Throat Cancer Shock

I had had a sore throat for some time. Covid 19 arrived & the Doctors did not want to see me. I thought I had picked up an infection from doing the Aqua gym class in the school indoor pool & was hoping for an antibiotic. When I eventually got to see a Doctor I was met by a guy in a Hazmat suit outside the Surgery. Taken into a tiny back room & my throat looked at. He referred me to the hospital.

First shock. The Surgeon telephoned me, saying at my age I was more likely to die of Corona Virus than cancer. He told me to take medication for my stomach! As it may be backing up my throat. I rang him again after the 2 weeks trial, saying I was no better & swallowing was harder. A week later I had an appointment with the ENT department. I was taken into his Examination room & had a painful Biopsy up my nose, down my throat etc. It showed a large lump at the back of my throat. He said he was very surprised at the findings & announced it was Cancer.

Shock horror as some of you will have experienced. I was told to come back for more tests, IT scan because I am claustrophobic & could not cope with the MRI scan. A week later I was called in to meet My Team, which sadly will resonate with some of you. I was to have 6 weeks of Radiation 5 days a week & have to have a mask/hood fitted on the IT bed. It would be bolted down. Imagine my fear being claustrophobic. So, I have had that awful experience of the carbon mask being fitted tightly to my face & neck. Then bolted down & pushed back & forth through the scanner. Not pleasant. I am terrified of the next sessions. Next is a stomach tube (Rig) to be fitted under anaesthetic, so they can feed me if I can’t swallow. Not something I want with summer here & wild swimming, farming, picnics etc on the itinerary. I have a start date of 2 weeks time for the Radiation. Joy of joy, I have very small veins, so taking blood is difficult for fitting the canula. I have been told I must keep the weight on as women tend to lose it from their faces & then the mask wouldn’t fit. So cream, clotted cream, full fat milk, cheese etc are all to be eaten. No hardship for me!

I find it all a horrifying nightmare from which I will wake up from. I am sure others experienced the same as it is sadly happening to so many of us.

I am lucky to have a partner & good daughters & son. I feel so sorry for people going through it alone as my Mother did in the 60’s with breast cancer when the big C was an unmentionable word.

Lucky too to have Silversurfers & the joy of everyone’s glorious photos & much more. From a hospital wimp I am going to have to be strong as I am sure you all have been.