hi all,
I am new to this ,,, i need some help and advice,
my father has a tumor behind his throat which cannot be operated on.
He was in hospital for two weeks before xmas as he had to wait for the results of the biopsy results...... After seeing the consultant today . they are saying it cannot be curred and they will be starting radiotherapy on the 12th of jan as they cannot give him chemo as he cannot eat properly because of the tumor... they have also given him 12 to 18 months to live with treatment .... is this normal... he is having trouble swallowing and now gets out of breath easy..... they may be putting a stent iside his tube to enable him to eat and build up strengh to then have chemo..... can somebody put this into laymens terms as i thought with a positive outlook and the right treatment he may have lived longer than 12 to 18 months as the consultant has passed this info on.

please help regards paul

Hi Paul
I'm so sorry you have had to find your way to this site however, believe me you have found the best place in the world for support and information.
Unfortunately I think you are in the wrong spot. You perhaps would be better off in questions and answers or introduce yourself. I can't help at all and there is little activity on the forum at present due to the holidays however try a post in those areas and I'm sure you will have someone respond soon, being the afternoon up there on top of the world.
Take care, Paul. I wish you and your family all the best.
Cheers from Down Under
Deborah

Hi Paul

Welcome, welcome! I'm a tongue cancer survivor, but there are lots of throat cancer survivors on this site, and everyone here is really helpful.

When cancer enters the picture, "normal" goes on an indefinite holiday. Not only is life as you knew it changed (as you're no doubt discovering), but not everyone responds to treatment in the same way.

Since your dad is having trouble swallowing, have the doctors mentioned the possibility of either a nasogastric tube (every bit as much fun as it sounds) or a peg? Neither is pleasant, but at least he'd be able to get nutrition.

I hope for the best for you and your dad. Please let us know how things turn out.

hi julia,

yes they have mentioned a tube, his treatment starts on the 12th of jan 2009

many thanks paul

hi deborah,

Thanks for the kind words, i have re posted on introduce myself.

happy new year.