Hello All,
Let me start by saying that I am from the US and I have yet to find an online community as supportive and friendly as this one. I was so impressed I decided to join. I hope my geographical location doesn’t prevent me from being a member of this great community.
My journey:
I was diagnosed with HPV+ positive tonsil/lymph node cancer in July. I started my treatment of 5 chemos and 33 radiations in August and completed treatment at the end of September. I was originally scheduled for 7 chemos however low blood counts wouldn’t support the last two. My oncology team assured me this is nothing to worry about (I worry anyway)
I had quite a few of the most common side effects but somehow was able to manage through them. I am starting to feel better and regain some of my strength an energy as I await my follow up PET Scan in early January.
i have a history of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) and now some of those demons are starting to pop up as I wonder:
if treatment was successful? What if the cancer comes back?
the truth of the matter is, I’m worrying about these things and I don’t even know if the cancer is gone yet, although my Oncologist stated that everything she could see visually in my mouth/throat and feel in my neck looked and felt “fantastic” and that we had an excellent chance (approximately 90%) of curing the cancer. While all of this is fantastic news my mind still trends to the dark side.
anyone else go through this? Thanks in advance for your feedback and love and support coming to all on this forum from “across the pond” as they say.
More than willing to help anyone going through this journey in anyway I can.
Hi Squid74, welcome to the forum.. congratulations on being on the 'right' side of your treatment..
yes, the waiting is an anxious time for us all I'm afraid.. but not long now until your mind is put at ease.. so, feel free to ask questions or have a rant, someone will be able to offer advice/support..
Loz (61)
Oropharyngeal right tongue base T2N2bM0 squamous cell carcinoma p16 positive..
Hi Squid.
Welcome. I’ll add to what the other guys have said about fear of recurrence. It does become manageable and you slowly realise that we get other stuff that’s not cancer. I am nearly six years clear of HPV throat cancer and living really well.
This link may help too
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below
https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com
A warm welcome from snowy Sheffield(South Yorkshire middle of England).
Firstly congratulations and well done for getting through the brutal treatment regime
I was a T4 tonsil spread to base of tongue/activity in left tonsil and spread to several lymphs HPV+ Many of us dont get through all of their planned chemo for one reason or another.
We were all where you are now and it’s a really tough time waiting for scan results and very anxiety provoking for most of us but also like this lovely group have said try to keep going back to focus on the 95% cure rate for HPV driven H&N cancers .
Going to the darkside is totally normal Im nearly 12 mths post treatment and my brain still likes to try and take me there sometimes , but connecting with all the lovely survivors on this group is really helpful knowing that so many people are enjoying their lives and some inspirational members who are several years post treatment.
stick with us , never a silly question and alsways a friendly person ( or more) to answer your posts.
Debbie
