Husband back at home

Hi Lynda. Hate it when the decision is  left to you If they are recommending it . If it was me I would want to dot the I s and x  the t s  as bad as radiotherapy is it mops up any stray cells. Radiotherapy is highly targeted its even improved since I had mine 4 years ago. But as we all know it’s a once in a lifetime event have they mentioned a watch and wait scenario ? 
Hope your dinner is ready for you. 
As for timing he will get quicker. 
hugs Hazel x

Lovely to hear everything is going well and he will get used to all the fidling and cleaning that goes with a Laryngectomy so tell welcome to the club and talking of that look up Cancer Laryngectomee Trust, they will send loads of useful information and intersting articles plus a list of Hospitals all over Britain that will help if you are away.

As for the RT well I didn't have it as I have said before they told me it was belt and braces, I have just got back from seeing my consultant and she is well pleased with me so ask ask ask the %ages of the treatment side effects etc.
Take care and so glad he is going well

Tony x

Thanks Kasvin,

I asked that question today, as I remember you saying that a few weeks ago and they couldn’t give us an answer. To me the side effects seem  too harmful( I am a terrible over thinker) but at the end of the day, I said to my Mr B that it was his decision and I am 100 percent behind him. 

A nice read Lynda, difficult to advise on the radio, as you know I had that many years before my op so not a decision I had to make; just arm youself  with as much info as you can and come to and answer you're happy with.

Polo said:

I didn’t sleep for the first few nights as before he was a terrible snorer and now I can hardly hear him breath, he is the one kicking me to shut up now!!!

Ironic for me this, after my radio my snoring was off the scale and my wife took to sleeping in the spare room, then when I got "silenced" she wasn't there to benefit.

Good advice from Tony on the Cancer Laryngectomee Trust, useful guys.

Can I ask (out of interest) who's providing his equipment? It really does get easier, as I've said before; just need to plan ahead meticulously if you're out for a day or go on holiday.

Hi Mike O

Atos are providing equipment.

Regarding RT a lot of thinking to be done, trying to weigh up the positives and negatives 

x

Hi Lynda

Glad your husband is now home and starting to make progress.  I did not have radiotherapy after my surgery (different to your husband's) as I reckoned the evidence to support radiotherapy in my case as a benefit to me was minimal.  I am still here and living life to the full.  Radiotherapy for me is the big guns should the cancer return.

To have or not have it is a very personal decision and can only be based on the individual's risks that are negated by having it vs the benefits of having it vs the potential side effects.  Never an easy decision to make, but I wish you both all the best with whatever decision you come to.

Thanks Peter,

yes it is such a hard decision for Mr B to decide, lots to think  about. What is sad is that he has moved a few steps forward to take several back and no guarantee that he will get back to where he is right now only 3 weeks after surgery 

Lynda x

Polo said:

Atos are providing equipment.

Same as me, they're very nice people and offer great support. Presumably he's on the new-ish Provox Life range, only introduced last year, I was on the "early bird" trial for them

Hi Lynda. The questions I might be asking would include how sure are they all the cancer has been removed? Why exactly are they recommending RT? They need to spell it out. Is it just in case? And what do they expect if there is recurrence after not doing the radiation? Where could it have spread if it hasn’t all gone? Can he have a PET before you make your mind up re RT? Where exactly are they targeting the treatment? Would it work at a later date? Then you can make an informed decision. 
The clinicians are the informed ones but to my mind they owe you a proper explanation. 
Best of luck 

Thanks  Danni,

A lot of useful advice and more questions need to be asked before decision is made 

Lynda x