JT,

See my Signature Brother.

Look as far as I'm concerned you will be fine BUT your recovery can take every bit of 2 years so just be patient. I recommend that you try and consume 3000 cals each and every day as your body needs all the "recovery fuel" it can get. I did that and I didn't gain 1 pound my entire first year of recovery.

Trust me all of us ask "what's next" after this ordeal. For me this is what happened. My saliva and taste (which I think go hand in hand) slowly improved. I saw my first noticeable improvement at 4 months post Tx (PT); another at 5; the biggest at 14 months and the last at 24 months. I estimate both recovered at appx 90% only because you never can remember what 100% was. I was very weak PT but within the first year I was back to riding my bike with the "big boys" just as before Tx. I had a very positive attitude throughout but couldn't have survived without my wife. Some go through a period of depression PT and it usually comes from trying to answer the "what's next" question. Appx 4 months PT I had a hearing test and I found out that Cis had permanently damaged my high frequency hearing in both ears. Nothing I could do but eventually I'll need aids. Also about that time my thyroid crapped out from the rad and I take a small pill once a day. No big deal. Other than that life goes on for me. If you stay around you will soon learn that we fortunately had the baby form of this cancer so in a sense you should count your blessings that you didn't have to go through what so many have to with oral cancer.

The worst is over. It should be all up hill from here.