1 April 2019.

I'm taking the tube.

OK kids, I've been diagnosed with cancer at the base of the tongue in my throat. Not a good thing, but every medico I've spoken to has been extremely positive and told me it is totally curable with treatment.

I'm not shopping for sympathy, but I'm not much of a talker about private stuff (much to Suzanne's dismay) so I'm writing this the keep family and friends up to date, and save you all a bunch of phone calls and emails. Maybe this will also help out someone who might go through the same thing somewhere down the track. It's always good to get the story from the horse's mouth, even if his tongue is a bit munted. 😃

As we walked into Radiotherapy today I was cornered by the Nutritionist, they really are on the ball here. She told me that my weight loss was unacceptable and if I didn't reverse the trend, or slow it down, I WILL be fed by a tube. I've lost about 9 kg.

There are two options:

Option 1 - A Nasogastric tube up my nose, down my throat, and into my stomach, and we pump liquid food in through that line. Not a good option with the Radiotherapy and CPAP Sleep Apnoea masks, or the fact that my throat is raw from the treatment.

Option 2 - A Gastronomy tube, which is inserted directly into my stomach, through my not so round anymore belly, with the same way of feeding. This is my preferred option, BUT.... it has to stay in for a minimum of three months. I don't have to use it all that time, but the Doctors won't remove it until three months is up, and I can show I'm eating enough to maintain a healthy weight.

Pretty basic really.

I'm starting to think this whole cancer thing is a pain in the arse.

To be honest, accepting the tube is a relief. The whole eating thing is just way too hard. No appetite, no taste, no saliva production, a raw throat...I just can't do it.

I'm guessing that the tube will go in tomorrow.