll get there