Update - 2 months after treatment

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Feeling incredibly lucky to be recovering well after 6 weeks daily radiotherapy & weekly chemo, ending on 11 November.  I was then hospitalised for 10 days due to extreme nausea & dehydration, and put on an NG tube. Got rid of that before Christmas & I'm now off all medication and just left with a sore throat, dry mouth (very grateful to people on here who recommended sugar free chewing gum and Xylimelts) and lack of energy. Eating well and taste buds OK.

To anyone newly diagnosed or awaiting treatment, I'd like to say that the experiences on here can seem very scary - i thought so before my treatment - but I'm a lucky example of speedy recovery. I was in good health before (age 64 now) so maybe that helped.  What I'm finding difficult now is the wait until 15 Feb when I find out whether treatment has worked or not...

Huge thanks to everyone on here for sharing your experience, and very best wishes for 2023

  • Happy New year too, CatSW9

    You are doing great to be eating well at 9 weeks. Don't dwell on the fatigue. It is 100% down to the radiation and will gradually improve. I used to get waves of it that came from nowhere and I had to rest.

    I know what you mean about waiting for your PET or MRI. You've done the hard work, you've dragged yourself back out into the sunshine  winter rain yet the waiting continues. Hold onto the fact that this cancer is eminently curable. 

    Best wishes

    Dani 

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

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Hi Well done just remember how far you’ve come. Scan day will come and will go then in to results day, don’t worry about something you’ve no control over you’ve done the hard work trust the science. That’s what having had cancer has taught be nit to stress I’ve ether things ine no control over. Remember it’s extremely rare for our treatments to fail. Once you’ve got to the one year mark reoccurrence s are rare once you’ve hit 2 years rarer. Remember to attend your ent check ups, if by some chance you drop off the system chase up. It happened to me in year 2 but I’m persistent be proactive in your healthcare you’ll get there. 
    Fatigue don’t fight it just go with what your body’s telling you, if you’re tired nap it’s not forever. 
    Hugs Hazel x

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com  HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now  6 years  post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

    2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers 

    https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/

  • Thank you! 

    September 2022 aged 63 diagnosed with HPV associated SCC base of tongue T4 N2 M0. Chemo & radiotherapy for 6 weeks ending Nov 2022. Oct 2024 nearly 2 years all clear. See my profile for longer story

  • Thank you Hazel! 

    September 2022 aged 63 diagnosed with HPV associated SCC base of tongue T4 N2 M0. Chemo & radiotherapy for 6 weeks ending Nov 2022. Oct 2024 nearly 2 years all clear. See my profile for longer story

  • Hi Cat,

    so amazing news, and all true as you said! 
    i am having similar experiences and, its great to hear it from someone else too. I will be 6 months pass RT treatment (had 30RT and 2 CT), just doing my 2. PET scan today as had ulcer on the first scan. Hopefully all good!

    Happy New Year to you, stay safe and wishing you all health and happiness Sunny

    Marta x 

  • Thank you Marta,  that's good to hear.  I hope your scan is clear! Very best wishes

    September 2022 aged 63 diagnosed with HPV associated SCC base of tongue T4 N2 M0. Chemo & radiotherapy for 6 weeks ending Nov 2022. Oct 2024 nearly 2 years all clear. See my profile for longer story