Hi all 9 weeks after radiotherapy for tongue cancer and really struggling with it all. Stage 3 tumour, hemi glossectomy & forearm reconstruction, neck dissection 2 lymph nodes contained cancer so RT.
I have ongoing cough, chesty like I forever need to clear, is this common from mucus? Sometimes it changes to tickly cough so much coughing can't get my breath im nearly sick. I had chest infections during RT its not as bad now but its getting me down. Just worried its spread to my lungs just scared about everything. Please say this common?
I still can't eat much which really makes me sad, I'm grieving my old life, myself the foods I loved the way I talked. I'm so changed. I cry most days over what I've lost but then guilt that I am saved I'm so grateful to be here with my 2 young children. I'm only 41 my husband 31 we're really finding it hard to move forward with what we've been through. I know its a long road to recovery, maybe if I could eat more foods I loved rather than mashed, I hope this improves. Sorry for the rant, I just thought I'd be managing this part of my recovery better.
How do you move on with the constant anxiety will it come back? Has it spread that's why I'm coughing? If it returns will I beat it next time? Will my babies grow up without me? I'm so broken x
Hi. All this is really common and you are very early in your recovery. Try to be kind to yourself. Dont rush. Recovery is a marathon not a sprint. I wasn’t seeing a proper look at my old self for six months. By a year I was happy with the new me. This disease is awful and the treatment incredibly tough. It knocks you back for months.
If you feel it might help MacMillan offer free counselling
Do call the support line. MacMillan offer a buddy service that pairs you up with somebody who has been through something similar to talk to.
Have a read of Peter Harvey’s article on recovering from cancer.
It’s not the answer but it explains why you are feeling as you do. It helps.
The mouth cancer foundation run a weekly Zoom support group it’s a safe space to talk about how you feel and to share tips on surviving all this I highly recommend it
I can give you a link if you like
Finally, is there a Maggie’s near you where you can drop in? You could take your family They are brilliant! They have courses you can attend, they run support groups or you can just have a chat and a cup of tea
Fear of recurrence can be totally overwhelming but it does fade. Hold onto the fact that this cancer is eminently curable and early treatment failure is rare
Remember it’s alright to feel this way but it does get better
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below
https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com
Good evening Tigerlily1983, I agree with what the rest had said about it being early days, maybe it's worth having a feeding tube fitted so you don't lose any more weight, you must get enough calories as it will help you recover and fight off infections, etc as the bodies immune system is very weak after treatment or surgery, I was 48 when I got my first head and neck cancer and had two younger children. It took about three months before I began to feel I was getting somewhere and six months is when you will feel much better and will be able to cope a lot better. It may be worthwhile seeing what benefits you and you are entitled to. I'm sure once you get your weight more stable and any infections cleared up you will feel a lot better, together you can do it it just takes time and your body needs time to recover. I wish you and your family all the best. Take care. Hugs
Chris xx
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
