Hi, my father has just been diagnosed with tongue cancer and has been given a choice between surgery or radiotherapy. His preferred option is surgery but he is concerned about how his asthma will be managed post-op. He has quite severe asthma and has to use an inhaler (preventer) morning and night, and another as and when required. We have a meeting with 'the team' on the 7th Nov., but would appreciate any information/advice anyone might have before that. Thanks for reading. Sara

Hello Sara

Sorry to hear about your father's tongue cancer. You will find much information and help here on the message board and on the MCF website.

The MDT team will be able to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease but do ask them specific questions about how he would manage any asthma attacks so you both know what to do and how to manage them.

Best wishes
Vinod

Sara,

There are other ways in which your fathers asthma can be controlled if he has difficulty using his inhalers after his surgery. I had radiotherapy and chemotherapy, and I continued to take the steroid that was given to me after the chemotherapy as it helped to control my asthma and prevented nausea.
Jenni

Thanks Dr Joshi, and Jenni
We certainly plan to ask the MDT about the asthma (among many other things). In the meantime I hope to be able to reassure my Dad a bit as he is particularly anxious about this. I'm guessing that the asthma medication can be administered through a nebuliser if he can't manage the inhaler.

Sara