My Cancer Blog
@cancerblog.bsky.social
I have throat cancer; blog is of treatment and feelings
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My Cancer Blog
@cancerblog.bsky.social
· Apr 15
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲
This thread (which is locked) will be a sort of timeline of my experience. I very much hope that it will help anyone else who draws life's short straw to get this disease
It comprises brief notes and a series of links into the other threads which can get a little hard to read
This thread (which is locked) will be a sort of timeline of my experience. I very much hope that it will help anyone else who draws life's short straw to get this disease
It comprises brief notes and a series of links into the other threads which can get a little hard to read
Doctor from ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) just called ... my PET-CT Scan showed complete metabolic response meaning I am cancer-free !!
November 6, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Doctor from ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) just called ... my PET-CT Scan showed complete metabolic response meaning I am cancer-free !!
I've been suffering from tinnitus and some hearing loss so the appointment with Audiology happened today
Something of a shock to learn that she believes both may be permanent so it looks like hearing aid(s) for me
Not at all what I wanted to hear but way better than the isolation which was already
Something of a shock to learn that she believes both may be permanent so it looks like hearing aid(s) for me
Not at all what I wanted to hear but way better than the isolation which was already
October 23, 2025 at 9:21 PM
I've been suffering from tinnitus and some hearing loss so the appointment with Audiology happened today
Something of a shock to learn that she believes both may be permanent so it looks like hearing aid(s) for me
Not at all what I wanted to hear but way better than the isolation which was already
Something of a shock to learn that she believes both may be permanent so it looks like hearing aid(s) for me
Not at all what I wanted to hear but way better than the isolation which was already
Had my first follow-up appointment with Ear, Nose and Throat consultant today. He who took my tonsil out in fact.
He stuck the camera up my nose to have a look at operated site, lymph node and soft palate. Took him all of 15secs to pronounce himself happy with progress 1/
He stuck the camera up my nose to have a look at operated site, lymph node and soft palate. Took him all of 15secs to pronounce himself happy with progress 1/
September 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Had my first follow-up appointment with Ear, Nose and Throat consultant today. He who took my tonsil out in fact.
He stuck the camera up my nose to have a look at operated site, lymph node and soft palate. Took him all of 15secs to pronounce himself happy with progress 1/
He stuck the camera up my nose to have a look at operated site, lymph node and soft palate. Took him all of 15secs to pronounce himself happy with progress 1/
Clean-shaven for the first time in 50 years !!
The new skin on my neck is still as smooth as a baby's bum but facial hair has started growing again
Very patchy though so I decided clean-shaven was better than looking like Frank Zappa on a bad day
The new skin on my neck is still as smooth as a baby's bum but facial hair has started growing again
Very patchy though so I decided clean-shaven was better than looking like Frank Zappa on a bad day
August 29, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Clean-shaven for the first time in 50 years !!
The new skin on my neck is still as smooth as a baby's bum but facial hair has started growing again
Very patchy though so I decided clean-shaven was better than looking like Frank Zappa on a bad day
The new skin on my neck is still as smooth as a baby's bum but facial hair has started growing again
Very patchy though so I decided clean-shaven was better than looking like Frank Zappa on a bad day
On the afternoon of 27-Aug, yes yesterday, I bade farewell to a dear friend who had been with me since 3-Jun
A dear friend who had sustained me through the darkest period of my treatment
Latterly though, I had tired of their company and so, it has to be said, that I rejoice in the parting ...
A dear friend who had sustained me through the darkest period of my treatment
Latterly though, I had tired of their company and so, it has to be said, that I rejoice in the parting ...
August 28, 2025 at 1:42 AM
On the afternoon of 27-Aug, yes yesterday, I bade farewell to a dear friend who had been with me since 3-Jun
A dear friend who had sustained me through the darkest period of my treatment
Latterly though, I had tired of their company and so, it has to be said, that I rejoice in the parting ...
A dear friend who had sustained me through the darkest period of my treatment
Latterly though, I had tired of their company and so, it has to be said, that I rejoice in the parting ...
Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated ... I am still here and apologise profusely for the lack of posts
It has been a very mixed time & I promise I'll get around to summarising for you
Thanks for checking in on me
It has been a very mixed time & I promise I'll get around to summarising for you
Thanks for checking in on me
August 18, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Rumours of my death have been greatly exaggerated ... I am still here and apologise profusely for the lack of posts
It has been a very mixed time & I promise I'll get around to summarising for you
Thanks for checking in on me
It has been a very mixed time & I promise I'll get around to summarising for you
Thanks for checking in on me
Week 15 starts in the same way that Wk14 finished ... frustrated that swallowing is now more painful that at any other time
I have to take paracetamol prior to eating so the "little and often" mantra on eating just doesn't work
I've put myself back onto 1000ml NGT in order to maintain weight
GRRR
I have to take paracetamol prior to eating so the "little and often" mantra on eating just doesn't work
I've put myself back onto 1000ml NGT in order to maintain weight
GRRR
August 3, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Week 15 starts in the same way that Wk14 finished ... frustrated that swallowing is now more painful that at any other time
I have to take paracetamol prior to eating so the "little and often" mantra on eating just doesn't work
I've put myself back onto 1000ml NGT in order to maintain weight
GRRR
I have to take paracetamol prior to eating so the "little and often" mantra on eating just doesn't work
I've put myself back onto 1000ml NGT in order to maintain weight
GRRR
Goal for Week 14 remains to increase food taken orally.
Sore mouth remains the biggest hurdle. Gastric problems seem to be lessening.
If this sounds boring and repetitive, it is !! I am really scunnered with it now.
Sore mouth remains the biggest hurdle. Gastric problems seem to be lessening.
If this sounds boring and repetitive, it is !! I am really scunnered with it now.
July 27, 2025 at 6:43 AM
Goal for Week 14 remains to increase food taken orally.
Sore mouth remains the biggest hurdle. Gastric problems seem to be lessening.
If this sounds boring and repetitive, it is !! I am really scunnered with it now.
Sore mouth remains the biggest hurdle. Gastric problems seem to be lessening.
If this sounds boring and repetitive, it is !! I am really scunnered with it now.
Goal for Week 13 remains to increase food taken orally.
Sore mouth and gastric problems remain the biggest hurdle
Sore mouth and gastric problems remain the biggest hurdle
July 20, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Goal for Week 13 remains to increase food taken orally.
Sore mouth and gastric problems remain the biggest hurdle
Sore mouth and gastric problems remain the biggest hurdle
Week 12
More problems with sore mouth, especially my tongue which has a patchwork of white blotches on it. ANP prescribed a mouthwash which I should get on Tuesday.
Neither of us thinks it is oral thrush but could be oral lichen planus
More problems with sore mouth, especially my tongue which has a patchwork of white blotches on it. ANP prescribed a mouthwash which I should get on Tuesday.
Neither of us thinks it is oral thrush but could be oral lichen planus
July 13, 2025 at 2:56 AM
Week 12
More problems with sore mouth, especially my tongue which has a patchwork of white blotches on it. ANP prescribed a mouthwash which I should get on Tuesday.
Neither of us thinks it is oral thrush but could be oral lichen planus
More problems with sore mouth, especially my tongue which has a patchwork of white blotches on it. ANP prescribed a mouthwash which I should get on Tuesday.
Neither of us thinks it is oral thrush but could be oral lichen planus
Week 11 started with a (small) fried breakfast. Black pudding, beef sausages, fried egg and a slice of toast. A distinct rarity but I thought I'd go for it while the focus is gaining weight
Definitely regaining an interest in food but swallowing gets harder with larger meals
Definitely regaining an interest in food but swallowing gets harder with larger meals
July 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Week 11 started with a (small) fried breakfast. Black pudding, beef sausages, fried egg and a slice of toast. A distinct rarity but I thought I'd go for it while the focus is gaining weight
Definitely regaining an interest in food but swallowing gets harder with larger meals
Definitely regaining an interest in food but swallowing gets harder with larger meals
So Week 10 starts with the simple goal of eating more food orally
Eating is definitely getting easier but is still giving downstream problems - stomach cramps, trapped gas (who knew how sore that can be), and diarrhoea
Weight is pretty stable though - perhaps dropping only slightly
Eating is definitely getting easier but is still giving downstream problems - stomach cramps, trapped gas (who knew how sore that can be), and diarrhoea
Weight is pretty stable though - perhaps dropping only slightly
June 29, 2025 at 9:34 AM
So Week 10 starts with the simple goal of eating more food orally
Eating is definitely getting easier but is still giving downstream problems - stomach cramps, trapped gas (who knew how sore that can be), and diarrhoea
Weight is pretty stable though - perhaps dropping only slightly
Eating is definitely getting easier but is still giving downstream problems - stomach cramps, trapped gas (who knew how sore that can be), and diarrhoea
Weight is pretty stable though - perhaps dropping only slightly
Week 9 starts with two main goals. I want to lose the fentanyl patch without going back onto morphine
This for obvious risk of addiction but, more immediately, it would also let me drive again
Patch comes off tonight
This for obvious risk of addiction but, more immediately, it would also let me drive again
Patch comes off tonight
June 22, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Week 9 starts with two main goals. I want to lose the fentanyl patch without going back onto morphine
This for obvious risk of addiction but, more immediately, it would also let me drive again
Patch comes off tonight
This for obvious risk of addiction but, more immediately, it would also let me drive again
Patch comes off tonight
So week 8 starts in a little over an hour
I am feeling optimistic that things are going to get better from here on in
(yeah, I've had my hopes dashed before but that's how I'm feeling tonight)
I am feeling optimistic that things are going to get better from here on in
(yeah, I've had my hopes dashed before but that's how I'm feeling tonight)
June 14, 2025 at 9:38 PM
So week 8 starts in a little over an hour
I am feeling optimistic that things are going to get better from here on in
(yeah, I've had my hopes dashed before but that's how I'm feeling tonight)
I am feeling optimistic that things are going to get better from here on in
(yeah, I've had my hopes dashed before but that's how I'm feeling tonight)
I didn't expect a new wireless router to be included in the treatment!! New password is "peristalsis" 🤣😆😉
So this router routes close to 2litres of special food through a tube directly into my stomach, every day
It takes around 18hrs to do so. Management is straightforward
So this router routes close to 2litres of special food through a tube directly into my stomach, every day
It takes around 18hrs to do so. Management is straightforward
June 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I didn't expect a new wireless router to be included in the treatment!! New password is "peristalsis" 🤣😆😉
So this router routes close to 2litres of special food through a tube directly into my stomach, every day
It takes around 18hrs to do so. Management is straightforward
So this router routes close to 2litres of special food through a tube directly into my stomach, every day
It takes around 18hrs to do so. Management is straightforward
I know its only Saturday but Week 7 starts here as it is all change
I am at home with superb care team of Brenda and the dogs
No planned hospital appts for 4 - 6 weeks ... hallelujah !!
Naso-gastric tube in place with the capability of providing 100% of my nutritional needs and fluid intake
I am at home with superb care team of Brenda and the dogs
No planned hospital appts for 4 - 6 weeks ... hallelujah !!
Naso-gastric tube in place with the capability of providing 100% of my nutritional needs and fluid intake
June 7, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I know its only Saturday but Week 7 starts here as it is all change
I am at home with superb care team of Brenda and the dogs
No planned hospital appts for 4 - 6 weeks ... hallelujah !!
Naso-gastric tube in place with the capability of providing 100% of my nutritional needs and fluid intake
I am at home with superb care team of Brenda and the dogs
No planned hospital appts for 4 - 6 weeks ... hallelujah !!
Naso-gastric tube in place with the capability of providing 100% of my nutritional needs and fluid intake
Still struggling to eat or drink today. I think I'm too wary of the extreme retching which accompanied attempts to clear phlegm. Not pleasant.
The good news is that I slept loads, had some nystatin to take & generally see chemo in rearview mirror
The good news is that I slept loads, had some nystatin to take & generally see chemo in rearview mirror
June 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Still struggling to eat or drink today. I think I'm too wary of the extreme retching which accompanied attempts to clear phlegm. Not pleasant.
The good news is that I slept loads, had some nystatin to take & generally see chemo in rearview mirror
The good news is that I slept loads, had some nystatin to take & generally see chemo in rearview mirror
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougal_...
Our Dougal was always Dougal Dhu ... the second Dhu being somewhat redundant but emphasising his jet black coat
I only have a vote in what we do with his ashes but I prefer "scatter" to bury. He loved water; unusual for the breed
Our Dougal was always Dougal Dhu ... the second Dhu being somewhat redundant but emphasising his jet black coat
I only have a vote in what we do with his ashes but I prefer "scatter" to bury. He loved water; unusual for the breed
Morning. Hope you had some sleep. Poor little Dougal his passing must have been hard. Where will you rest him? I put a Yellow rose over the grave years ago of my Siamese cat at his passing. For some inexplicable reason the flowers now are mostly pink though. So maybe a rose for remembrance?
May 29, 2025 at 6:09 AM
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dougal_...
Our Dougal was always Dougal Dhu ... the second Dhu being somewhat redundant but emphasising his jet black coat
I only have a vote in what we do with his ashes but I prefer "scatter" to bury. He loved water; unusual for the breed
Our Dougal was always Dougal Dhu ... the second Dhu being somewhat redundant but emphasising his jet black coat
I only have a vote in what we do with his ashes but I prefer "scatter" to bury. He loved water; unusual for the breed
And so we head into Week 5 feeling miles better than expected and with an extremely positive frame of mind
I'm even happy that chemo is going ahead tomorrow as it will give peace of mind to have completed the full treatment
I'm even happy that chemo is going ahead tomorrow as it will give peace of mind to have completed the full treatment
May 25, 2025 at 8:52 AM
And so we head into Week 5 feeling miles better than expected and with an extremely positive frame of mind
I'm even happy that chemo is going ahead tomorrow as it will give peace of mind to have completed the full treatment
I'm even happy that chemo is going ahead tomorrow as it will give peace of mind to have completed the full treatment
I'm going to change things a little for week 4 as clearing the gunk out of mouth and throat is just too difficult
Plan is to mouthwash (not gargle) and spit anything from mouth itself
This got me to the first (rather painful) swallow and let me get some soluble paracetamol on the scene
Plan is to mouthwash (not gargle) and spit anything from mouth itself
This got me to the first (rather painful) swallow and let me get some soluble paracetamol on the scene
May 18, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I'm going to change things a little for week 4 as clearing the gunk out of mouth and throat is just too difficult
Plan is to mouthwash (not gargle) and spit anything from mouth itself
This got me to the first (rather painful) swallow and let me get some soluble paracetamol on the scene
Plan is to mouthwash (not gargle) and spit anything from mouth itself
This got me to the first (rather painful) swallow and let me get some soluble paracetamol on the scene
I am remembering the early 1980's when my now-wife and I were a new "unit"
I would collect her after her shift at the very hospital I am now getting my treatment
I remember being shocked to learn that I earned in a week what she earned in a month
I would collect her after her shift at the very hospital I am now getting my treatment
I remember being shocked to learn that I earned in a week what she earned in a month
May 13, 2025 at 4:23 AM
I am remembering the early 1980's when my now-wife and I were a new "unit"
I would collect her after her shift at the very hospital I am now getting my treatment
I remember being shocked to learn that I earned in a week what she earned in a month
I would collect her after her shift at the very hospital I am now getting my treatment
I remember being shocked to learn that I earned in a week what she earned in a month
It is now fairly clear that this course of treatment is designed to kill little bits of me to keep the rest of me alive
Saturday and especially Sunday and Monday mornings have meant wakening up with precisely NO saliva at all. A tongue as dry as a budgie's tongue in mouth that felt like elbow skin
Saturday and especially Sunday and Monday mornings have meant wakening up with precisely NO saliva at all. A tongue as dry as a budgie's tongue in mouth that felt like elbow skin
May 12, 2025 at 8:02 PM
It is now fairly clear that this course of treatment is designed to kill little bits of me to keep the rest of me alive
Saturday and especially Sunday and Monday mornings have meant wakening up with precisely NO saliva at all. A tongue as dry as a budgie's tongue in mouth that felt like elbow skin
Saturday and especially Sunday and Monday mornings have meant wakening up with precisely NO saliva at all. A tongue as dry as a budgie's tongue in mouth that felt like elbow skin
The scat thread ... sorry but fairly inevitable on a medical blog I guess
I'll be using this thread for any posts about body waste
Bluesky account holders can use the wee menu to mute this thread AND hide this post if you'd rather not hear about it
I'll be using this thread for any posts about body waste
Bluesky account holders can use the wee menu to mute this thread AND hide this post if you'd rather not hear about it
May 8, 2025 at 3:22 AM
The scat thread ... sorry but fairly inevitable on a medical blog I guess
I'll be using this thread for any posts about body waste
Bluesky account holders can use the wee menu to mute this thread AND hide this post if you'd rather not hear about it
I'll be using this thread for any posts about body waste
Bluesky account holders can use the wee menu to mute this thread AND hide this post if you'd rather not hear about it
Sad news today that a friend from the allotments has died of cancer
Sandy kept half of it going until last year when I looked after the other half for him
I thought about telling him about my own treatment but didn't as I thought it'd just upset him
Sandy kept half of it going until last year when I looked after the other half for him
I thought about telling him about my own treatment but didn't as I thought it'd just upset him
May 7, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Sad news today that a friend from the allotments has died of cancer
Sandy kept half of it going until last year when I looked after the other half for him
I thought about telling him about my own treatment but didn't as I thought it'd just upset him
Sandy kept half of it going until last year when I looked after the other half for him
I thought about telling him about my own treatment but didn't as I thought it'd just upset him
Remiss of me not to have made more mention of a very special part of my support package - my wife 🥰
I've abdicated responsibility for virtually all other aspects of my life. She just sorts things ... meals, dog walking, bus times, side effects of treatment, drinking aids, logistics ... everything!
I've abdicated responsibility for virtually all other aspects of my life. She just sorts things ... meals, dog walking, bus times, side effects of treatment, drinking aids, logistics ... everything!
May 7, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Remiss of me not to have made more mention of a very special part of my support package - my wife 🥰
I've abdicated responsibility for virtually all other aspects of my life. She just sorts things ... meals, dog walking, bus times, side effects of treatment, drinking aids, logistics ... everything!
I've abdicated responsibility for virtually all other aspects of my life. She just sorts things ... meals, dog walking, bus times, side effects of treatment, drinking aids, logistics ... everything!