Hello

Rose. 1 hour ago

3 replies
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I just wanted to say hello. I have just completed my three 3-week chemo cycles and having a 2 weeks break before I start the 6 week chemo radiotherapy.

I have been diagnosed with the stage 2 nasopharyngeal cancer T2N1.

My initial worries were around claustrophobia and I just wanted to encourage others as I managed to go through mask fitting without medication. The team will look after you and the warm mask on the face is not unpleasant. The scan only lasted 5 minutes and that was the only time I was left on my own but I knew they would stop it if needed. I prepared myself with doing body scans every day and I think that also helped.

I am now quite depressed as I am not doing well on chemo, I have spoken to the team about my side effects but this is different. It feels like my body is saying "no" and I feel nauseous only thinking about the chemo. I know there is no way out, but I can't stop thinking about 6 more I have to get through.

In addition to this, another MRI, PEG tube fitting and all the radiotherapy treatment side effects will need to be endured. I started my treatment with a positive outlook but I am now feeling weak and afraid that I won't be able to manage. I would be grateful for any tips or advice.

Micky55 1 hour ago

Tough treatment ahead but not everyone is hit with harsh side effects, PEG fitting included an overnight stay in hospital for me, the procedure was quite straightforward, some abdominal muscle pain for about a week after, well controlled by pain meds, taste and appetite can be affected by radiotherapy, dry mouth, painful ulceration in the oral cavity and throat, don't suffer in silence ask your oncology and radiotherapy teams for adequate pain control...the treatment does not last forever...most of us were worried about managing but we did it...and things do improve, life returns to something like normal...albeit a 'new normal'...try to stay away from Dr Google it's not really helpful.

Stick with this forum during your treatment...wonderful support and advice...24/7

Michael

Beesuit 1 hour ago

Hi Rose. The treatment for NPC always seems worse than what gets thrown at us with oropharyngeal cancer so I really sympathise. You’ve rightly pointed out that your body says NO but that you’ll have to keep going.
Your chemo team should be able to tailor supportive treatment so do tell them his bad you feel and involve your CNS too.
Have you a Maggie’s attached to the hospital. They can be a godsend there and worth exploring.
Stay with us here even you have to post frequently.

There is a group for chemotherapy here too

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/chemotherapy-forum

You might find this thread useful too for when you start RT

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

And there is also the awake at night thread where people chat when they can’t sleep. We have a couple, that I know of … probably more, of our forum members there

Its here

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_experiences/cancer-chat-forum/f/chat-13/295498/awake-and-up-all-night

Dani

Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

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Holidays 48 minutes ago

Welcome ,whenever and whatever you struggle with involve your team of experts they will help ,i failed to get on top of my pain due to Radiotherapy i always seemed to be one step behind and this made things more difficult speak to your team at the earliest opportunity if you can control this everything else will seem so much easier .Ask anything on here nothing is too much trouble your not alone .

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