Hi Alan,   thanks for  your comment. It’s nice to hear you are 10 years post treatment. Wow that gives me some hope, as there is that thought in the back of your mind always of reoccurrence. Brian isn’t coping at times with the effects  of treatment, extreme fatigue, pins and needles in his feet, he has yet to regain any weight. He also had bad anxiety and depression which has improved with medication. It has definitely changed him, he’s still adjusting to his new normal. Wishing you continued good health.  Julie Aldridge  ... View more

Hi Andrew, So sorry to hear about your re occurrence of cancer......that’s not the news anyone wants to hear. My husband was the one with tonsil cancer, diagnosed the same time as you last August 2019. Boy was that a shock, doesn’t drink or smoke but it was the HPV type. They were unable to operate due to the location of the tumours. Left tonsil and 4 lymph nodes. One was pressing on the jugular vein. So only option was  to have radiotherapy and chemo.  It’s a rough road that’s for sure, I joined this forum in the middle of his treatment to help me better understand what he was going through. He wouldn’t join himself but I wish he would. He would not feel so alone. He ended up having a peg put in which I would recommend If you do need it. Without it he wouldn’t be here as he was totally unable to tolerate any food and only some liquids from 3 weeks into treatment. He lost 20 kilos still and wasn’t a big bloke to start with. His PET scan was all clear. So fingers crossed so far so good. Hope you have a good outcome. You will find lots of support from others here.  ... View more

Hey Sheryn,    so sorry to hear of your fathers reoccurrence of cancer. That’s not what you want to hear after going through all that treatment. My husband had the same cancer last year, finishing his treatment 1st November 2019. So far, so good for him. He has extreme fatigue, depression and anxiety and although initially going back to work in February, he lasted a month and has been off work since. He is due to go back Monday 1st June part time. He is eating a lot better  But has not regained any of the weight he lost. About 18kg.  I have no answers for you but know how you must be feeling. It is in the back of my mind every day.....what if? This forum really helped me when he was going through his treatment. He won’t join it himself but I wish he would. I think it would help him but I pass on some of what I read and he’s happy to listen.  Take care of yourself. I hope you find the answers you need.  Julie     ... View more

Hi Shane,    I'm so sorry to hear. That's the worst news especially amid the world in free fall with Coronavirus. I have followed your story since my husband started his journey in August 2019. Your positive attitude to life kept me going through the worst of his treatment. Thinking of you and your family as you face the next chapter of your journey.  Please keep us posted when you feel you can.  Julie ... View more

Joe,  Thanks so much for your reply, yes that all sounds familiar and great advice. I've been trying to encourage him to join the forum but baby steps, at least he lets me read out the replies and also some of the other posts.  He didn't want to know about it before. I think he felt he could only deal with what he was going through without hearing others struggles.  So you have your 2nd bout of cancer? Is that right? Not what anyone wants.  Glad you have your wife to help you through. She sounds a sweetheart.    ... View more

Thanks so much for your reply.  it is indeed good news yet life is not without its challenges still.  I managed to convince him to get out of the house today and go to the movies. Something we haven’t done for a long while.  He could choose, no chick flicks!  That went ok, but after the movie it was dinner time and the anxiety began.  He’s at a loss to know what to try to eat as it’s still difficult. He has a fear of eating in public in case he chokes or vomits. He then feels guilty we can’t eat out  as he thinks he’s holding me back.  We came home and I made dinner, had to vitamize his, he was a bit upset and thinks I don’t understand what he’s going through. I’m trying to..... ... View more

Hi Shane, congratulations on finishing your treatment. Hoping for good news for you when you have your follow up scans.  Hubby finished his treatment for head and neck cancer 3 weeks this Friday. The first two weeks post treatment were horrendous for him, constant vomiting, gagging, on the mucous etc. slightly better this week but still happens at times. Feeding tube was removed today so that’s a step in the right direction but think it will be quite some time before he can have more than liquid drinks.  He has scans 12th Dec, results 17th so fingers crossed. It was very similar to your cancer, tonsil and multiple lymph nodes. HPV.  anyway best wishes again.  Julie ... View more

And congratulations on beating this beast of a disease. Wishing you continue(if different) good health.  ... View more

Thanks so much for your reply. My comment about vomiting was he truly hasn’t vomited once, he felt like it but hadn’t up till tonight. Then he made up for it 🤮 He’s still in hospital after the PEG insertion, they haven’t been able to up the rate too fast because of the nausea. They still bring him a tray of food at every mealtime, soup, jelly, custard, that kind of thing. ( he  just doesn’t want to eat it) I was encouraging him to try and get some down, now I feel bad as I really think he probably has this taste thing where everything tastes rancid. I think he will just rely on the PEG and sounds like that’s ok. He can drink water still ok at the moment. He’s not a big guy, started at 88 kg but is down to 82 already.  I will show him this thread and see if I can encourage him to join in. I think it might be helpful.  He’s not one for sitting around, he’s pretty active,(usually) not much of a TV watcher. But this has just zapped his energy and he feels he can’t concentrate on anything. I get the distraction thing, we have all tried, puzzle books, jigsaws, headphones to listen to music, books, podcasts etc. but so far he hasn’t wanted to try. Did you have any counselling to get you through this? I thought it may be helpful but don’t know who or where to ask.    ... View more