Mouth Cancer Foundation, Mouth Cancer Awareness donate online
 Return to main web site (leave the Online Support Group)   |   To support the Mouth Cancer Foundation, you can now make online donations!
    The Mouth Cancer Foundation Online Support Group    Mouth Cancer Forums  Hop To Forum Categories  Members Forums  Hop To Forums  Survivor Stories    Tonsil Cancer - 1 Year on
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
  Login/Join 
Posted
A year ago today I had my operation. This was following diagnosis of a squamous cell primary cancer to my right tonsil, with a secondary to one of my neck lymph nodes. Radical neck disection, removal of RHS lymph nodes, cutting through jaw, removal of primary and replacement with a flap from my left forearm. A familiar story to many on this forum.

Surgery took over 7 hours. Intensive care for a day, hospital for 8 days altogether and then home. First day at home - disaster! Speech suddenly goes indistinct, I look in the bathroom mirror and see that my flap has come undone down one side! Back into hospital and they decide they do not want to attempt a repair but wish to review it after my radiotherapy course.

A couple of weeks at home and then I'm back into hospital to be fitted up with my mask and into 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy. I also had 2 sessions of chemo (cisplatin) which knocked me for 6 both times. As I was having some difficulty eating anyway, I agreed to have a PEG fitted from the outset. Was given Ensure as a diet supplement.

Radiotherapy wasn't too bad until the last couple of weeks. Then mouth got realy dry, throat got sore and I did get a fungal infection which was cleared up fairly easily with some drops. In my last week of R/T the skin on my neck broke down. I lost over 2 stone during this period.

R/T finished at the end of October, but it took a couple of weeks until I really started to recover. I was given a zinc supplement which brought my sense of taste back fairly quickly, but I couldn't stand alcohol or chilli for quite some time. By Christmas I could manage a fair range of food and beer, but not wine.

In November they had a look at my throat flap and decided that it could be saved. Minor op in early December and I was stitched back together, although in the process my flap ended up smaller than intended which has left me with "hyper-nasal" speech.

Back to work in January, family holiday in Cyprus at Easter and then I ran the London Marathon in April.

1 year on and I've got most of my weight back and I'm as fit as I was before this all started. I've got some interesting scars and my speech & hearing aren't great - but everything is far better than it could be!
 
Posts: 88 | Location: Devon | Registered: 12 January 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Picture of angiebaby
Posted Hide Post
You have been on one long journey. It gives those of us still riding the roller coaster confidence that it will end sometime and we will be able to get off.

Well done.
 
Posts: 442 | Location: Congleton, Cheshire | Registered: 29 March 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Posted Hide Post
Thanks Angie

Writing the story mad me realise that I've nearly forgotten some parts. For me, being a survivor involves not dwelling on things too much, but I'm determined to keep calling in here from time to time.

I also realise that I got off lightly during the R/T phase - many on here suffered far more than I did.

How are you doing?
 
Posts: 88 | Location: Devon | Registered: 12 January 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Picture of angiebaby
Posted Hide Post
Hello again, Thanks we are doing well considering. I am sure there are lots of the year you have forgotten about. In the short time I have been on the ride there are things I have forgotten about, I think we sailed through Chemo, then I read other peoples stories who are not as far down the line as we are and I think, oh yes, that happened to us. I am sure if you go through all your postings and put them all together you will have a much more detailed story than the one you have told here.
 
Posts: 442 | Location: Congleton, Cheshire | Registered: 29 March 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Posted Hide Post
It never fails to amaze me just how much the human body can stand, yet how frail we are at the same time.

Your story is very comforting to those of us who are only mid way through the journey.
 
Posts: 216 | Location: Yorkshire | Registered: 04 April 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Picture of David and Susan
Posted Hide Post
Well done 200

thats some achievement

Regards
Dave and Sue
 
Posts: 487 | Location: Co Durham | Registered: 14 March 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
Picture of Chelle
Posted Hide Post
That's quite an acomplishment 200! What a long way to come!
Determination is the key. & you have it in abundance!
Inspiration like yours is just what we all need on here to boost out morale on a bad day!
Well done you! Wink
Michelle


-~*Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds*~-
...Albert Einstein
 
Posts: 757 | Location: Hastings, UK | Registered: 01 March 2007Reply With QuoteEdit or Delete MessageReport This Post
 Previous Topic | Next Topic powered by eve community  
 

    The Mouth Cancer Foundation Online Support Group    Mouth Cancer Forums  Hop To Forum Categories  Members Forums  Hop To Forums  Survivor Stories    Tonsil Cancer - 1 Year on

Mouth Cancer Foundation is a registered charity No. 1109298.
Registered as a company limited by guarantee in England & Wales No. 5154295.
Copyright © 2002-2004 Dr Vinod K Joshi BDS DRDRCS FDSRCPS. All Rights Reserved.