Author Archives: Dani Akrigg

When my oncologist first talked to me about my diagnosis and we discussed a treatment plan he told me that the cancer would take a year out of my life……and he was right. “What can I expect” is a common question from patients newly diagnosed and one that we on the Macmillan community spend aContinue reading “What to expect in the first year”

The first day of Spring I missed my three year anniversary in January mired in anxiety about more cancer. The fear can strike us any time. I spent a miserable Christmas worrying about increasing reflux that wouldn’t respond to treatment. PPIs, drastic diet change, sleeping upright and surfing the net for quack remedies. With myContinue reading “Three Years Clear”

Today is The International Day of Medical Physics So I thought I might start with a physics joke Then I thought I might add some pretty pictures Ending with a really cool picture of protons travelling through gelatine Which takes me to some interesting education. This week saw the Swallows International Head and Neck CancerContinue reading “International Day of Medical Physics”

Strange title. I should have posted this three weeks ago I’ve written previously of my cancer buddy Hazel. She is RadioactiveRaz and has a blog https://radioactiveraz.wordpress.com We have messaged for two and a half years and together we created and still run a WhatsApp group to help and support folk going through treatment. Some peopleContinue reading “The Legends”

At my last hospital appointment I dropped off some honey for the two consultants who look after me. I said I’d update the blog with a little info so especially for Mr Kittur here is a glimpse at where your honey comes from. If there are any beekeepers reading this it’s just a simple glimpseContinue reading “Bees and Honey”

A message I got from a friend so touched me There is a Facebook group called Young Tongues. https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=young%20tongues%20private%20group They are fairly new and need more members so take a look….but I digress My friend sent me this picture of the cake a young lady’s boyfriend gave her for her six months after treatment forContinue reading “A celebration”

Research Question: Does PETCT-guided, patient-initiated follow-up result in similar overall survival compared to current post-treatment routine surveillance for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients? International guidelines recommend regular routine follow-up, aiming to detect recurrences early and enable successful re-treatment. This regimen is effective at detecting recurrences. However, because detection rates are low in asymptomatic patientsContinue reading “Post Treatment Follow Up Trial PETNECK2”

I have been chatting to a friend on the Macmillan forum about coping with lymphoedema. This unpleasant swelling occurs when lymph drainage is damaged by either radiotherapy or surgery. It can vary between a mild inconvenience to a painful hard to put up with and hard to manage condition. The earlier you tackle it theContinue reading “Lymphoedema”

Today has been a day of contrasts. A bit like the last two years; not much to say except to leave a few snaps

As I hadn’t had a nasoendoscopic exam for 8 months I asked that my next appointment wasn’t over the phone and was a F2F. I was looking for that reassurance even though I felt well. Dr Banner and I talked about follow up. I was keen to clarify a few things as my mate HazelContinue reading “The future of follow up”