Author Archives: Dani Akrigg

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”

A Snapshot Light at the end of the tunnel? I’ve seen a few lights already. Some of them have been oncoming trains BUT After Lockdown we got away a few times. Still enjoying a beer 🙂 Then out of the blue came a message from Macmillan. Did I want to join the Community Champion Team?Continue reading “A quick review of the year”

Twenty years ago this morning I stood gasping but deliriously happy at the top of this mountain. So I’m raising a glass to the next twenty and bugger Cancer!

I was going to put a 2019 review up next but talking to somebody on the Macmillan forum https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/head-neck-cancer-forum I think I’ll just put a few words up about treatment in general and how to be proactive. I’m not feeling brilliantly well organised just now so I’ll just jot a few things down in noContinue reading “Coping with Treatment”