Radiotherapy

[honeybeeridiculous]

Right DF has been diagnosed with cancer on his vocal cord, they think he will need radiotherapy and/or surgery,
I'm wondering if anyone has experience of radiotherapy, and what side effects to expect, the nurse said as the beam will be focused on his throat he will get a sore throat, dry skin, dry mouth etc, does anyone have any tips to share with him to help him get through it?
Did you carry on as normal? We're you extremely tired? Etc
It's looking like he will go every day for 6 weeks

Don't know why my OP started with 'right'!!

Sorry to hear that. No direct experience but know a few people who have had this. Tbh I think the treatment itself was a bit gruelling due to soreness etc. But, all are doing well some years down the line. So I would say don't expect too much during the treatment, expect that it may get very sore but depending on the type of cancer etc it is absolutely possible to recover and resume life as normal.

Good luck to you both.

Thanks matilda we are all a bit fragile and scared at the moment, so I'm just trying to think practically,
The Macmillan nurse we met after the diagnosis was lovely

Honey, I think I posted on your original thread....forgive me if I've remembered that wrongly, but:

My good friend's df had exactly the same sounding sceario as yours...and yes, squamous cell on vocal cord. He had radiotherapy, and is now fighting fit and has no further problems. He is in his late 60s, smoked for years (but wasn't when diagnosed), had quite a deep tumour BUT - as they told him at the hospital - these days, the radiotherapy treatment is very accurately targeted, and very effective. He has something like a 97% chance of no recurring problems.

He did have a pretty sore throat and neck by the end of radiotherapy and for a couple of weeks thereafter, and needed reassurance from the GP, aqueous creams for his skin, and protein shakes - but it really did pass, and he is fit as a flea.

I know your dad's an individual, so anyone else's story can't really help more than a bit, but just wanted you to know a likely scenario - in case it helps a teeny bit.

Also, my own df had prostate cancer 6 years ago and I totally get the wobbliness. Keep talking to people, be nice to yourself. My dad is fine now, and I really hope yours will be too xx

Hi just to agree with elibean and add a couple of things. My dad had mouth cancer and radio therapy. Had same outcome as above. Also be prepared for the tiredness, it can hit a month or so after treatment. It's just a side effect of the treatment not the cancer itself.

Sending healing vibes.

I had the highest dose of radio you can have, I had it five days a week for a month, thirty years ago this year.

Keep plenty of water to hand, eat sloppy foods (for some reason I craved prawn cocktails)

I felt as though I had swallowed razor blades.

A line of my hair at the base of my skull fell out and grew back curly, then fell out again and grew back straight. Go figure....

I was exhausted towards the end.

The skin on my neck is permanently mottled and discoloured and I care not a jot as I am still here.

Hope all goes well.

Thanks elibean you did indeed reply to my post, your friends dads situation sounds very similar, squamous cell cancer,
You have reassured me, Thankyou so much
And Thankyou everyone else, it's good to know of positive outcomes in these dark days