I'm new to all this and it's taken me half an hour to work out how to send a message (in between flicking screens from my boss!).

It's nice to have something terrible in common with someone, sick though it sounds. I'm a cheery, happy-go-lucky person who's mother of the same nature is right in the middle of having treatment for tongue cancer (it's only this last few weeks that I've actually learned how to spell tongue!).

She's """priority A""" - whatever that means and after 2 1/2 weeks of radiotherapy Mon-Fri in Cheltenham, is now beginning to suffer side effects. Doesn't it just break your heart knowing that you can't do anything to help eliviate the suffering. Mum's telling me as little as she can - but to me, that's worse than knowing everything!

But the good thing about it all (because there HAS to be a good thing to everything) is that it puts things into perspective - you know, like the petty things which used to wind us up, etc.

Anyway, that's my bit off my chest ...

Speak to you soon.

Chantal x [/LIST]

Chantal I was treated at Cheltenham last autumn. They are exceptionally kind and caring in their approach.

Your mother is at the worst week in my opinion. That is when I FELT at my worst, when in reality I was probably worse later on. By the Friday of the third week I really just wanted to be left alone. Odd though it may seem the following week I felt better. I think you develop coping strategies. Bed rest was all I wanted. Once you are half way it is downhill. In the latter weeks we tried to get early morning appointments before 9 as then it's done and dusted for the day.

I was worried when I saw Priority A too, but all it means is that you have to have treatment every consecutive day and cannot miss a day unless it's the weekend when they don't do it.

You are right it certainly puts other things into perspective. There is a whole world out there of people undergoing treatment that knocks them for six.

Hello Chantal

Sorry to hear about your mum. You can find out more about the side effects of her treatment here: PATIENT'S GUIDE > COMPLICATIONS

Some of my patients have found Gelclair helpful in dealing with the mouth ulcers and sore mouth caused by the radiotherapy.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee: