New & Humbled

13

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #42
    Mickg01 said:

    Weight
    Now I lose some pounds (not that I couldn't use it). Can't wait to get back to the Steak & Chips though ;)

    Weight

    It all comes back a little at a time when taste does come back you might notice that a slight difference in how everything taste it is all part of your new normal you.

    Keep posting and doing well
    Hondo
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #43
    Turning point
    1 Week since the Radiation stopped and I think it's stopped getting worse.
  • sportsman
    sportsman Member Posts: 97
    #44
    Humbled
    I am a throat cancer survivor (Pharyngeal Cancer) of almost five years now. Radiation messed me up pretty bad and I can now only eat specially prepared food due to a stricture and also due to the fact of having no saliva. I have not been out to eat in over five years now and for a person who enjoyed eating before cancer, I now don't enjoy it and only eat to survive. I just recently had a friend diagnosed with vocal cord cancer. He went through thirty five treatment like myself and eventually got to the point he could not swallow anything and could only talk with a whisper. Now I see him only a couple months out of treatment eating, gaining his weight back and even singing. He loved to sing before his vocal chord cancer in our church choir and is now doing this again. I do not think his cancer was as near advanced as mine was. I think he was staged as a stage one and me a stage four. Therefore I don't think his radiation was as severe as mine was. I am happy that he has regained his voice as well as his ability to eat. All these treatments effect people in different ways as you will read on this site. Some turn out fairly good and others like myself are completely messed up. I am sad about all the side effects I have from treatment but Blessed to still be living. God Bless you and I pray that everything works out for you.
  • sportsman
    sportsman Member Posts: 97
    #45
    Humbled
    I am a throat cancer survivor (Pharyngeal Cancer) of almost five years now. Radiation messed me up pretty bad and I can now only eat specially prepared food due to a stricture and also due to the fact of having no saliva. I have not been out to eat in over five years now and for a person who enjoyed eating before cancer, I now don't enjoy it and only eat to survive. I just recently had a friend diagnosed with vocal cord cancer. He went through thirty five treatment like myself and eventually got to the point he could not swallow anything and could only talk with a whisper. Now I see him only a couple months out of treatment eating, gaining his weight back and even singing. He loved to sing before his vocal chord cancer in our church choir and is now doing this again. I do not think his cancer was as near advanced as mine was. I think he was staged as a stage one and me a stage four. Therefore I don't think his radiation was as severe as mine was. I am happy that he has regained his voice as well as his ability to eat. All these treatments effect people in different ways as you will read on this site. Some turn out fairly good and others like myself are completely messed up. I am sad about all the side effects I have from treatment but Blessed to still be living. God Bless you and I pray that everything works out for you.
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #46
    sportsman said:

    Humbled
    I am a throat cancer survivor (Pharyngeal Cancer) of almost five years now. Radiation messed me up pretty bad and I can now only eat specially prepared food due to a stricture and also due to the fact of having no saliva. I have not been out to eat in over five years now and for a person who enjoyed eating before cancer, I now don't enjoy it and only eat to survive. I just recently had a friend diagnosed with vocal cord cancer. He went through thirty five treatment like myself and eventually got to the point he could not swallow anything and could only talk with a whisper. Now I see him only a couple months out of treatment eating, gaining his weight back and even singing. He loved to sing before his vocal chord cancer in our church choir and is now doing this again. I do not think his cancer was as near advanced as mine was. I think he was staged as a stage one and me a stage four. Therefore I don't think his radiation was as severe as mine was. I am happy that he has regained his voice as well as his ability to eat. All these treatments effect people in different ways as you will read on this site. Some turn out fairly good and others like myself are completely messed up. I am sad about all the side effects I have from treatment but Blessed to still be living. God Bless you and I pray that everything works out for you.

    Progress
    I have to say that I have always been a very healthy person. Only once in my entire life did I spend a night in hospital and that was for tests which came out for the best. I used to nurse my family through all the annual flu etc without coming down myself so the loss of my voice and subsequent Cancer diagnosis was a real surprise and thus far my progress has been real good. When I compare what I have gone through, which I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy, with other stories I have read, I can see that I have fared pretty well. Today, 1 week and 2 days after the end of treatment I managed a good night's sleep for the first time and saliva production seems to have returned to near normal. I do still have substantial soreness in my throat but even that is reducing in severity. My suntan patch is progressing nicely so I do feel blessed. All in all this may result in a positive experience but what I did go through has given me an understanding of such stories as yours. I hope that you share my love of life and are able to find positive experiences in each day.
    This applies to all the friends I have made here of course.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #47
    Mickg01 said:

    Progress
    I have to say that I have always been a very healthy person. Only once in my entire life did I spend a night in hospital and that was for tests which came out for the best. I used to nurse my family through all the annual flu etc without coming down myself so the loss of my voice and subsequent Cancer diagnosis was a real surprise and thus far my progress has been real good. When I compare what I have gone through, which I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy, with other stories I have read, I can see that I have fared pretty well. Today, 1 week and 2 days after the end of treatment I managed a good night's sleep for the first time and saliva production seems to have returned to near normal. I do still have substantial soreness in my throat but even that is reducing in severity. My suntan patch is progressing nicely so I do feel blessed. All in all this may result in a positive experience but what I did go through has given me an understanding of such stories as yours. I hope that you share my love of life and are able to find positive experiences in each day.
    This applies to all the friends I have made here of course.

    Hi Mickg

    You sound like you are doing really well for just a few weeks out of treatment so keep up the good work. Positive thinking does always help to keep you strong and motivated

    Take care
    Hondo
  • Dan Garrett
    Dan Garrett Member Posts: 14
    #48
    Mickg01 said:

    Progress
    I have to say that I have always been a very healthy person. Only once in my entire life did I spend a night in hospital and that was for tests which came out for the best. I used to nurse my family through all the annual flu etc without coming down myself so the loss of my voice and subsequent Cancer diagnosis was a real surprise and thus far my progress has been real good. When I compare what I have gone through, which I wouldn't wish on my worse enemy, with other stories I have read, I can see that I have fared pretty well. Today, 1 week and 2 days after the end of treatment I managed a good night's sleep for the first time and saliva production seems to have returned to near normal. I do still have substantial soreness in my throat but even that is reducing in severity. My suntan patch is progressing nicely so I do feel blessed. All in all this may result in a positive experience but what I did go through has given me an understanding of such stories as yours. I hope that you share my love of life and are able to find positive experiences in each day.
    This applies to all the friends I have made here of course.

    Patience
    I completed my treatments April 2010 and was a mess. Lost 60 pounds and had to take a break just going to the mailbox to check for mail. I went back to work August 2010 and today my weight is at 196 which is perfect for my height and I am playing 2 plus hours of tennis twice a week. My poor wife used to get really discouraged because no matter what she made me to eat it was disapointing for me because of the taste. Everytime I would get down about my recovery I would look over my shoulder and remember where I was and realize I was getting better. Things aren't perfect but they get better everday. Time takes time. It gets better and eventually this will be a distant memory. Good luck and God Bless.
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #49
    I am really not a complainer
    I am really not a complainer and don’t want to come over as one but relaying one’s experience does help others in terms of letting them know what they are going through is not unique or unusual.
    It is now 16 days since my treatment ended. The soreness and mucus have been the main issues and they are now easing. I managed to eat Spaghetti and sauce yesterday without actual pain. Taste is still far behind in returning and my voice is still a croaky remnant of its former glory.
    From what I have observed I’m on the lucky side in that I am progressing well. One must always remember that what we are going through is much better than the alternative that no treatment would have led to. So all in all, good news.
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #50
    Dup again - oops

    Dup again - oops
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #51

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #52
    Mickg01 said:

    Dup again - oops

    Dup again - oops

    Hi Mickg
    Yes that sound good and I am amazed you were able to eat spaghetti and sauce so soon out of treatment. It was quite a few months for me before I was able to eat anything like that so you are doing really well my friend.

    Keep posting
    Hondo
  • ggpierce
    ggpierce Member Posts: 30
    #53
    I feel your pain!! I had
    I feel your pain!! I had radiation for lymph nodes swollen after a cancerous tonsil. Got blasted in the throat also. Lost my voice completely for about a month, couldn't eat without a numbing solution to swallow first. Sores in mouth. I'm sure you have had sll of it. Let me just say, it gets better. It's been about 2 years since I finished my treatment, the side effects have mostly gone away, teeth have crapped out, can't swallow without lots of drink, or food that has a good "slide factor".

    Good luck, I'll see you at 100!

    Greg
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #54
    ggpierce said:

    I feel your pain!! I had
    I feel your pain!! I had radiation for lymph nodes swollen after a cancerous tonsil. Got blasted in the throat also. Lost my voice completely for about a month, couldn't eat without a numbing solution to swallow first. Sores in mouth. I'm sure you have had sll of it. Let me just say, it gets better. It's been about 2 years since I finished my treatment, the side effects have mostly gone away, teeth have crapped out, can't swallow without lots of drink, or food that has a good "slide factor".

    Good luck, I'll see you at 100!

    Greg

    Hi Greg

    Only 100 there are people living now to 105 and 110, I am planning on at lease 102 my self. Boy that will be something if I really make it. When you think about it that is only 46 years from now, I think I can do it. Ha ha ha

    :+))
    Hondo
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #55
    scottishbrenda said:

    it does get better
    Hi Mick

    I am also new to this site. I am the wife of Jim a laryngectomee. I know how you feel worrying that you are upsetting your wife because everything tastes like sandpaper. I fussed and fussed with Jim trying to make different things but I soon discovered it was best to stick to the things he can swallow easily. Sure I miss cooking all the dishes he loved but on a scale of 1 to 10 its no big deal, he is alive and well and that's all that matters. It does take time after the radiation treatment finishes and Jim's weight dropped by almost 3 stone, that was exactly one year ago next week, he is now back to his normal weight, slow but sure, one day at a time. Hang in there Mick, all the best Brenda

    Brenda
    You sound exactly like my wife. You two should get together and cook for each other as we dine on our Ensure and mashed potatos.
  • tarzandchris
    tarzandchris Member Posts: 2
    #56
    lilwriter said:

    With you. Only on the 3rd
    With you. Only on the 3rd week of radiation and I can't swallow or eat. Feeding tube. Hubby keeps saying "aren't you going to eat anything?" I don't think anyone understands. Pain is unbearable - how did you make it through all those treatment and still eat? I'm doint vitamins that I crush and put in feeding tube but nothing seems to help the pain.

    Hi lilwriter
    Just read your post from the end of september, my husbands pain started about then also, his Dr was pretty aggressive with pain control, tried several different oral meds, then liquid and then went to Fentanyl patch. The patch REALLY helped, his mind was clearer than with the oral meds and it was more effective with the pain. Use the tube for nutrition and just keep swallowing water if nothing else to keep your swallowing muscles doing their job. I surely hope that by now this is old news for you.
    Chris
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #57
    Hondo said:

    Hi Greg

    Only 100 there are people living now to 105 and 110, I am planning on at lease 102 my self. Boy that will be something if I really make it. When you think about it that is only 46 years from now, I think I can do it. Ha ha ha

    :+))
    Hondo

    102?
    If I'm gonna be around 'til then (35 more years) the I have to make some changes.
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #58
    After 23 Days
    + Can now eat most things with just a little discomfort.
    Throat still very sore but am starting to talk above a whisper.
    Still woken up several times a night with the Mucus problem (sorry if you're eating) ;)
    The wife's excellent cooking is still tasting somewhat bland but I'm almost ready to try that Chilli that was way too spicy a week ago.

    I'm amazes at the progress. I go to the ENT Doctor on Monday and back to the Oncologist Dec 1st For hopefully a discharge.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #59
    Mickg01 said:

    After 23 Days
    + Can now eat most things with just a little discomfort.
    Throat still very sore but am starting to talk above a whisper.
    Still woken up several times a night with the Mucus problem (sorry if you're eating) ;)
    The wife's excellent cooking is still tasting somewhat bland but I'm almost ready to try that Chilli that was way too spicy a week ago.

    I'm amazes at the progress. I go to the ENT Doctor on Monday and back to the Oncologist Dec 1st For hopefully a discharge.

    Hi Mickg

    Wow sounds like you are doing just great so far in your treatment. Chili, my wife makes a chili that I love but with no spices as I still have a problems with peppers. Funny thing is that I grow peppers and can’t eat them, all the family & friends comes over because there are no other peppers like mine they say. I think it is because they don’t want to take the times and trouble to grow them when they can get them for free.

    You are getting close to the end now only a few weeks to go, keep pressing for the finish line.

    Wishing you the very best
    Hondo
  • Mickg01
    Mickg01 Member Posts: 28
    #60
    Hondo said:

    Hi Mickg

    Wow sounds like you are doing just great so far in your treatment. Chili, my wife makes a chili that I love but with no spices as I still have a problems with peppers. Funny thing is that I grow peppers and can’t eat them, all the family & friends comes over because there are no other peppers like mine they say. I think it is because they don’t want to take the times and trouble to grow them when they can get them for free.

    You are getting close to the end now only a few weeks to go, keep pressing for the finish line.

    Wishing you the very best
    Hondo

    Peppers
    I grow jalapenos Habaneros (Scotch Bonnet) & Ghost Peppers.
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #61
    Skiffin16 said:

    Cantelope
    "We celebrated on Monday because he ate a piece of cantelope that was tasteless but at least did not taste like poop."

    Not even gonna ask how he knows that...... :)

    Best,
    John

    I remember
    chicke dark meat tasting like that to me.

Discussion Boards