hi, i'm steve from West Drayton nr Heathrow. In feb 2003 i was diagnosed with tongue carcinoma. Had a tumour on the back of my tongue and traces in my neck.In april and may of that year i went through six weeks of radiotherapy which as anyone who has had it would know, is extremely stressful, painful, and debilitating. Eight months on and i'm still physically shattered and have little energy compared to the way i used to run around. Dry mouth is still a problem as is lack of appetite, though i eat more than i did when i first started back up on solid food. I peg fed for 4 months and had lost the desire for conventional eating. It took 3 weeks in a mental health unit to kick start me. Depression has been a major issue throughout treatment and to this day. I feel like ive left my old life behind and am unsuccessfully trying to adapt to a new one with little sense of taste, continual dryness in my mouth, and fatigue that i just cant seem to shake off. I'd like to hear from people who are perhaps 2 or 3 years on from their treatment, and how they now cope after having experienced similar difficulties to mine. I'd appreciate anything that may be inspirational or helpful in my recovery. e-mail me direct to; heathrowsteve@aol.com and i will reply. thanks

Hi Steve

Welcome to our Message Board and online support group . Sounds like you have been through a difficult time. I am sure many of the members here will help you with their insight into how they coped with problems like yours. Helpful friends and company are a good antidote to depression, and I am hopeful you will find some of the antidote here.

Because of the location of the cancer and the effects of treatment on social interaction, patients with head and neck cancer are at particular risk of psychological problems, particularly social anxiety and depression. Up to 40% of patients with head and neck cancers are found to be clinically depressed , both at the time of diagnosis and for many years after treatment. This is a higher rate of depression than among patients with other common cancers, and it is associated with increased risk of suicide. Psychological interventions can be most helpful. A clinical psychologist could provide or arrange cognitive-behavioural and other forms of therapy when required.

You may find some of the patient stories helpful.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee:

Dr J, You have enlightened me.
I thought I was the only one depressed (fed up I call it)and suicidal at times.
I guess we all go through it one way or another part of the package me thinks.
The worst think is when you start gpoing backwards again that is VERY hard to cope with, It is like your a failure !!! Paul

Hi Steve

Fatigue is one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. Feeling tired even after getting enough rest and sleep is a common complaint. You may find these links about managing the side effect of fatigue useful:

• Fatigue: What a Patient Needs to Know
  
• Fatigue
  
• Managing your Cancer: Coping with Fatigue
  This is a CancerCare Connect® booklet with topics that include:
  Symptoms of anemia.
  How to discuss fatigue with your doctor.
  Practical tips for managing fatigue.
  

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,

STEVE I HAVE SENT YOU A E-MAIL,,I HOPE IT HELPS SOME ANYWAY,,WHEN I HIT MY LOWEST POINT,, I WRITE, I HAVE A JOURNAL GOING NOW,,I HAVE TO WRITE DOWN THESE FEELINGS,, WHO KNOWS MAYBE ONE DAY THEY WILL HELP ANOTHER POOR LOST CANCER SOUL LIKE ME,,,WHO KNOWS,,,I HAVE BEEN AND I HAVE BEEN DOWN,,NOW I HAVE LEARNED TO JUST BE ME,,NOTHING MORE,,,NOTHING LESS,,I TRY NOT TO GET TOO EXCITED OR TOO DEPRESSED THESE DAYS,,AFTER 3 TIMES IT IS KIND OF SENSELESS TO, DONT U AGREE...PLEASE FEEL FREE TO E-MAIL ME, VICKI LYNN

Hi Steve

I am now a year on from my radiation treatment & I am constantly tired. In the days b4 'C' I use to survive on 3 & 4 hours sleep, get up & go running for an hour then go to work for 9.5hrs then come home & do something social after that. Since radiation I cannot get my head off the pillow if I have not had at least 9-10 hours sleep..& still then I feel exhausted. It was such a relief to read what Doc wrote about depression because I certainly feel short changed at times & have often thought about suicide. Ever since being diagnosed I have never felt like this was my life...certainly somebody got it wrong? Also the physical changes...I do not feel confident & feel very depressed at the thought of always being single. I'm obviously a very good actress though because most people refer to me as 'amazing' for the strength I show. I feel guilty to share the truth as if I somehow don't deserve to survive if I am not going to appreciate my survival....so you most certainly are not alone with your feelings.

Warm Regards, Kelley ( :

Kelley, that was so well spoken, it was if some of your words came from my mouth..Bless you. You are not alone either, you never were, tho that is so hard to understand sometimes when all is asleep and here we are walking around the house or apartment giving anything to sleep at least then there would be only so many hours left of the day....But when you cannot sleep the days and nights seem to roll into one long exhausting day..That is when the depression sets in, or at least it does for me. Once I get thru some of this I pray it will get better, until then I fight. God bless us all, Always Vicki Lynn.