Hello, newbie here.

Hi Vegan Queen welcome but sorry to see you here. You certainly have some choices to make but can I just share my RT experience with you 

Vegan Queen said:

I'm leaning towards radiotherapy, but that could means weeks of feeling unwell, not eating, diarrhoea, skin damage, and the potential to develop cancer elsewhere in the body.

I had six weeks of radiotherapy across 2018/19. I made a perfectly good recovery even though I had both sides of my neck treated ( for a different cancer than yours) It’s painful there’s no hiding that but proper analgesia is key and is a game changer. I was pretty miserable for a couple of months but I’m well and cured. 
 Ye you will feel unwell and might not be able to eat but it doesn’t last long. Diarrhoea? Maybe while you are on replacement feeds. Feeding would need managing with your dietician as I presume you are vegan but it’s not insurmountable. Skin damage is often minor providing you moisturise fanatically. Other cancers? Odds are pretty long. 
All these things you mention are temporary as opposed to lifelong Facial Nerve damage … as you have concluded. 

Which brings me back to watch and wait. Can you not get through an MRI with a sedative? It might put off the  day when you need RT maybe Indefinitely? 

Dont know if my post helps or not but good luck. 

Hi welcome from me. It’s. Difficult decision to make I’m 6 years on from cancer radiotherapy and 2 chemo. Dani’s given a great synopsis I’ll just add radiotherapy is a one time treatment once the areas had radiotherapy you can’t have it again. I know a few who struggle with mri but a mild sedative gets them through it. You could always  turn the question round to consultant and ask him what would he or she advise if it was their partner. 

Im  living a great life with very few side effects a dry mouth at night which. I can cope with.

Best wishes

Hazel 

Hi Vegan

Rock and a hard place....I had 30 sessions of Radiotherapy and  4 of Chemo....tough gig ....took months to recover....a year on I'm doing pretty well...still improving.

Cancer is a hard fight.....I'm pretty sure your oncology team will help you make the right decision.

Take care and best of luck

Peter

Thanks Dani. Another reason the wait and see option is no good for me is that I'm planning to relocate to a different part of the country next year, which will take me out of the catchment area. My consultant is in favour of the operation, so he must be confident that he can do it. Obviously, he's leaving the decision to me.

Thanks Hazel. My consultant is in favour of the operation, he's advised of the risks and says that ultimately it's my decision. I can cope with the MRI, but as I'm planning to relocate next year, this is something I want done and dusted.

Thanks Peter. That's tough, well done on getting through it. I'm very lucky that I don't need chemo, and that I have a slow growing tumour. Hope you're continuing to do well!

Good luck. Our surgeons are all exceptionally good at their job and having trust in them is crucial. Let us know how you get on HUGS

Hi Vegan Queen

Hope you are now doing well. I have just been diagnosed with the same cancer and am having surgery on Monday. Do you have any tips from your experience? Am currently incredibly anxious

Hi Crafty Nanny

If you’re having the superficial parotidectomy, and it goes well, you should be ok to leave hospital the next day or the day after. I was discharged the following day.

Keep the wound clean and dry, there will be a lot of stitches so you might need to take some dressings home with you. Be careful in the shower not to get it too wet!

My stitches were removed after a week, and I was signed off work for two weeks. My nerves were bruised so I had a VERY wonky smile for a few months, but everything was back to normal after about 5/6 months.

Scarring is very minimal, surgeons try to follow the natural folds in the neck and it heals pretty quickly. Whilst it’s still scabby, antiseptic cream will help the healing. I used coconut oil as well which is naturally antibacterial and helped with the itchiness.

For me, the major part of recovery was how exhausted I felt. Anaesthetic can affect you for a good couple of weeks after, so don’t try and do too much. Plenty of rest, lots of water, and try not to eat anything that takes too much effort.

Unfortunately, the ENT team at my hospital decided against further surgery, so I can’t speak to that experience I’m afraid. I am in the process of requesting a second opinion..

Btw, there is a head and neck cancer uk group on Facebook which I’ve found to be very supportive, and I have also found the Salivary Gland Cancer charity.

Best of luck for the op, I hope it all goes well for you xx