One thing to learn about this is everyone is different and will responds in their own unique way to everything... surgery, radiation, medications, recovery, symptoms, side effects, etc. Even someone the same age, from the same area, same sex, and background can have opposite stories regarding what they went thru. This is why its best to focus on what is within your control... your intake. You will see me nag people about this. I dont want to see anyone suffer more than they have to.

During rads, you probably will experience the first week thru hopefully week 3 (or more) without many side effects. Most patients will begin to notice changes during their 3rd week and by week 4 they may start getting tired easily and feel some side effects creeping up on them. The patients who are diligent about their intake can get thru week 4 or even 5 before they feel lousy. Let hope you are one of the lucky one who barely experience any discomfort or side effects at all. If I had to put numbers on it (which I hate doing!) from what Ive seen only about 10% will sail right thru without being hit with major side effects, nausea, constipation or diarrhea, etc. About 80% start to have a hard time during the end of week 3/beginning of week 4 and 10% will struggle almost right from the start of rads and have a heck of a hard time.

The complete blood test including thyroid is so you and your doctors know what is normal for you. During treatments your bodys immune system can take a huge hit with your white counts being very low. This mean avoiding crowds, anyone sick and washing your hands and using hand sanitizer all the time. Its impossible to get these numbers correct after you have started rads especially if having chemo. Most patients thyroid will be effected by rads (scatter radiation). This means the patient must take a tiny pill everyday forever. Its not a big deal, it gets monitored at least yearlty and the medication gets adjusted. Baseline is your normal numbers for what is normal for you.

Did you get the fluoride trays started at the dentist? This is something else that very important! This is coming from someone who lost her teeth from rad damage and I used the trays.

When first told of a cancer diagnosis, we all go thru a state of shock. Being forced to face our own mortality is NOT easy to accept. Changing into someone who needs help and isnt well can be very hard on someone who is normally very active. Its almost like the stages of grief what cancer patients go thru until they finally hit accept. Best thing you can do is to read and educate yourself about your illness so you an be a strong advocate for yourself. This will NOT be easy so try to get everything ready as much as you can.

PS... Ive sent you a private message (PM) to help you quickly learn the ins and outs of the forum and make navigating it much easier. Please read thru the link so you are able to add your signature. It really is an important toll to help us better help you by knowing your basic history with OC. Click on the tiny flashing envelope next to the my stuff tab.

Thank you!!!