Hi, I think I’m doing okay

4 replies
154 subscribers
554 views

i was diagnosed with throat cancer and secondary lymph in March. I’ve had my 30 x radiotherapy and 5 x chemo (couldn’t do the 6th due to sickness) and finished treatment at the end of May.

I’m back up and running, eating okayish! It’s the tastes and texture thing that I think we have all experienced, but count myself lucky that’s the worst I’m dealing with post treatment. I have gone off wine, but cider is acceptable so all is not lost!

I’m back at work this week, again have to count myself lucky with my employer, and all seems to be going well. I am a positive person and have no idea how to be a poorly one. There’s been the odd day and week during and post treatment where all has not been well, but I don’t dwell on those! Apparently this is really annoying to those around me, but I actually don’t know how else to be!

My one ‘slight concern’ is that I had my hair cut in 20 June and as of today it has not grown any longer than that day! It’s not that long to start with, and while I really, really do appreciate not losing my hair, I am trying to find out what’s happening here. Normal … , glitch, can I do anything to help? Whatever the cause hopefully it will resolve soon or no more trims for me!

anyway hi!

RadioactiveRaz over 1 year ago

Hi My hair sort of stood still for a few months then it started growing again , I put it down to my diet as well not being as good as it was pre cancer.
After a few months and a really good cut it’s as thick as it ever was by 6 months post treatment. I too am an eternal optimist forever looking for alternatives. Lucky you re drink I rarely drunk prior to treatment but now strongest I can manage is alcohol free lager. But I can do cheese ! took a good 6 month and cheese on toast was my first foray. Now at 5 years I can do cheese and crackers but personally can’t do crisps I miss crisps.
Keep doing what you’re doing and remember it’s a marathon not a sprint.
Hugs Hazel x

Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz

My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 6 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers

https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/

https://oraclehnc.org.uk/signawaycancer

Beesuit over 1 year ago

Hi. Good news that you’re so well and being back at work so early. That’s brilliant.
Yours is a lovely post and will give huge encouragement to those just starting out.
Sorry can’t help with the hair except to maybe guess that your metabolism is all over the place still and your hair is suffering. Biotin is good for hair so maybe try foods rich in it?
I lost a crescent of hair at the nape of my neck but it grew back.

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

Tfortoni over 1 year ago in reply to RadioactiveRaz

Thank you… here’s hoping I have a bit of hair growth before I need another trim!

I miss cheese .. but actually my diet is pretty rubbish compared to before. Fruit is good, veg I tend not to eat so much of at the moment … I think I live on fruit, yoghurt and ham sandwiches! I need to get my food mojo back in, there’s inky ne so I have been a bit lazy/cautious about doing too much in case it’s inedible

And your best advice, it’s not a sprint…I do need to heed that! …. although I really do feel a fraud and not poorly … couple of bad days at end of treatment, but I also have to accept I wasn’t well .. i am working on that one too x

RadioactiveRaz over 1 year ago in reply to Tfortoni

Hi Yes it’s a hard one to work through. I stood back and thought umm my treatment had got rid of cancer so its got to be brutal in what it does so treat my body kindly. It’s taken me a long time to get back to where I was cycling before diagnosis. Well done on fruit I’ve bern ok with veg but fruit for ages I could only do banana. Citrus fruits are still off limit for me. It just shows how we all react differently to the treatment.
Hazel x