Hi Anne,

Dropped in today to check up on you. Seems like you handling it well, although you are reaching a more difficult stage.

I hope it doesn't get much worse. You ar a strong woman and are a great role model.

Jerry,
Thank you very much! I just had my final check-in with Dr. Ang, my RO. He thinks I am doing great. I have 5 rad treatments this week remaining (2 are tomorrow, 6 hours apart). I have chemo on Friday, then done. I think I have been lucky mostly about avoiding problems. We are in the process of scheduling the 6 week check-ups for everyone, trying to get them all in the same span of 2-3 days. No guarantees that everything has worked out like we want in terms of preventing recurrence, but the doc says my chances are good, and that time will tell. That is certainly true of life in general.

Let you know officially when I am done.
Anne

Good for you Anne - I'm rooting for your continued strength every day!

Anne-

Hi there! You have done so well!!! I am so happy for you that you are almost at the end. I know you will be glad to get back home. You will probably have a few more rough weeks once the treatment ends but you will make it through them too.

I saw my RO today. He says I can go back to 12 hour shifts next week, so I am glad about that. He wants to get a PET CT in three more weeks-- he says he likes to do one then to have a baseline. We'll see if my insurance approves it or not.

Hang in there-
Susan

I finished my radiation yesterday (Feb 25)and had my last chemo yesterday evening.

To my disappointment, but not surprise as I was warned here on this board as well as at the clinic, that I might feel worse afterwards, I certainly feel rough today. Might get better as I work through the affects of the recent chemo I guess. I have never felt really good over the weekends following chemo, or Monday, for that matter.

I noticed I had a tickle in my throat early on in the week. The RO said that was the radiation, and explained to me why/what was probably happening. I have a large scar on my throat over my larynx. It had to go there because my throat is skinnier than most. He had to make sure the scar area had plenty of radiation. So my throat (?)is affected like so many of yours. Swallowing is a problem. There is a burning pain. Plus I have more sores in my mouth.

So I got out the ammunition I had--the swish and swallow mouthwash, more soda and water gargling, etc. And the Carnation high calories drink.

There have been many times I did not feel good, but was able to make myself eat, etc. Guess I will be using those nutrition drinks now. I still have some saliva from my parotids, but it seems like my mouth is drier now than it was.

I think it is the swallowing difficulty that bugs me the most right now.

Anne

So glad you are finished and on your way to recovery - it sounds like it has been a long haul which I am facing starting in a few weeks. I anticiipate feeling like death warmed over and am not deluded into thinking this will be easy by any means - but you and so many others who've detailed your journey - help take the fear out of the unknown. I know that doesn't help with the pain and discomfort you are going through but I wanted to thank you regardless... And of course wish you much luck and comfort during the next couple of weeks. Many hugs to you.

Cheryl,
I wish you the best, too. For me the after treatment time is the worst, although the 6th week was tough too. Everyone is different, and they tend to custom fit our treatments so that is one reason why I guess. Hope you can take one day, or sometimes one hour at a time, to me that is important. Hard to always accomplish.

I now understand the agony of mouth sores while struggling with neck radiation skin burn. This too shall pass.
Anne