One year on…..

Well, this year has flown. It was a year on 8th September that I had a tonsillectomy and hemi thyroidectomy to remove right thyroid and cancerous nodule. In that time I have also had 6 weeks of radiotherapy and not eaten Christmas dinner, despite cooking it! Treatment finished on 5th January 2024 and then the side effects really kicked in… nausea, vomitting, mouth pain, ulcers, sore tongue, struggling to swallow, weight loss (1.5 stones). But that said, looking back it is all a distant memory, my weight has stabilised at the weight I went down to which I’m thrilled about, my taste has returned, but still disappears as I eat, but less so as time goes on. My eating habits have changed, as has my taste in food, but all for the better. I can’t eat bread anymore, too claggy, cakes and biscuits very rarely, and most dry foods are out. Foods I used to enjoy taste different, eg tuna and cheese. Whilst I didn’t enjoy eating at first and had lots of smoothies and powdered protein drinks supplied on prescription, I now find that I am eating much more healthily and not snacking at all. I feel healthier, dog walk daily, have more energy and generally feel so much better. For anyone currently struggling with food and eating, it does get easier and better over time, but persevering and forcing yourself to eat even when you don’t feel like it is crucial. I still feel very full very quickly and could give up eating half way through a meal, but I keep going and consequently I feel so much better for it. The radiotherapy fatigue has gone, and apart from going for a check up every 6 weeks in the ENT department it’s as though it never happened. The oncology department were superb and I never ever felt frightened or threatened by the cancer. I just knew I would get well eventually, although some days were very bleak and painful and only sleep seemed to improve things along with a lot of oromorph, fentanyl patches, cocodamol, anti emetics and antiseptic numbing spray. But now I’m pleased to say I have had no drugs since the beginning of March and feel fabulous. For anyone struggling, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I for one can’t believe it’s a year since my treatment started. Stay positive!!!