Tonsil Cancer

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I've been in remission for 19 months after radio/chemo therapy.

I'm in my 60s and feel so sorry for younger people dealing with this. I'm trying not to ask this but is there anyone still having problems after treatment. I'm still feeling exhausted most days. If I go out it takes 3 days to recover. I'm still not able to eat certain foods. Get very low and have such muscle pain. Pain killers don't work. Sorry to go on but I don't know what to do to feel better. 

  • Hi Therese. 
    We do take a long time to recover and radiation fatigue is a real thing. 
    Do get your thyroid checked. RT can cause hypothyroidism 

    It might be as well to get your B12 and folate levels too

    Dani 

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

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

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

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  • Hi Therese

    I'm now 70 ....finished chemoradio in June 2023.

    Still have some iffy days and certain foods are a no-go but in general recovery has been relatively straightforward...perhaps drop your CNS an email with your recovery concerns?

    Peter

  • Hi Therese,

    I'm nearly 12 months after radio/chemo and will be 60 this year. I still have fatigue and am persevering with different foods. My GP sent me for a blood test and I have been on Levothyroxine for a month and am starting to feel a little less fatigued. I have managed to get out to walk my dog almost every day and am now back to our pre-treatment walks of 1 hour, but that's taken a while to build up to. Slow and steady helped! I still can't swallow chicken or beef easily but I keep doing the swallow exercises daily to build up my swallow strength - oh, how I miss cheese & biscuits and crisps!!

    Maybe ask your GP for a full MOT and perhaps get in touch with your CNS for support? I think we all struggle with issues after treatment. Locally (in North Wales) , we are lucky to have a support group set up by our CNS - do you have a Maggie's near you or ask your CNS if there is a support group locally. We have found that meeting each other once a month really helps. Sending hugs - you are not alone! 

    Debbie xx