Update 2 years on

Hi everyone on this helpful site.  I just wanted to post an update about me so that people new to this site can maybe feel a little bit reassured. I know when I was first diagnosed back in July 2021 I read everything I could about people’s experiences with throat cancer and their outcomes.  My tumour was T1/2N2M0. At the base of my tongue.  It feels scary just typing that! I was convinced I was going to die!

However, here I am 2 years after finishing treatment   I had my meeting with my lovely consultant Prof Nutting at the Marsden Hospital in London yesterday   I have moved from 2 monthly visits to 3 monthly now which is a big milestone   He is fully expecting me to be fine but to continue with the regular monitoring as usual for everyone  

So, how am I?   I think I have been quite slow to recover   I have taken things at a slow pace and not pushed myself too hard   However, these last few months have seen my return to feeling very well and having lots of energy to cope with everything   

I walk the dogs, swim regularly and generally keep pretty active   And I am pleased to report I feel able to be busy and not tired out anymore  I can look after my grandchildren and we have been away on some lovely weekend breaks  

I was extremely sick at the end of treatment and in a lot of pain  this lasted quite some time, especially lack of appetite and the sickness, but now I can eat everything and my swallow is good   My taste is a bit tricky, some things are excellent but some things are v bland.  But I can live with that. I am lucky I can eat Chillies/mustard etc so I just add that sort of thing in.  The dreaded dry mouth is a nuisance.  It has definitely improved though snd I am finding if I drinks LOADS of water that seems to help as well  I use Biotene gel at night  I suppose my eating isn’t quite the same but it’s more than good enough  

I lost my confidence really, after treatment   Confidence in life and going out etc etc   I sort of felt I had ‘failed’ because I had got cancer  

but all this is slowly diminishing and I am able to go out with friends  etc and enjoy going out and about. 

I take very good care of my teeth.  I must admit I do worry about ever having a problem there but I guess I will just have cross that bridge etc. 

Sorry to drone on!  Just wanted anyone whose interested to know that there can be life after treatment, I feel a slightly different life, but a good life nonetheless

sending all best wishes to everyone on here

lizzie x