Here we go then...

Well I am blown away by so many responses with such positive tones and advice so huge thx to all.

I didn't mention I live in St Albans England just north of London and our health service is very different here compared to the US.

its the government funded National Health Service or  the NHS as everyone knows it, has pros and cons, biggest pro is its free biggest con is its nothing like as advanced or flexible as some if the hospitals in the US.

I was diagnosed December with SCC via a biopsy of a swollen neck lymph, ENT immediately removed my tonsils but transpires they were not the source, MRI revealed this as a tiny tumour of the right pyriform fossa with two other lymphs touched also.

When the oncologist detailed the treatment side effects especially the long term kind I left his office looking for the nearest cliff!

Fortunately or unso not many cliffs around here so I didn't jump but did look at alternatives of which US sites discussed many, ultimately tho I came to my senses and realised chemo rad was the only sure answer.

bizzarely a routine check up revealed I also have a prostate issue but un related to the SCC find out the treatment for that in a week or so but it appears a walk in the park by comparison.

So had the first round of Cisplatin with no hiccups at all 10 days ago second dose on day 25 then finish the 30 rads or racks as I call them

As of today I still feel absolutely fine, dodgy taste buds and slightly sore throat aside, neck is fine as using Aveeno moisturiser four times and rinsing with telladont frequently, peeing for England with all the water I'm guzzling!

havent seen many comments on here about diet which I radically changed post C day, all raw veges and juices, essaic tea, cottage cheese and flax seed, lost 10 lbs but that and upping my yoga routine to an hour plus daily did I hope get me in the best shape.

My Onc says it will make absolutely no difference at all as what will be will be, have to say life without taste and worst no saliva sounds horrendous so tell me oh experienced ones how do you deal with that?

once again my sincere thx for all the earlier posts, I might respond at a later time given I'm five hours ahead of EST

luv M

Barbaraek said:

You are indeed in the right place...

and you will find support aplenty here. One chemo down is good! My husband was sick as a dog after his Cisplatin, so if you made it through #1 that's great. The rads get more difficult as you go along, but you will manage it. Drink, drink, drink, swallow, swallow, swallow. If your neck gets burned Aquaphor is good, and for really bad, weepy areas - Silvadene cream was a lifesaver for us. If mouth sores and mucositis become issues (and I'm sorry to say they probably will) type that in the search bar for the forum and you will see many messages that deal with them.

Hang in there - we are pulling for you! It is worth the struggle.

Barbara

Thank you very much for your reply Barbara

x

CivilMatt said:

welcome

Mart1n0,

Welcome to the H&N forum, sorry you are here, but going it alone is not much fun.  You still have to take each stage as it comes, but we can often share what worked for us.

Barbara already mentioned the importance of drinking and swallowing and often. Also, she mentioned the Silver Sulfadiazine cream for neck burn, not everyone needs it but I went through a lot of it. 

Another item you might find useful is Magic Mouthwash, used for throat, mouth, and tongue discomfort.  I love the stuff and swished and swallowed six bottles of it, every drop.

I take it you already have your music and you have the procedure down pat, I guess you’re ready for about 20 more rads.

Good luck,

Matt

Thx Matt

M

phrannie51 said:

Hello Martin....

and welcome to this club....sorry you have to be here...BUT, here is where you'll find many very smart, very kind....and incredibly supportive people to hold your hand (if you don't mind) while you go through this treatment. 

The main side effects that everybody seems to get are that tastebuds go to hell, and saliva goes with it.  Those are temporary, but can last for a few months after treatment is over....coming back little by little until you realize you aren't carrying a water bottle with you every minute of every day.  I'm 3 1/2 years out of my first treatment, and I still have water handy when I eat....but I don't carry it every where I go.  I'm still getting tastebuds back, even this late in the game.  I could eat pretty much anything by a year out, but sweets evaded me...until the last couple months.  I ate my first orange in 3 years....did it ever taste good!

Being scared is a part of this cancer stuff....there isn't a single person on here who wasn't scared when they got here.  But you will see, there is a lot of knowledge here for getting through the tough times....plus a whole lot of humor.  They don't say laughter is the best medicine for nothing....it is a fact.

Treatment will be over quicker than it feels now.....one of our members calls this part Groundhog Days....same thing, over and over and over.  That's a good name for it. 

Just remember to eat as much as you can....or drink it if you have to (Boost VHC is good, as you can get 500 calories down in 12 swallows)....and drink lots and lots of water....it's ok if you're already peeing for England, you can pee for a few states here .  Water flushes the chemo out of your kidneys, keeps your swallower from freezing up, and keeps you hydrated....dehydration during treatment is common, and it is a horrible feeling....you don't even know you're thirsty...all you know is you're weak and sick.

Anyway, we're always here...somebody is.  This is a very active forum.

p

Many thank yous for this Phrannie , three years + and still on the mend blimey! 

Luv M