I learned that my concurrent chemo will include Erbitux, Carboplatin & Taxol.
The first of these weekly chemo treatments will be on 7 Jan 2010... the same
day as the first of my daily IMRT treatments.

Unfortunately, I'm having trouble opening my mouth (trismus) because of the
neck dissection surgery. I used to be able to fit 3 fingers between my teeth
but now I can only fit 2 fingers. A specialist measured this opening at 31 mm
and says I should buy/use a "TheraBite" system. Unfortunately, my insurance
(BCBS) says they won't pay for this $400 device. So I'll try to pay for this with
my Health FSA which at least gives me a small tax break.

I've also learned that my job should be protected by the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) and related statutes. The treatment I had in 2009
used up all the Short Term Disability (STD) time I had available, so now
my employer says I have to use Long Term Disability (LTD). Because I've
been paying my LTD premiums (for almost 24 years) with post-tax dollars,
this should give me 2/3 of my pay as a tax-free benefit. However, my
employer says they have to terminate me... with no assurance that they'll
be able to give me my job back when I'm ready to return. So I spoke with
a labor attorney and learned that the ADA requires my employer to give
me the time off (and to give me my job back) as a "reasonable accommodation
to my need for medical treatment." My employer hasn't yet actually denied
me my job back, but if they do I can file suit against them under the ADA.

Rob