New here tonsil cancer

Hi fudgec8ff12 sorry to read your diagnosis and to see you here but stay with us. There’s masses of experience and help here. 
I am over six years clear of treatment for cancer in my tongue tonsils. Living well. 
The time to treatment varies from trust to trust depending on capacity. Any dental treatment shouldn’t impact anything as there are other things to get in with Whike you are healing. My teeth are all heavily restored but I didn’t have any out. 
You will need to have a plastic shell ( we call them masks) to be made. It’s used to immobilise you under the RT machine to make sure you are in the same spot every time. Then you’ll have to have a planning scan with the mask on. It’s a CT where the treatment target is calculated. Then AI and radiologists work out the radiation you’ll be given.  You’ll likely get a chest CT as well 

I would bank on around a month from now though it may be sooner

Hi Beesuit, Thank you for replying I really appreciate it . It is helping to actually read all your journeys and to see how you have come through . Im trying to be very cup half full but im afraid ia pessimistic by heart and I do tend to look on the worst case side of things. But yes I will stick with the group because even though I have absolutely amazing support from my family and friends I the type of person who needs to speak to people that have been through or going through excatly what i am . Thank you 

Hi,

I had to have my radiotherapy delayed for 4 weeks as a result of having 8 teeth removed. As the dentist was only in the hospital once a week there was a delay between X-ray and extraction and then the waiting for the healing process before geating my mask fitted and radiotherapy starting. For me this meant around 6 weeks from Neck dissection to start of radiotherapy, which started on my birthday!!

Try to be as positive as possible as I found this helped not just me but those around me, although there will be some days where emotions will be all over the place.

1 year after surgery and 10 months after radiotherapy I’m getting back to a new normal.

70 year old male.

I'm 2 + years out from chemoradiotherapy for tonsil and neck cancer.

Biopsies, scans and dental work in late January early February, CRT treatment started in late April.

It's not easy to keep your mind off the cancer or treatment, I went on a couple of short breaks with my wife, ate the things I liked, I was forewarned by my CNS that taste and appetite often disappeared during CRT.

The treatment is very difficult for some of us, but not all, some patients do manage without getting many of the nasties.

I had 3 tooth extractions over two sessions, this delayed the start of treatment due to healing time and making sure there were no gum infections.

Hi, I'm Michaela. I was diagnosed with cancer of the base of the tongue and tonsils, which spread to my lymph nodes. My journey began on March 24 when I experienced a sudden and dramatic bleed from my mouth, despite having no prior symptoms. Initially, A&E suspected a stomach ulcer, but I instinctively felt the blood wasn't coming from that source.

The next day, I decided to go private after signing myself out of the hospital. The doctor who examined me had been on duty that night in A&E and was baffled as to why she hadn’t been called. She performed a nasal camera exam and immediately located the lump, admitting me back to the NHS that day. From the beginning, she had her suspicions that it was cancer.

After undergoing the usual scans, including a PETCT, the diagnosis was confirmed. I opted against surgery after consulting with the oncologist, though the surgeon was wonderful and made me feel at ease. I completed 35 sessions of radiotherapy and had two out of three planned chemotherapy sessions. I was surprised when the oncologist informed me that I wouldn't lose my hair, which, honestly, wasn’t a priority for me at that moment.

Now, I’m one year post-radiotherapy, and so far, there has been no recurrence at my six-week check-ups, which have now moved to every eight weeks. I wish I had known about this group earlier, as there are many people here with great advice. The care I received from both hospitals, Macmillan, and the radiotherapy department has been exceptional, and I can’t fault the support I’ve had from diagnosis to the present day.  

I'm happy to answer questions you have about any part of the process. 

Hi. I’m Hazel 61 when diagnosed now 68 tonsil cancer plus soft palate and 7 lymph nodes no symptoms apart from lump in neck which I though was pulled muscle. I too had quinsies in 2003 was told my right tonsil would be weak. No issues until May 2018.  Stick with us were all happy to help

ask any questions this time the waiting is the worst part once treatments starts brain goes into gear .

hair loss cisplatin doesn’t usually cause hair loss you’ll get some thinning of hair and often radiotherapy causes a crescent shape hair loss at back of head but soon grows back once treatment finished 

hugs Hazel 

Just to add, I was so scared making my way to the dental department. I didn't need any extractions or treatment. 

fudgec8ff12 said:

Did any of you lose your hair durning treatment. 

A crescent at the nape of my neck where the RT exited. It grew back ok. 

Hi  

Thank you for the reply really appreciate it. Did you have only radiotherapy or chemo as well ? . I think the doctors are thinking no surgery for me ( apart from the tonsillectomy which was preventive ) and doing radiotherapy and chemo . My main concern is feeling / being nauseous with it as I absolutely hate being sick ,I proper panic with it . 

Hi Micky , Thank you for the reply again I really appreciate it . Yes im hoping to go away for a short break before treatment starts . Ive been very lucky in the fact that my cancer was found as an emergency admission to hospital so the time frame has moved incredibly quickly. Its just 3 weeks since it was found and ive already had all the biopsies/ scans and surgery that im going to need before treatment starts and have also been told they have caught this quite early so im praying that has some bearing on treatment etc ...having the tonsillectomy has saved about 25% of treatment i would of needed without it . Thank you again appreciate you sharing .