Voice box cancerous tumour.

Hi, Bucephalus, sorry that you have had to join us here, however we are all here to help each other, there are many of us who have had this treatment. The side effects can be very unpleasant, but it is all very doable. Cancer to the head and neck are very treatable with good results. I was 68 when I had my tonsils removed then 6 weeks radiotherapy with 5 sessions of chemo, it is  no walk in the park, but it is well worth it. The side effects affect people in different ways, and you don't get them all. Feel free to ask any questions you have someone will always come back to help if they can. All the best.

Regards Ray.

Hi 

welcome to our small community. I am 3 years post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes.Yes the treatment is brutal do I regret going through it No I don’t . Now cancer is just a mere blip in my busy life. 
You’ll find the radiotherapy team will help you nothing is usually too much trouble for them. 
any questions just ask 

I was 61 when diagnosed theres a link Tony blig and other below it may help you. 
Hazel 

Hi Bucehepalus

 I was diagnosed at the age of 65 with my second mouth cancer and like you got cold feet about  radiotherapy especially as it was the second time around. However I am so glad I went ahead as now 17 months on I have added more things to my bucket list and am back to enjoying life  and looking forward to much more in the future.

Yes the treatment can be hard but there are so many of us here that have managed to get through it. Your medical team will help you every step of the way and give you the support you need and people on this forum can give you first hand advice if you need it.

Take one day at a time during the radiotherapy. Side effects don’t usually start until about week 3 and regular use of painkillers that your medical team prescribe does help.

Best wishes

Lyn

Hi Bucephalus, welcome, I had your problem but my Consultant gave the best advise I could have, my option swere that I could have RT first but she says the damage done to tissue makes, if needed, a laryngectomy more difficult, my diagnosis was stage 4 so listening to the option I went for the latter, It was a very difficult decision but now after 11 months I feel it was the best. They wanted to carryout RT after but the risks to my day to day living and benefits when calculculated I felt did not match so in the end they said I had a 15%  of cancer returning and RT would cut that by 50% at 71 like yourself I felt the possible risks mainly to my swallowing wasn't worth it, I enjoy all types of food however the one that can be a problem is soft bread, all I am saying is if you feel like you do talk to your Mac Millan Speach Therapist and set up a meeting with both Consultant and Oncologist.

I wish you well but always remember you are in charge and ask questions, it's probrably that I am trained to do that working for Citizens Advice- and yes after 4 months I was back at work, take care