Cancer in the neck, back of tongue

Hi Val It’s not unheard of everyone reacts differently ,for me it was the start of week 2 .Best advise I can offer is tell his team at tomorrow’s Radiotherapy session they are his first point if contact. His he having chemotherapy as well? IF he us ut could be all the saline that’s infused .

Hazel x

Thanks. There hasn't been any mention of chemo. Just the 30 sessions of radiotherapy. 

Hi not everyone needs chemo.if he was having it it would run concurrent with radiotherapy. Try to keep  him well hydrated and if he has a peg fitted get him to use it when it’s needed. Often men (sorry  guys  )are reluctant to use them. 
many questions just ask. 
Hazel x

He will ask the nurse tomorrow when he goes for his next session. It's really depressing him which is making me more worried. I wonder what he's going to be like when treatment finishes. How did you all cope? x

Hi Val. My cancer was at the back of my tongue too. After the first RT session my salivary glands under my chin swelled up so I looked like a hamster. Weird stuff happens. It gradually disappeared though. I showed my radiographers and they were completely unconcerned. I avoided chemotherapy as I had no node spread. If your partner has no other cancer in his lymph nodes on PET/CT he may well get away without chemotherapy, which is a blessing.

Stick with us and we will hold both your hands as he goes through this.

ValH said:

How did you all cope? x

You do it day by day. Tell the radiographers how he feels every day and don't hide pain because it really can be managed and he can be comfortable.Keep the calories up. The better he is fed the quicker he will heal. It is a horrid treatment ...there is no denying that but all the side effects can be mitigated  and it doesn't last forever.

Thank you so much. I can't imagine what it feels like. I do know what depression is like and anxiety attacks so at least l am able to detect that in him. xx

It’s a very curable cancer. Cancer isn’t a death sentence any more  but it’s still difficult to get your head round that. 

Hi, that's what l keep telling myself. If after 2 scans and sever biopsies they still thought it was a branchial cyst and he didn't have any other symptoms other than the swelling then it couldn't have been too far advanced. That what l keep telling him. Xx

Ho Val . You cope because you have to. As I said in other post the radiotherapy team he sees daily they are the first point of contact. Don’t thjnk too far in advance baby steps and one day at a time gif me and others through it. My blog below might help there’s links to other sites there as well. My oncologist said he would cure me he also said he would take a yearcif my life he did both. I had a wonderful oncologist and team. I can still contact them when my 5 years is up next month as well. Head and neck cancers respond very well to treatment. It’s not a walk in park I was 61 and I did it I’m a wimp or was a wimp. 
hugs Hazel 

Thank you. What a great place this is l let him read the replies xx