Tonsil cancer 2021

I asked my consultant the same thing as I’m fond of a real ale. In moderation was my reply and binge drinking is definitely a no no unless I want to risk a new cancer. So I have the odd bottle so that’s maybe twice a week and a couple of pints when we go away in the camper. 
Christmas will see me sip the odd glass of wine and maybe a Baileys but never ever spirits unless well diluted like a G&T

Bex1983 said:

he has repeatedly asked his consultant if this is OK and they confirmed it is????

Errrr has your husband said exactly how much? I bet he hasn’t. 

I now enjoy a drink.  Again mainly at weekends, but not that much.  What I used to drink before treatment I will often find unpalatable so my tastes have changed.  I also don't want to drink as much as I did.  Not sure why but I guess it is a result of the treatment.  I actually find a pale ale works really well as a saliva replacement during meals!

Hopefully he may find that he no longer wants to binge drink - drinking like that is never good!  But if he does why not look to get him some help to modify his behaviour?

In the end we all have to manage our own bodies.  I am not in the slightest advocating binge drinking, but I eat everything that a nutritionalist would have a heart attack over.  I enjoy it and find it is easier to eat cream cakes/slopy/greasy/lack of vegetables foods due to swallow.  My view is I can die content or live a little longer and struggle and be unhappy.  

Thank you, Completely understand and the more time goes and the cancer is becoming a distant memory to less he seems to look after himself, whilst I appreciate he wants to enjoy his life my issue is he is only mid 40s we have 3 young children and I want him here for many more years and his not looking after himself it's an issue than othera have also bought up to me including his family but if it is mentioned he disregards the subject.

This is what I've been told, I think I'm gonna pop along to his next appointment and bring it up with the consultant, thank you x

I was going to ask if your husband is in his 40s ( looking at your forum name) I’m 73. I can take more chances. Radiotherapy increases our risk of a second cancer and the RT cannot be repeated. It’s something to think about. My first husband enjoyed his drink, I remember how resistant he was to suggestions that he slow down. He got laryngeal cancer. 

Dear Bex1983, 

It seems that you are worried about the quantity he drinks (even if it is only at weekends). Have you shared your worries with your husband? Do you know how much he is drinking ? Talk to him and your GP if you have any concerns. I think having had cancer we will all deal with the after in a different way but we tend to want to be kinder to our body. 

All the best. 

Fab1

Yes this is my worry hopefully his got half his life ahead of him I'd like him to look after himself, I also didn't realise you can not repeat RT again, is that for anywhere or the same area? Sorry may sound dumb unfortunately his treatment was during covid so I wasn't aloud to attend some appointments so some info I only received second hand.

Yes I have but his answer is he wants to forget and live his life how he did before. I think if it was me I'd like to look after myself but he doesn't seem to think like me regarding this.

One of our forum members had RT twice on her jaw but at opposing parts so theoretically yes it can be done but with oropharyngeal cancer the whole area is hit to varying degrees and it’s in the oropharynx that a second cancer will arise if it ever does. So for us it’s definitely no. Recurrence and second cancers are dealt by operating, what’s called salvage surgery but that’s often life changing. Immunotherapy is another option but that is palliative 

Hi Bex

I do no drink alcohol nowadays but I would think that having a wee tipple in moderation would be OK....I cannot understand why a medical professional would approve of heavier alcohol consumption....the treatment does take a lot out of us so we really need to be very careful about how we treat our bodies.

Peter