It was a year ago today that I received the phone call from my ENT consultant to give me ‘The news I didn’t want to have to give you’ - that the biopsy on the lump in my neck had revealed squamous cell carcinoma. ‘Probably tonsillar in origin.’ Over the following 18 weeks I underwent scans, more biopsies, a tonsillectomy with neck dissection and six weeks of chemoradiation. My recovery began in the new year.
A year after that first telephone call I’m still recovering and life is getting pretty much as back to as normal as I think it’s ever going to be. My team are pleased with my progress and say that ‘there is currently no sign of residual or recurrent disease’. My neck has improved vastly, although it’s still stiff and tender at times, as has my throat which still appears to change almost daily depending on what and how much I eat and drink. However, there is no pain and eating is nearly normal, although lack of saliva makes some things, like bread, a challenge to get down. My taste has returned, pretty much.
Mentally this thing has been a bit like the Sword of Damocles hanging over my head, but most of the time I’ve been able to push it towards the back of my mind. I know the prognosis is promising but there are always plenty of ‘what if’ moments that never let me forget the cursed thing - a slight toothache, a lump in my throat, a blister on my tongue etc. That said I do count myself lucky to be in the position that I am.
I know lots of you in here are starting or are part-way through this journey. My advice is to use the folk in here as much as you need to and to have faith in your team.
I wish you all the very best with your treatment and recovery. It won’t be worry-free and it won’t be painless but it is manageable.
M
I’ve just passed my three years when I found my tongue cancer. I’d completely forgotten the anniversary till I saw your post. So it’s possible to be nearly back to normal if you can forget that!
One minute I’m enjoying life and feeling ok for a 67 year old and the next minute I’ve found a lump on the back of my tongue, I know what it is instantly and the following weeks to official diagnosis are just passing time. I wanted the ground to swallow me up and be done with there and then.
But the mind and body are remarkably resilient. So you and I can share a month of discovery if two years apart and enjoy life again.
Well done Mark for a lovey encouraging post
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi Carol it's great when we hit those anniversaries - especially in our rather exclusive sub-club of this club 
It is also amazing how those side effects slowly disappear and then, all of a sudden, you are left wondering if they really were there in the first place!
Glad you're getting away. Make the most of the life we have and so glad you can visit your Mum; so special for both of you.
