Chloe well done u for being at the end of treatment,I wish we were.
Going back to work tomorrow which will be the first time in two months that we wont be together. Weird.
Graham so far has had two surgeries, biopsy in abdomen which had shown on CT, thankfully nothing to be worried about yet. The tonsil has gone and we are hoping no further surgery to neck but we will face that should it arise.
I have suggested to Graham that during radiotherapy he goes to his "happy place" as he feels breathing might be tight?

Ananth glad to hear of a fellow biker, I myself am definitely a fair weather pillion, but G-Man as I call him only has a bike no car!

His RT is a trial they are running at our hospital which they are hopeful about not so much damage to saliva glands so it's worth a go.

It sounds like the next couple of months will be tough I have already bought a food blender and am planning sloppy food.

It has been really useful coming to this website just to feel connected to real people, our past life seems so distant now.

I have encouraged Graham to speak for himself so hopefully boredom will kick in once I'm back to work so watch this space!

Hugs Joanne x

I had 7 weeks of radiotherapy and when it first started I hated being strapped into my mask, but eventually I got used to it and I used to ask them to leave the lights off and during that time I was somewhere else with the kids - a beach in Cornwall, Disneyland or thinking about the food I am going to eat when I can

10 days post treatment and feeling ok today!

Good luck Graham and God bless.

What bike's Graham got Joanne?. My wife wont go on the back of mine at all. I dont mind too much, not keen on the responsability of checking people are still there and not at the last traffic lights . Hagg.

Dear Hagg,
Bikers jokes too go on the jokes forum!!!
Lots of love,
Ananth.

Dear Joanne,
We are all with you and Graham and will be so right through his treatment.Its a good thing you are well informed and have made the required purchases keeping his future needs in view. I for one am sure - he is in safe hands with you.
lots of love,
Ananth

Dear Chole,
You really had some great travels when you were strapped down with the mask. The furthest I got was thinking of the movie " Silence of the Lambs" - Sic!!!!!!
Lots of love,
Ananth

Yes Ananth Silence of the Lambs crossed my mind as well whilst stapped in!

Had a really good day yesterday and made it out into the garden with my family for a bit - so hopefully I am on the mend, and my voice has really come back alot. Unfortunatly I am getting a very dry tickly cough due to having mucus collect overnight and havin to spit out every hour - I cant see the cough helping me to recovery as it is aggrivating my throat

Any suggestions?

Love Chloex

Hi Chole,

You are certainly doing well and there is nothing better to see that one has started doing things which one enjoyed. To the garden with the family and your voice getting better. It really makes me feel happy.
Regarding your dry cough because of the mucus collection, my doctor suggested and still suggests (if I accept his suggestion is a different issue all together!!) that I keep a humidifier in the room as humidity will ready help in keeping the mucus from hardening and collecting.
I used to follow his instructions for a while but have stopped since a while as I did not find the need for it (again it depends on where you live and the humidity there). My mucus collects in my throat just below the tracheostomy and hardens - I use some steam to loosen out things and off it comes and am okay for the whole day. Its once a day exercise - so I am okay with it. Even my spitting with time has really decreased as I manage to control the same - however, however - I carry a small plastic bottle, which is big enough to fit into my trouser or jacket pocket and use it to spit into if I am at a place where I cannot go spit, spit spit!!!. I use the bottle descreetly and then once am out of the place, go to the washroom and clean up the bottle - ready for a reuse.
I am sure the steam would help, chole - give it a try.

lots of love,
Ananth

Funnily enough my Macmillain nurse has just suggest steam inhalation as well. I will try tonight as last night was a real sruggle coughing and in pain.

Love Chloex

Oooooooooooooooo Just went for a walk round my aunts village as well! I am feeling great and apparently look like the old Chloe! I am getting there!

Dear Chole,
I am really happy with the way things are shaping up for you and am sure things will always just keep getting better by the day.

Do start the inhalation and in the event you are using an airconditoner or a room heater(of any kind) keep a bowl of water "without" a lid near the same. This will also in keeping your bedroom humid and you will sleep and feel much better.

take care,
lots of love,
Ananth

Thanks for the advice Annth, but I don't have aicon and heaters aren't on this time of year so I will try boiling water in a bowl with a towel over my head before bed tonigh to see if that helps in any way.

Love Chloex

Hagg, bike? don't you mean bikes!!! He has a Harley Davidson, a black one (joke) I think it's a classic (another way of saying old)FLH. Also he has a new Triumph Tiger,which apparently is an all purpose work horse and tourer. You can see I listen and take some of it in. I love the the freedom of a bike on a lovely day, the only problem I had was after completing a marathon walk for breast cancer he picked me up and once home I couldn't get off!!

Chloe I'm so glad you seem to be on the mend, all useful info for us. Our happy place is a beach in Kefalonia.

Ananth, what a lovely person you are giving such support to all on this site, it must take a special something to want to give back to others when you have already had your fair share.

Hugs to all Joanne xx

Joanne, I've got a Fireblade but I'd like a Harley for when I want to go slow (only joking, I just cant afford one). My wifes just bought a Z750 chop but she hasn't done her test yet. A mate offered it to us at a very low price and she fell in love with it. Hagg.

Dear Joanne,

A big thank you for your compliment. Yes - I have had my share of getting trashed around really badly with the cancer and also unrelated problems that surfaced during my treatment (peritonites for one). All this put together has changed me a great deal and has made me from a ruthless business executive to a mild guy who care for everything and everyone - and that is the truth. One thing which I always had was my sense of humor and am sure to a large extent thats is also what helped me pull through. I love sharing life with everyone here as its not just mine but everyones. My job is just to see everyone feels and gets better without going through the kind of pain some of us have been through. I will always be around if anyone ever needs a shoulder to lean upon or a pep talk to make one feel better.

That Harley took me back to some years ago when I rode on in Amsterdam and what a ride it was. However, though iys a classic as almost all Harleys are - I still favor the new super bikes as they have the power and I have never really cared for crusing bikes(Hagg??). Now my sons have their bikes - the elder one a hand me down - my bike - a brand new Hayabusa and we made the payment for the younger ones bike today - the R1. However, the delivery of the R1 is going to take some time as he wants a complete new designer look and I also felt it looked great (one of a kind) and repainted from its bright red to a blue black - a specific Mercedes benz color and they are doing this favor for me.
Well all that for now.
My love to both Graham and you and a buch of roses for you.
Ananth

Good morning (and it is),

Thanks for the steam inhalation advice - I just had the best nights slep for weeks! Now all I need to do is get rid of the pain in my throat and my life will be almost perfect! I guess that will subside soon. Right off to hospital for a check up.

Love and hugs

Chloex

PS Ananth - you are inspiring and you Hagg - you help and support is fantastic.

Dear Chole,
I am glad I was some help regarding the steam for you to get some really well deserved rest.Would you tell us what the doctors said after your check up today? I had the same problem with my throat paining with the soreness and my doctor recommened xylocaine spray - just take the nozzle and spray a little bit into your throat and wham - the pain is gone. Though temperory- its some relief.

Carry on having a great day. Here my day began on a bad note with one my credit card companies calling me up and infomrng me that I owed them apprx pounds sterling 7!!!! It was such a laugh but still irritating.

Take care and post us the details of your visit as soon as possible,
lots of love,xx and warm hugs,
Ananth