Hi again everyone hope everyone is doing as well as they possibly can be, just wanted to update you on how things have gone since I was last on here.
So, after 17 blissful cancer free years (or so I thought) I have been once again bitten by the beast in my throat and am back on the cancer rollercoaster.
I've got all my scan and biopsy results back yesterday and yes, it is indeed back in my throat and nasopharyngeal areas.
The good news is that it has only spread to one lymph gland in my neck, all other areas and organs are clear.
I'm unable to have further surgery due to the affects of my last treatment and I'm also unable to have further radiotherapy as I have exceded my life time limit.
However, the option that I can have is Immunotherapy and as my markers were hight (70) they are very hopeful for a good response to that.
I'm feeling incredibly lucky to be having this option as I've been looking into Immunotherapy treatments and they are having fantastic results especially in head and neck paients and particularly with patients like myself who have high markers.
I'm not sure when the treatment will start, just waiting for an appointment with the Oncologist but I'm very lucky that it can be done in a local hospital as I had read that many of the treatment centres were in London, I'm in Liverpool so that would have been a trek.
All in all I'm feeling very positive today, I feel like I've been thrown a lifeline and I'm grabbing it with both hands.
Hope my story isn't too disheartening for those of you enjoying your remission, I think it's very unusual for it to recurr after such a long time but obviously it's not impossible so stay vigilant and listen to your bodies,
I'll let you know how it goes once things are underway, I'm hoping it's not as tough as chemo radiation but I'd do it all again in a heartbeat if it gives me a good chance to keep going.
Love and best wishes to Waverton
Trish xxx
Nice positive frame of mind there Trish, wish you all the best; came back for me after six and a half years but further surgery was the option in my case. Kind of reassuring that immunotherapy might be an option if it comes back for a third go, all other avenues now closed for me I think. Let us know how you get on xx
Metastatic SCC diagnosed 8th October 2013. Modified radical neck dissection November, thirty-five radiotherapy fractions with 2xCisplatin chemo Jan/Feb 2014. Recurrence on larynx diagnosed July 2020 so salvage laryngectomy in September 2020.
Oh well done Trish 70 is very good so I’m really crossing lots of fingers. There have been some astounding results with immunotherapy and many many people suffer few side effects. They will keep a really good eye on those and mitigate any that might cause you problems.
You sound really up beat about it which is a wonderful way to be.
Please keep us in the loop if you feel up to it.
Best wishes
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
