HI Shane, Great to see you doing well....good on you for contributing to that video, it really helps bring awareness about the potential causes of HN cancers.  I only wish more time was given to the topic, was that 7 mins part of a longer doco? How are you doing now?  Hope treatment and "c" is becoming a distant memory.  I have a PET and MRI monday which will mark 18 months post treatment.  Feeling a little anxious as always before the scans, can't wait to reach the two year mark where reoccurence rates drop dramatically.   ... View more

Mahootna,   Sounds like you are doing a fantastic job and are in a very positive state of mind focusing on the positive things around you like your granddaughter....how beautiful for you!   I do hope your after effects ease off .... I know when we look at the bigger picture of what we have come through it is all a "small price to pay"....stay positive as it sounds like you have a lot of family around you that need you. ... View more

Has anyone had success with acupuncture?  I did do one round of it but it was extremely uncomfortable....I couldn't bring myself to do it again.  I have heard there is a lot of research saying it is helpful for increasing saliva production.  ATM I will sit tight and carry my water wherever I am .... especially in the classroom!     Sounds like you have some fun memories up ahead captainaustrali.....after cancer life takes a new meaning don't  you think?....I know I have become grateful for the small things and precious memories and times with family mean everything to me now.  Yes you are right one day cancer does disappear into the distance but somehow it never completely leaves my horizon.....maybe after I reach my two years out (February 2019) I will see things differently....especially as those ever important stats reduce dramatically!  Has to be a good thing to be a massive step away from a horrendous unthinkable unimaginable dehumanising phase in our lives.   Onwards and upwards! ... View more

Hi there,   This thread was a life line for me....!  I had just entered treatment last year when I came across it and I tell you the info and support was precious.   I am almost a year out now and I can say ditto to what you have shared CaptainAustrali....HOWEVER, my thyroid has never gone above "preclinical hypothyroidism"....so I am fortunate in that regard no meds.  I did rush off to my natropath and I am taking some high dose herbs, selenium and other supplements to support it.  No meds....yet!  I have been preclinical for around 6 months now.     I have however hit the gym and following a pretty strict diet....no weight gain.   Taste comes and goes, saliva production still around 75% still need water wherever I am, which is challenging at times as I am a teacher.  I find my voice gets tired very quickly now, all day teaching can really take a toll on my vocal chords.  Other than that I'm doing well....so long as those scans stay all clear can't complain!   Great to hear from you and that all is doing well. ... View more

HI Shane,   Good to hear you have come through treatment and are starting to bounce back!  that is great news.   Join the dry mouth club!....sorry to say but for me one year out of treatment my saliva production is still not back to what it was.  HOWEVER, saying that it has improved....slowly very very slowing.  Like from three month to three month I see improvement.  I still need water with dry foods but eating is definately much less of a task than it was.  I didn't try acupuncture but it is something I want to do through my natropath in the near future.  In the meantime just keep your water bottle handy! ... View more

Wow, you are doing remarkably well!  That fact you are still able to eat so late in your treatment is just amazing!!  Good on you!   Simon has given you a heads up on what's to come, but you sound as on top of it as it gets with what you are facing.  Just keep thinking one rad down one rad closer to the finish line.  As Simon has mentioned once you finish treatment be patient with the slowness of recovery, it just takes time.  It was the one thing that I really wasn't prepared for.  I was expecting to start recovering immediately.  I just didn't happen.  It takes time.  The first thing that will pick up is the external damage, the burns etc.  Once that heals which is around a couple of weeks then internal healing will start.  But everything is a small price to be given the news of cancer free at the end of it all.  You will recover and as Simon said around 3 months out you will be feeling much better.   All the best for the countdown! ... View more

HI Shane,   Good to hear from you especially reading how well you are journeying!   If you are in week 5 and still able to eat soft foods you are doing exceptionally well!  Good on you!  Try to eat solids for as long as you can and as you would have been advised protein is key.  I know its been hot (well here in Melbounre anyways!) but lentil soups are also fasntastic while you are still able to eat/drink solids.   For your skin keep moisutrising it I was given sorbalene by the rad dept. and later as the burns started (which the last week of treatment and beyond) the mixed a local anaesetic into the cream to numb the area a bit.   As the pain in the throat escalates you can also try a local anaesetic spray its called difflam, I would spray that into my throat and was then able to eat soft stuff or by the end get my sustagen down.  The pain in the throat will intensify but you will have many options about how to continue nutrition.  You have the peg so that does makes things less stressful in that regard.   Good on you for trying to keep some hours up at work, I was studying and working at the time and I found as I wasn't able to continue working, my study provided me with an outlet to something "normal" in life.  It gave me some kind of hope.   Keep positive Shane and just take one day and a time, youwill get through and before you know it they will be giving you that mask to take home!   ... View more

Great to hear from you Simon!  Good on you for getting away with the family.....I did the same we headed to the coast as soon as I was able, it was wonderful to spend that quality time as you said as a new post cancer treatment human!     I feel now like it was a nightmare that I woke up out of 6 months later!  How are you now?  What sort of side effects have lingered on?  I have about 75% of my taste back which comes and goes, I still have limited saliva production causing a dry mouth and I need a bottle of water wherever I go.  Other than that I'm feeling good.  I do see a natropath regularly to keep my immune system up though.   Hopefully things are going as smooth as it gets for Shane, he hasn't been back.    ... View more

HI Simon,   I have to join the party here and share the happiness in the best news you could possible hear!   You fought the good fight and came out a winner!....Enjoy life in a different way now, I'm sure this has changed forever the way you see things.   So happy for you and your family.   ... View more

HI Shane,   Have you had any surgery?  neck dissection?  So you have lymph gland involvement?   Don't stress too much about the peg.  I was having the same treatment at the same time as a wonderful irish guy....they told him the same he would need a peg from the get go.  I remember beginning week five and turning up in the rad waiting room to find him still able to chuff coffee down with no sign of even needing the peg!  Here I was with no peg on a liquid diet only from the end of week three.  So really everyone is different and I think it is better to have the peg there IN case you need it.  NO one knows how you will react to rad and chemo until you start having it....there are known side effects you may get some you may get all!  The Drs and rd nurses and staff will treat all your symptoms as and when they occur.  So don't street too much there is a wonderful experienced team that is there to get you through this...and you will will get through it...but you will face times you feel like you can't get through it but something will push you on.  How old are you?  Maybe you have family or a good support network around you?...you will need it. I noticed men having cancer treatment coming in for rad for weeks alone.  All the women would have family with them, husband or other family member.  Don't feel you can't lean on someone.....family sometimes don't know what to do.  Just say come with me today keep me company.  It will be the longest 6 weeks of your life....you will need support don't try to be brave and ride it out alone.  I think men find that hard to do.  WOmen are much more ready to reach out.  I remember arriving to rad towards the end of my treatment on my own I sat down burst into tears....the guy next to me was like are you okay what can I do for you.  We started chatting and he was having exactly the same treatment just a week behind me.  By the time my husband had parked the car and caught up with me I was feeling much better.  You will have downs that is when you really need to reach out. Right now though, enjoy some time at the beach and do those things you love to do before rad starts.  Stay positive and think of it as a journey....it will end but you need to go though this right now. Where are  you located?  I am sure wherever you are you will get the best treatment, the Drs and all staff involved in care for cancer patients are just fantastic.  Do your research though feel comfortable and informed about your treatment and the decisions being made.  All the best Shane....thumbs up for successful treatment.  ... View more