I thought that after hearing, that my Cuncer had a 90% success rate, then the road ahead with the Chemo and Radiotherapy was not going to be easy, but what i was not ready for was, the treatment required before the Chemo/Radiotherapy. The bit to
remember through all of this is, Your body is still trying to fight the cancer on its own (it does not realise there is some big guns coming to help)
25th June 2020 - Video Call from Dental Team
Again due to Covid -19 the Dental team at the Hospital have only viewed an Xray on my teeth, that was done few days earlier. As the radiotherapy can be very evasive to the Jaw and mouth area, concern more in longer term with Muscles not allowing mouth to open so wide, to allow future Dental treatment to back teeth, also the bone along jaw could become brittle also. Now due to COVID they had changed procedures, where they would try and avoid treatments where possible, they thought my teeth were strong enough in the gums, they would normally remove back teeth, they left the decision to me. Great - TBH i had many problems with my teeth in my early years, basically 2nd set front teeth all grew in not great, so went through years of treatment, which left me with a bit of a fear, as Dentist was not exactly child friendly, eventually in late teens i got most of my front top and bottom changed to crowns...So to be given an option 1. Do nothing and hope for the best or 2. Go ahead and get 7 back teeth removed. Yes believe it or not i went for option 2. Think a few weeks of pain and feeling uncomfortable was probably best for the long term.
Prior to Hospital appointment to get teeth out, had to go for Covid Test - God that was not nice, felt like the swab was hitting back of my head....Came back Negative.
3rd July 2020 Attend Ninewells, admitted into ward, prior to being taken to get all 7 teeth out at once. Usual tests taken first Blood Pressure, ECG, Blood. Side note after 3 separate Drs and Nurses checking my heart, they discovered i had a slight Heart Murmur - thought what else are they going to discover.
Thankfully never stopped getting the teeth out, was taken up, put to sleep, and woke up on move back to ward. Given some pain killers etc, and allowed to recover for number of hours. DR came back to confirm ECG showed heart ok, but there was a Murmur, but nothing that worries him. Got out later that evening. First few days were ok, taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen at varying times to manage niggling pains. Follow up Video call from Dental team on the 7th just to check all ok, and again on the 10th, i had to attend again on 14th just to get an additional small part of bone/tooth removed that was niggling my inner cheek, given mouthwash also to help recovery - All went well, although getting used to new layout of inner mouth will take its time, especially as no back teeth to use to chew or bite.
Next part of Pre Treatment was getting a Radiotherapy Mask made and a PEG tube fitted - Again this is a back up, to support the main treatment.
9th July 2020 was attending Radiotherapy area to get Mask Moulded to face/neck, as the measurements are very precise to maximise benefit and minimise damage to healthy areas. For fitting they weigh you and intimate no weight loss allowed, to ensure Mask remains tight fit, also body needs to recover so you need to putting energy back in.
3 Nurses involved in procedure, lay you down and get you into correct position, then get you to hold onto handles attached to a base plate to pull on, to lower shoulders. Meanwhile they have warmed the plastic mesh ready to be placed over face neck and top of shoulders. They place on, then nurses start prodding all over face and neck, moulding to face etc. It was actually relaxing. After short space of time, taken down for CT scan with Mask and secure me and mask to table, so we do not move, they scan and mark points all over mask, again all just as treatment is very precise. (Some videos on You tube can be easily found).
10th July Video call from Speech and Language therapist, i was given a range of exercises to do, which is designed to help swallowing techniques, as Radiotherapy will increase the risk of throat being to sore, so these will help in long term.
Few weeks rest to recover Mouth etc, before next Hospital appointment, apart from few calls from Dental team just following up to ensure all was healing well.
20th July 2020 - Into local GP for Bloods to be taken, prior to the operation on 22nd July
Arrive at Hospital on the 22nd July, for getting the PEG tube fitted, usual pre checks done prior to be taken down. Procedure is basically, the insert a small thread via Endoscopy, through to stomach, they also inflate stomach at same time, they basically got through the stomach, and right through muscles and skin. At the other side of the thread, they then feed the tube through the body by pulling through the thread at the stomach area, the tube is then left in situation, where base is in the stomach, and 80% of the tube is left outside the body, with a clamp and feeding screwed inlets. They then removed endoscopy etc, so nothing left sticking out of mouth. During main part of procedure, you do not remember much, TBH only thing I remember was burping loudly, with the air they pumped into the stomach.
I will be honest, this took a few weeks to calm down, do not underestimate how much your stomach muscles are affected, very uncomfortable getting in and out of bed. Each morning and night you have to flush through approx 60ml water to keep tube clear. I did use it a few times to pump in the laxatives, as I was given Oral Morphine, which can make you Constipated, Laxatives not the best so it was good practise to use the food tube. As a further bit of advice, try and get off Morphine as soon as possible, side effects coming off it are not very pleasant, this will be mentioned later on blog.
Main event of treatment planned to start 3rd August 2020, so few weeks recovery before treatment kicks off for real.
Top pic is after PEG tube fitted
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