First week of radiotherapy

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After surgery at the end of January, I’ve just started 6 weeks of radiotherapy to neck and throat. I’m 4 days in. I was really anxious and panicky about the mask and still hate it but with the support of the hospital staff doing relaxation exercises I’m slowly getting used to it. I’ve had 2 evenings so far when I’ve felt really dizzy after treatment. One night I couldn’t eat at all. Is this normal? I’ve read about nausea but not dizziness. Also seem to have lost sense of taste and have a mucas-y taste in my mouth. Not pleasant! Nice to have a couple of days off anyway. Working around appointments at the moment which has been ok, I’m lucky I can work from home but probably going in next week for a day.

  • Hi yes mucus and loss if taste is par for the course. Some people manage to work through treatment’s many  don’t. It all depends we are all different. 
    Sometimes you get a nasty metallic taste as well 

    well done on week 1 Zyes dizzy ness Dan happen kerp sn eye on blood pressure are yiou having chemo as well any issues  tell your team on Monday  

    Hazel 

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 35 radiotherapy and 2 chemo  3 rd cancelled. HPV tonsil cancer 7 lymph nodes. 8 years post treatment living a great life. 
    No questions too daft to ask. 

    I’m also an ambassador for https://oraclehnc.org.uk/
    A leading head and neck cancer charity. 

    This is a link to a webinar i did with Oracle explaining the process of diagnosis. 

  • Hi Westernsky. All the symptoms  you have are normal but don’t tend to start till the end of week 2 but then we are all different 

    The dizziness might just be anxiety. But that’s not surprising. Just take this a day at a time. Take your meds and tell your radiographers if something isn’t working. 
    Treatment is pants but it doesn’t last forever. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Thanks Hazel, no I’m not having chemo. I have low blood pressure so that could be part of it.

  • I have low blood pressure so that could be part of it.

    Do tell your team at your next session. Radiotherapy can cause BP drop which can persist for a few months after treatment end

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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