Hello everyone, I have been diagnosed with P16 positive cancer of the tongue T2 N1 M 0 and met my oncologist for the first time last week.

Hi McAndy  and welcome.

McAndy said:

Just trying to convince myself that it's a relatively short term pain for what is hopefully a long term win.

That’s exactly what it is. 
The treatment is a real challenge but cure rates are good 

Nobody gets all the side effects that you read about and which appear in your consent forms. 

In the longer term residual problems are liveable with and need only minor tweaks to your lifestyle. 
I was 68 when my treatment ended, am  over five years clear and living well. 
Stay with us. You’ll have lots of questions on the way and there is always somebody to talk to here. 
If you have time pop a potted history into your profile. It helps others answer you properly. 

Hi McAndy

Welcome to the group… it’s totally normal to be anxious we all are at this point.

Remember we are all unique in our experience( the amount of radiation and chemo given and also how our bodies tolerate it all) some of us have a really tough time and some find it easier.

Dont worry about the pills I had a fab little pill crusher bought for £3 on amazon as I had tablets that couldn’t be given in fluid form.

The PEG will hopefully be a short term fix to pain and swallowing issues , mine became my lifesaver and I will always be thankful my Oncologist said it was a must have x

Trust your team get contact details of key people like Cancer Nurse Specialist , ask family/ friends if they can help with transport etc.

The lovely people on this site can answer any questions or just offer support when you need it.

All the best

Debbie

Hi, McAndy, it is a very stressful thing to get your head around, you will feel a lot better about it all once your treatment gets started, plus you will be in the best hands to get you cured. It's a good thing that you are having a PEG fitted, they are a lifesaver. I had a RIG which is very similar, I was on blood thinners and there was no problem with that at all.

Ray

Hi Debbielouise I wouldn't go as far as saying dont worry about pills lol. I had to take a load of pills everyday and some you couldn't crush . My main objective everyday was getting up and taking a load of  meds when you can't swallow is a task I can assure you. All the Best Minmax

Hi McAndy I am on loads of heart tablets and could not have a peg but had a rig eventually though your nose basically. As mentioned once you start the treatment things fall into place , Its not an easy trip but worth doing . Time will fly and you will be out the other side All the Best minmax 

Hi McAndy

I finished treatment for T2N1M0 HPV16+ tonsil cancer in June 2023....chemoradio 30 + 4

Tough going but well worth it...circa 90% success rate...PEG inserted prior to starting treatment...life saver.

No blood thinners at time of PEG procedure but after recovery from chemoradio treatment I required a Hernia repair,  during pre-op they discovered that I had AF...prescribed Edoxaban which I  had to stop 3 days before hernia procedure.

Take care and best of luck

Peter

Hi and welcome from me.  I am 6 months post treatment and although still recovering I am living a good quality of life which will continue to improve in the months ahead.  Let nobody tell you that this is a walk in the park.  It is not and the recovery is long.  However, I and lots of others have done it (I was 66 the day after I finished my last session).  There will be hurdles for you to overcome, but sick with us and we collectively will help you through the journey.

If you focus on sacrificing 1 year of your life to treatment and recovery in return for many, many more years of good quality life then you will be about right.

I insisted on a PEG and had absolutely no problems with it.