After treatment

It’s just slow healing and a slow return of normality. Most of us have significant loss of saliva for quite a while. 
Your team should have told you to familiarise yourself with what your mouth and throat look like after a few weeks when the mucositis has subsided. Get to know what’s normal and get into a routine. Look in and have a feel of your neck too. 
Any change you are uncomfortable with that lasts longer than two weeks should be brought to the attention of your CNS. I have had two out of sequence appointments both for new throat pain. 

I used to check weekly but now I look monthly 

An illuminated mirror or a small led torch are invaluable. 
Don’t get OTT with it though. 

My mouth is quite strange , one day I wake up & it’s dry the next it’s slimy , I’m trying to find things to drink as juice & water make me feel sick , the only thing I can taste is black coffee ! 

Your taste will be up and down. That’s normal. Two steps forward one back. It’s often six months before you’re happy with yourself and improvements come slowly after that 

Hi lots of positives. We’re lucky our cancers  are eminently curable. That’s a big tick. Ok we have side effects but I’m 4 years down  the live and happily living my life. Next few weeks you may feel worse you may feel the same. I turned a corner at 6 weeks at 8 weeks I flew to Spain  to our apartment not on holiday but never the less  I did it.

I get my hubby to stand behind me once a month and check my neck he’s done It since day one of recovery so he knows how my neck feels and if there’s any issuesI also check inside my mouth with a magnifying mirror used to be once a week now maybe once a month I know what it looks like and feels  like and if I get an ulcer I know what to do. You will be on a regular check for at least the first two years every 8 to 10 weeks maybe and then I went onto three months now I’m on six months for my last two years. 
Just remember because treatments finished it doesn’t mean that is finish working there’s no magic switch it all takes time

Just make sure that you’ve got enough pain medication when you leave on Friday to see you through a couple of weeks then review it  

As for saliva and 95 to 98% there now night time I still use xyimelts and I wake up dry in the middle of the night on rare  occasions

Hazel x

Hi Aly Last day tomorrow. Good luck it’s a strange feeling having last radiotherapy and cutting the tie from hospital YouTube been seen daily them wham you’re in your own more or less. Keep in touch with us. Remember you may feel worse before  you feel better. Baby steps. Keep an eye out for oral,thrush as well.

Hugs Hazel x

Hi Hazel yes last one tomorrow, I’ve already had oral thrush & treated it , soft pallet quite dry & sore but changes every day , I’ve got so many mouth washes I don’t even know what they are for haha , feeling ok & positive , yes I will still be here even after treatment incase I need you all xxx

Hazel when you say gets worse before it gets better , what other side effects will happen or is it the ones I have ? Does it happen to everyone as I was hoping by the start of next week I was going to try to do more xx

Hi Aly

Sending my best wishes for your last treatment tomorrow, I am on week 4 of my radiotherapy so I have been reading your previous posts with interest as well as all the advice from the lovely community on here. Well done on getting through the treatment and please do keep us posted on your recovery x 

Hi Becks thank you & not too long for you now too xx