On to the next step

Hello again. I’m doing well, feeling almost back to normal. Went to the hospital yesterday and had the staples taken out of my leg, there were 50 of them! It is one massive scar, but I love it, ha. News from the hospital was good, they got all of the tumour in the operation which is the most important part. The cancer had spread to two of the lymph nodes they removed, but was still contained within them (I’m sure there are people out there who understand this far better than e but I’ve been told that’s a good sign as it won’t have spread anywhere else. Met with the radiographer (described by infamously tackless surgeon as ‘being rather brash’ so you can imagine what he was like!) he has recommended that I have post-operative chemoradiation, which is six weeks of radiotherapy with three sessions of chemo mixed in. It was hard to hear this from the doctors and I got quite upset as they listed off all the possible side effects like they have to! But I am willing and ready to do whatever it takes to make sure this thing never comes back! The chemo won’t be too harsh as it’s not as often as it can be and you can’t predict how each person will react so I’ll have to wait and see. The radiotherapy will also be hard as it will be targeted on my mouth so my speech and eating is likely to get worse again. But I just keep telling myself that it will only be 6 weeks and then things will turn around again. If I can get through such a major operation so well I’m sure I can face this too. And again, age is on my side and being young often makes you more resilient to these things. It was because I’m so young and can cope with it and need it gone for a long time that he wants me to have the chemo on top!
Going to the oncology hospital next week to have my mask fitted (you have to wear a perspex max to protect the rest of your head from the x-rays) and to see their dentist to make sure my teeth look ok. Then back the following week for a planning meeting where from what I gather they just practice what they’re going to do to you! Then I’ll be back in liverpool full time for the treatment the following week I think.
So, in the mean time I’m going to enjoy the next few weeks of feeling a bit better before the treatment starts. Kev will be at the b&b over the bank holiday weekend so we will make the most of spending time together!

Thanks so much to everyone for all the kind messages and cards. It is so appreciated xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx