Therapist Recommendations?

I had difficulty talking after radiation treatments. My job as a field engineer required a good voice for training and construction directions. I went to a speech pathologist who helped a bit. Primarily the damage was done and I just had to figure ways to work around it.
Over time my voice got better but never regained its original tone and force. Just another gift from cancer I suppose.
The real issue myself and many patients deal with is the idea that any malady that belays us for more than a few days is likely cancer and it is time to panic. Of course it is not cancer, rather a lingering common anything that anyone gets on a regular basis. I don’t think those thoughts will ever dissipate. Perhaps professional help may alleviate some post anxiety. On the other hand I always lived by the adage from Sir Winston that when you are going through hell, go quickly.

@hrhwilliam SLP did help my speech a lot. However swallowing issues (late radiation side effect) started a year after radiation. Therapy for that too, Exercise, exercise.
As far as the lingering thoughts of cancer, I don't think they ever go away. In a few days, I will go for another 3 month surveilance. Dread these visits but then will go to 6 months if all is well. I try not to think about it. But with this oral thing, there is always a constant reminder with the side effects of radiation that never go away.

I am five months removed from treatment for HPV tongue/throat cancer myself.
I realized during radiation treatment that the mental aspects of cancer were just as much as a burden as the physical ones and reached out to my primary care physician who recommended a mental health counselor to speak with. I felt it was best to speak with a professional as my wife and family were already dealing with this and I needed someone to speak to that hadn’t a personal stake to me.
Therapy gave me a chance to unburden myself of a lot of anxiety and stress that comes with cancer…those feelings of dealing with mortality, guilt and fear and allowed me to process my emotions in a constructive way. Totally recommend it for everyone as staying mentally healthy is just as important to recovery as the physical health is.
Good luck and good thinking of you to realize you can’t do it alone.

@roxanne43 It's been twenty-five years for me, still have the cancer dread as I have had to deal with other damage issues for years. I sort of tell myself that if this is the day I die, not much can be done about it. I've had a good life.

Thank you so much. I keep telling myself all is well. God has been good to me and I agree, if it is my time guess I will go peacefully;

God is good!! All the time God is good!!
I have 4 more radiation treatments and I'm done with that, then healing time!! I'm just praying all goes well and if not God can have me and I go home to my late wife. My children don't even check on me so as far as family goes I'm alone. I do have friends I suppose who care but it's not the same.

@alberth you can expect to continue downhill when radiation ends. This is normal and may last a couple weeks. Do not despair. Eat what you can, even if it’s the same thing. You will get through this and it is clear you are not alone. God is with you.

@albion223 Thanks, Albion.

@alberth No friends are not the same as your children. Luckily I have one devoted daughter, a son who really cares but is 2500 miles away, and I have a daughter who cares but has issues with her husband's heart condition that she attends too. As far as friends, I don't think they have any knowledge of what one goes through and so if they cannot see a difference, well, it just isn't a concern.
As far as healing after radiation, my swallowing issues came almost a year after radiation, however speech has always been an issue.
I am just thankful I am alive but hope and pray this will not come back My care team at U of M is very thorough and I can only place my trust in them.
My diagnosis, surgery and treatment was done so quickly that it was what I consider a miracle. I just have to deal with all the issues now. God bless you.

@alberth

I’ll second the comment “you are not alone!” You’ve got support and friends you haven’t even met! Best part of that is we have walked in your shoes. I’m 3 years out and doing fine. I lost my only sibling to cancer while I was going through treatment. Found out I’m not ready to go yet. Give it your best, there will be no regrets. Godspeed my compadre!