Throat squamous cell cancer

I had a biopsy of the ‘sloughy’ area in my throat first. The consultant really didn’t think it was anything to worry about and was surprised when the result came back - high suspicion of cancer. In a matter of weeks he did the laser treatment so I was still healing from the biopsy. I was grateful to have it dealt with so quickly, that was 5th April. My throat was really very sore for many weeks, I struggled to eat and lost more weight. Not as bad as when I had the chemo radiotherapy but pretty awful.  I think that being in pain made me reluctant to swallow and that’s maybe why it’s so bad now. Sorry to be negative but this was my third H&N cancer, also had major surgery in May last year to remove part of my lung, another cancer diagnosis. On the upside, my cancers have all been detected early and dealt with quickly. I hope your appointment on Monday goes well and a suitable course of treatment is proposed for you. Best of luck!

Gosh you have been through the mill

I was so shocked when mine reoccurred after 14 years as were the consultant and oncologist they said it’s very rare for that to happen

Both my cancers are squamous cell cancers the first was on my left tonsil and a tumour in my neck I was stage 2/3 and I had radiotherapy chemotherapy and a neck dissection which left me with many problems 

this time it’s a stage 1 superficial lesion but the treatment even though it has improved over the years is still very harsh 

what type were your cancers ? 

QueenB

Your experience sounds quite similar to mine. All my cancers, tongue, lung and throat, have been squamous cell, 2 were P16 positive, 2 were P16 negative. The first one, base of tongue, was HPV related but I don’t think the others were. The first one was later stage than the others and had spread to lymph, so neck dissection necessary before chemo radiotherapy. It was discovered as a result of surgery to remove a branchial cyst in my neck, so could have been much, much worse.  My consultant is brilliant, very thorough and very approachable. The whole of the Head & Neck MDT have given me excellent care. I wish the same for  everyone out there going through this horrible experience. 

HiI

My first cancer in 2009 was on my left tonsil and had spread to lymph node hence neck dissection like you 

This one is on tip of uvula and throat wall 

My MDT were amazing the first time round and hopefully will be the same this time 

I will know more after tomorrow’s appointment which I am very nervous about as you can relate to 

I’m really stressing about surgery option and the after affects of it 

QueenB said:

My first cancer in 2009

Hi. Did your team throw any light on why it recurred? Is it a recurrence of a new cancer? Were you HPV positive? 

Hi

No they didn’t say why they thought it had recurred they said it’s very rare after 14 years and they seemed shocked to be honest that it had recurred I often wondered why they didn’t take tonsil last time but they said the radiation would sort it out as it was only one active cell in my tonsil

I asked if it was HPV related and the oncologist said she would have to check the physics, it’s not been mentioned on diagnosis comment on the letter so I’m not really sure 

It was a strange appointment to be honest when they told me the results of the biopsy I think they had seen my results just before seeing me so they weren’t very prepared it was all very off the cI thought and I’m hoping tomorrows appointment will be the opposite now they have PET scan results and they would have had their MDT meeting

Fingers and toes crossed for you. 

Thankyou I’m feeling very anxious as I’m sure you know 

I hope all goes well tomorrow, I’ve been there several times now and I know how worrying it is

Thankyou I think it has to be one of the worst things a person can go through and the not knowing is torture