New diagnosis

By the way My name is keith & I’m 77 

Hi Keith

A warm welcome to this supportive group, sone of us are night owls and some have a normal sleep pattern as you can see I don’t

Lots of us weren’t able to have surgery due to the size  of our primary tumours but are still here after chemotherapy and radiotherapy (or just radiotherapy).I was petrified to have the mask fitting as Im claustrophobic but actually it was ok It felt like warm towels going onto my face which were then dried quickly and made into the mask. I asked to have and eyes /mouth section cut out . You can talk to your team to see what can be done to make the mask as comfortable as possible .

Radiotherapy sessions can go faster if you reqest your favourite radio station or make a playlist on your own phone . Whenever I had any scans or radiotherapy sessions I would think of my favourite memories/ days in my life or plan my next holiday whilst listening to my favourite songs.

Ask any questions you have, make friends with your Cancer Nurse Specialist, trust your Team and make sure you have support from family/friends Mcmillan etc.

Message whenever you feel like it, never a silly question.

Debbie

Hi Keith, welcome to the group. Debbie has given you some great advice, the only thing I can add is to use Aloe Vera gel on you neck after each RT session (only after not before), it's soothing and helps your neck from getting too sore. We are all here to help, so any worries or questions, just ask, someone will always answer if they can.

Ray.

Hi Keith 

A great group of people for support and sound advice.... sorry that you have to be part of it, all on here have walked a similar walk...

Stay strong 

Peter 

I was given Flamigel and it was brilliant I applied it before and after treatment and was left no scaring after 30 sessions of radiotherapy and it was soothing.

Ask your radiologist or doctor 

Hi Keith and welcome.

My cancer was inoperable too but six weeks of radiotherapy fixed it and I am here over five years later fit and well. Ray is a year in front of me. It's a real challenge and won't be easy but in the end the weeks of treatment fly by. Recovery takes a good deal longer but a day at a time, steps forward and sometimes back gets us through

The mask is only a problem if you are claustrophobic. I wasn't and felt perfectly OK. It's like having a warm wet towel draped over your face. I was lucky that my planning scan was done there and then in the simulation room after the mask hardened. I'm really nosy and was fascinated by the science. I asked eyeholes to be cut so I could see out. Some more modern masks are more open faced.

My advice? Don't be brave. Most symptoms can be mitigated but only if you tell your team how you feel. Do as you're told and you'll be fine. Trust your team. they are good at what they do. You just have to keep it together

Hi Keith 

it’d not unusual to go down the chemo snd or radiotherapy route for head and neck  cancers. I couldn’t have surgery as  my lymph nodal involvement was too close to  spine. The mask fiting isn’t too scary just ask for eye holes to be cut out it makes the process easier. Most trusts will do it but you need tk ask. Any questions pop on here welcome by the add 

Hazel 

Thank you all for your kind messages & info, it’s good to know support is only a click away and be able to ease my journey through this terrible time.

regards keith.

Hi Keith.. I I second the use of Flamigel RT..I had a helluva tan, but my skin didn't break down at all.. didn't even peel.. so that was one area that I had no problems with.. it's a tough gig, I won't lie, but trust in your team, it's their job to get you through this, your job is to tell them how you are coping. so get up to speed with oral hygiene.. I take it you haven't started treatment yet, so see your dentist and get a fluoride varnish, it will help you in the long run, and get it topped up every 3 months.. your mouth may take a hammering, so every little will help.. 

try dropping your chin towards your chest as you swallow, and turning your head slightly towards the treatment side, hopefully that will open your throat enough to swallow water and not choke.. it's worth a try, hopefully it may help.