After radiotherapy

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Good morning everyone. My husband recently (almost 2 weeks) completed chemo radiotherapy. Skin is healing really well, and mouth was improving, less pain, less mucous, speech better. On Monday consultant advised he reduced fentanyl, wich he has, by correct increment. Yesterday pm noticed increased pain and noticeable but mild swelling. I know everyone is different but generally do you find that symptoms can wax and wane during recovery? His temperature is normal and can't see anything untoward in his mouth that is new. Hard to know what to expect. 

  • Yes they can and will At two weeks the radiation is still working and will for another week. If there is pain then he needs to go back on pain killers. Recovery is a marathon not a sprint. I didn’t feel half human till 12 weeks. Even then I had only just come off my morphine. 
    He’ll get there. 

    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 Dani, that's reassuring. We know its not going to be a quick fix, but of course if you see a bit of improvement you want to keep it going. Obviously patience required! 

  • You’re doing a grand job watching his back. It’s a hard job being a carer. My husband was wonderful even though I was a bit mean to him at times,…….and it made all the difference 

    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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  • Hi has Dani says if he’s in pain 2 weeks in scheme if things is still early radiotherapy is still working. I was still on opiates uo ti around week 6 admittedly not fentanyl but 30 mg co codomol and oramorph. I woujd keep on top of pain. 
    hazel x

    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.