In 2010 in had throat cancer of the pyriform sinus. I had 35 radiation and three chemos. First 2-3 weeks were not too bad but my doctor suggested they put a feeding tube in right away in case I needed it. She said it’s easier to do it right away then do it if I need it and now you are feeling like crap. I thought she is the expert and had it put in right when I started radiation. Boy, am I glad I did because by the third week I could not eat. Work, my job was not physically either, was pretty much out of the question after my second chemo treatment. Basically was in my pajamas by the fourth week. I threw up after the second chemo, was just soooo tired, constant clearing of my throat, sleeping on the couch a lot because of throat clearing (didn’t want to disrupt my wife), eating through a tube, had an ambulance ride because I didn’t realize I wasn’t giving myself enough water and got dehydrated! Not trying to scare you, each person is different, but work was out for me. I was off about 4 months and came back about 4 hours a day for three weeks until back to fulltime. I had short term disability at work so I got paid 66% of my pay while off. This is a great benefit that most people don’t realize how important it is until you get sick! My main point is you may go through hell but I am still here 16 years later!!!
Then I got base of tongue cancer in Sept 2024 ☹️
This time my oncologist referred me to Mayo in Rochester and they were AMAZING!!! They used the robot (TORS) on me, just cut it out, and there was no radiation or chemo and so far I am clear. My oncologist referred me somewhere else first and they wouldn’t even do the robotic on me (though I read on numerous sites that this should be the best option for me?). They told me surgery and then a week later said radiation??? OMG
Luckily I have a great oncologist (she saved me the first time) and she told me if she did radiation there was a 25% chance I would never swallow again 😩 Then Referred me to Mayo and the surgeon came in on the first visit and said the team thinks robotic surgery is the best choice and just started talking about scheduling? I couldn’t believe it as this is what I thought was the best option but the other place wouldn’t even do it! The surgeon said, “ I believe I can cut the cancer out and cure you” like it was just another day at the office for her! I was so happy. Two weeks later she cut it out…no chemo or radiation. Had some swallowing issues for about a month or two but back to about 90% normal with that. Need water when I eat cause food sits in the “divot” where they cut out the tumor but it’s not too bad, also have left arm weakness from the left side neck dissection I had…they have to a mess around by the nerve that controls your arm during a dissection.
So far so good 17 months later. Doing my follow ups now locally.
I know this is a scary time for you but I have gone through this two times and I am still here and I have some side effects (lost some high end hearing and numbness in the balls of my feet from chemo, left arm weakness, small swallowing issues, some lympodema, neck skin is a little tight where the neck dissection was, taste is a little tiny different)
Bottom line, you may feel like shit for awhile but you will get back to normal. You are at a great facility with Mayo!!!