Hello there, I just would like to add a few sentences on my case of radio and chemotherapy which I have recently finished. Unlike Chloe who managed to write some words straight after, its taken myself 8days after 35 treatments finished. But hey here I am, starting to feel positive again. That was a journey and a half. I am a bit burnt still, but healing well. In the hospital where I was treated I have just finished a weeks course of ozone. Quite simply you are subjected to about half an hour a day of ozone (0.5% in water vapour) blowing over your skin. Seems to have worked wonders. Daily use of Diprobase emoilment cream will be required for a week or so yet.

I think the best thing I achieved was quiting the morphine, thats nasty stuff, completely messed my thinking. Now I am beginning to focus again and have regained the positive thinking.

I appreciate there is a long way to go, having travelled a long way already. Were getting there, and I feel so fortunate.

Daily routines are cunbersome, but one by one the chores are reducing. A week is not a long time when your a victim, and my operation was 6th April this year. So today is 25th July, and another week its my 44th birthday. Some cold Guinness for sure, maybe I try and eat something, even Banana flavour Ensures are wearing thin now.
I hope my good fortune contuinues, and I can maybe find some way of helping and councelling others.

Thanks to this site, kept me going with trhew support of my friends and relatives.

Now I attempt to search for advice on getting rid of this awfaul phlem.

Welcome back Nigel. I have progressed to chocolate and bannana custard (the best thing ever!) and thin soups. Took a while though. Bicarb/salt solution was the best thing for mucosis that I found.

Good luck with the rocky road to recovery.

Love Chloex

Dear Nigel,
I was recomended glycerine to get rid of the mucus and trust ne it worked wonders - as it would act as a layer ( as butter does when one goes on a drinking binge) and allows the mucus to come out easliy and it also doe not allow the mucus to harden up wherein you have to remove the crust everyday.
I do not know if all this has made sense in your case - but its good knowledge to keep in mind if someone else requires some information.
Warm regards and hugs,
Ananth

Ey up lad, so pleased you are back, have been wondering about you. I am sure there have been times recently when you haven't felt it but you had such a positive outlook from the get go which I am sure stands you in good stead.

Brilliant, you have done so well and things can now only get better.

Angie

Hi Nigel, job well done! Isn't a sense of relieve to finish the rad's! I just finished 2 weeks ago and felt fantastic emotionally, though drained physically. I still can't eat, my speech isn't all that great, swallowing is still a chore and I'm usually exhausted, but I feel fantastic emotionally! I hope you feel the same!

By the way, Happy Birthday to you, even if the wish is a bit early!

Great Job, Cricket

Congrats Nigel!!

I remember a med called Mucinex (or something like that)... still had the crud but it was much thinner and more manageable....

best wishes,

bob ( pembo)

Now its nearly 4 weeks since radiation finished. Today I managed a pint of Guinness, plus a small amount of vegetable soup, which tasted delicious.
My mouth still very sore, having lots of mucus still, but maybe a slight improvement after this experience of today. I hope so because its no fun sat on your backside all day long. If only I can muster the strength so start walking tomorrow I will feel encouraged.
Push on I suppose, Nigel

I remember Rob drinking his first pint after his treatment.The look on his face was just fantastic.Well done you!!!

Again, congratulations, you have done so well.

Bill has thus far never regained his taste for beer. When we look back, from summer 2006 when he decided that no one kept good ale in this area anymore, which must have been the onset of his problem when his taste buds changed. He has never regained his taste for a pint.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: angiebaby,

Hello Nigel

Did you get my private message about arrangements for the Brunner Mond fayre. Angie is going. Please call Vicki at Media Ambitions (020 8940 2222) to confirm arrangements.

Thanks, Vinod

will do Dr Vinod. regards

OK, I came from the hospital after my neck disection and with a new tongue, a flap taken from my left thigh, 3/4 of my original tongue in size and two long scars of 104 stitches. After 6 weeks recovery it was back for the dreaded after treatments. 7 long weeks of chemo and radio.

This finished mid July amd I have to say its only now that I am beginning to feel alive again. This treatment knocks the xxxx out of you, well it did to me anyway.

Whats life like now then.

To me it appears most people you meet don't realize what you/we have been through. The effects and marks from surgery are pretty hard to spot. Nice one Dr Lloyd, I owe you big time.

You can see where the skin has undergone radio is a bit darker than the rest. (Plan to be in Thailand Late this year so that will nullify that concern).

My throat is still sore, almost as if someone has grazed the skin at the back. So I still on Ensures through the PEG. Please tell me I can eat something soon, this has to be one of the worst factors for me.

Slight stiffness in my left shoulder, but pushing on with limited walking and exercises most days.

My hair thinned a bit, but now back to full gloss.

Energy levels are low, but incresing on a weekly basis.

Speach is coming, but 3/10 at present. Need to press on with mouth and neck exercises when out walking, most important.

Saliva. Pretty much dried up now, like waking up with a hangover every morning. The phlegm is also becoming less, but still there and not helping with my speach.

Turning the tide, I read when logged on some most fascinating postings on this site, first class. This problem seems widespead, and its a killer. I was lucky, and I came accross an article in Tuesdays Daily Mail about Mouth cancer victim told to use mouthwash. Vis a Vis Robin, who I am sure most people know dfrom this site.

I am unable to attend this years Walk, but wish participants the max for rasing awareness of mouth cancer. Along with Angie, we will be attending an awareness campaign here in the North West at Brunner Mond, the former ICI sites for refining of various inorganic chemicals. Soda ash, glass making, but also many chemicals that go into everyday items such as sodium bicarb in toothpaste.

See you there, some of you.

Keep up the great work Anath and Dr Vinod et al.

Thanks for listening. Nigel

Dear Nigel,
Let me not comment on anything much as I am glad your worst (the medication) is over and are well on your way to recovery. You are very right abou peoples ability to understand what one has been through as (please I do not mean to offend anyone here) - as when you talk to people - they always feel it can never happen to them. It really cracks me up watching these young kids smoking and drinking ( I should not be complaining as I did too) and when I tell them about my experience - looking at me they dont believe it. I then purposely show them my peg and stoma in my throat and that has scared the hell out of a lot of them.
I dont know if you used to work out pre cancer - but if you did - try and get back into the grind. You dont have to push yourself as you did earlier and work out a wee bit and keep increasing it. You'll see how things change.

So take care my friend and just keep getting better by the day,
Love and hugs,
Ananth

Hi Nigel
No doubt Trevor will respond to your post when he sees it as many of the things you speak of were his issues last year. Some are still an issue ie no saliva, and taste (normal taste, that is) seems to be a thing of the past! Doesn't make life easy really, especially when nutrition is a major issue, as it is for him now. As a carer (and non-cook!) it's a huge challenge trying to get someone interested in eating when there is little to no pleasure in it. Trevor's cancer experience has really opened my eyes to the social aspect of eating. It is a very big part of our interactions with family and friends and you don't ever think about it until you see first hand the effects of not being able to eat and enjoy the interactions that usually take place over a shared meal.
All that being said however, when you consider the battle you have won, licking your wounds and making progress back to normality is a major milestone and it sounds like you're doing a great job.
Trevor was not into exercise much at all pre cancer but he sure got stuck into it once he was getting better and it was nothing for him to walk 12kms a day. I feared I'd come home from work one day to an empty house ~ him having forgotten to turn around and come on home when he was out for his 'stroll'!!! He was healthier and happier than he had been for years as a result so remember to crawl before you walk and before you know it, you'll be off like a rocket.
Well done to you. Best wishes for your continued recovery.
Love from Down Under
Deborah

Hi Nigel,

Well I am well on the road to recovery and managed some sausage at the weekend - went away with my best mate - got an up yours cancer tattoo, drank a vodka and paddled in the sea - it was fantastic! The weather was great too!

I have joined a gym - the first time for 7 years! I am looking fantastic and seeing a man *blushes* - I haven't felt so good for years and dare I say it - it is actually all thanks to getting cancer - HOW INSANE IS THAT PEOPLE lol

I really hope anyone out there reading this gets hope from it. At the begining of the year my life was destroyed and now I am fantastic! I am so happy! Cant wait to meet people at the walk this weekend!

See you.

Love Chloex

Love Chloex