Hi

<" Bat Goddess... 11 at my last count here at The Café. But, there are those that don't wanna talk about it. ">

I am one who has written here that I have suffered from throat cancer.
I don't mind talking about the positive side as long as it helps other unfortunate people.

I live in the UK and I contacted throat cancer of the larnyx some 15 years ago.

I had gone to the doctors with another problem and mentioned that I was finding that I was getting hoarse late in the day. At the time I was working as a lecturer in IT.

So I was lucky that they found it early.

My consultant advised my treatment to be at first laser surgery. I had 5 or 6 ops at about monthly intervals. They gave me monthy monitor appointments and for about six months declared everything was OK.

But then one day I was told that the tumour had re-grown and that surgery now was not an option and I was recommended to have radiation at The Christie Hospital in Manchester.

I had daily treatment as an outpatient - my choice as we live about 30-45 minutes from the hospital - I had to have 36 treaments and had to go every day including Saturday and Sunday and Easter which fell during my treatment.

As healthcare is a current topic both in the UK and the US I will tell you that I received all my treatment on The National Health even though I had private health care insurance!!!! That was at my consultants recommendation.

I have nothing but praise for the treatment I received. 36 days and I was never kept waiting for even one appointment. I had direct contact at all times by phone to a doctor and on occasions I did have to phone with questions. I was always answered immediately and satisfactorily..

The after treatment and care was of the same standard.

At first the radiation was not a problem. I drove to my treatments - accompanied by my wife - at first I was able to drive home after receiving it. About halway through I felt more happy with not having to drive.

I had sore throat for most of the time and eventually I was unable to swallow normal food. I was advised to try to eat normal food but to blitz it in a food processor. I didn't mind this because at that time the taste of food to me was not important. Towards the end of my treatment I was prescribed free by the hospital cartons of a yoghurt-like consistency. Each pot contained something like a 1000 calories !!!!

At the end of the treatment I was soon able to start eating normally again. And have been almost uninconvenienced ever since. My voice though was rough at first but over time it has improved and now I am able to sing but have to change the way I sang before because I don't have the range that I had previously.

Someone here ( I think ) said that throat cancer is not well known and there are few sufferers compared with other cancers. This may be true but but only last night the BBC showed a report to say that throat cancer is increasing and warning that ALCOHOL was the main culprit !!!

When I was diagnosed there was no mention of alcohol but only of cigarettes. I was a non-smoker ( never had even one !!). They blamed mine on being a musician and singing in smoky clubs, pubs and other establishments.

In fact I questioned alcohol and was advised to drink "sensibly" if I wished to after I returned to health.

I hope this helps others and at the moment Tom, Kendal and now Michael.

My thoughts are with you all and I raise my glass ( sensibly) in wishing you all well.

Regards

Mike