Navigating oral cancer diagnosis

Hi. Sorry to hear your husband needs RT 

It’s a course of six or seven weeks five days a week. It is very challenging. If your husband is offered a feeding tube he should grab it. There may well come a time when he won’t be able to swallow. 

Has chemotherapy been mentioned too? 
There is a helpful thread here 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/head-neck-cancer-forum/f/diagnosis-and-treatment/287136/helpful-tips-for-those-about-to-start-treatment

Have a read through it. Stay with us and we will help you both through. 

Hi Doramouse, welcome.  Sorry to hear that you and your husband has had disappointing news.  I had tonsil cancer and had a neck dissection, but cancer had made it's way into one of my lympth nodes.  I had 6 sessions of chemotherapy (one a week) which lasted 5 hours at a time and 36 radiotherapy sessions (every day for six weeks, bar weekends.)  However, eveyone can be different, as you will no doubt find out from all the lovely people on here, who are always a great support.

If you read people's bios, you will get an overall picture.  It is tough, but the payoff is worth it of course.  Any questions you may have will be answered quickly and the support from the lovely folk on here will help you to see it through, they certainly did with me and for many others too.

Take heart, we are all in this together!

Big hugs, Hazel x

Hi, Doramouse, welcome to the group. Sorry to hear your husband is now having RT, however it's good they are being thorough, I'm a firm believer in hitting it with all you can. I second what Dani said about a feeding tube (RIG or PEG) have it if offered. We are all here to help, any questions just ask.

Ray.

Thank you all. Chemotherapy has not been mentioned. I wanted to come here to offload as I know that Dr Google will send me into a tailspin. It’s good to get feedback from people who are navigating through similar. I appreciate your replies .

Hi I had 35 radiotherapy sessions and 2 of a planned 3  chemo. It’s nit easy but if I can do it anyone can. Any questions just ask one of us will always try to help. 
hugs Hazel x

I had just the six weeks RT for cancer at the base of my tongue. I can’t lie, the road is hard but I got support from my hospital, pain relief was spot on and I found this forum. 
By midweek three I couldn’t swallow and relied on a nasogastric tube feeding overnight by pump. This left the day free to try to be as normal as possible. 
I’m here alive and well six years later.