Just a note to all my friends that I've finished 4 weeks of chemo/radiation!! I'm over 1/2 way home; just three more weeks to go.

To newbies
Although my experience may be atypical, I just want to offer some positive feedback as my experience has not been as difficult as some have encountered. My pain is in my tongue, but it is tolerable. My saliva is thick; but I don't have a "sahara" mouth. My neck has gotten tan, not burned; but it is a little itchy. My biggest complaint is NO TASTE BUDS. Can't taste a darn thing except chocolate. Sweet, salty, spicy all gone for awhile. Don't know what to expect for the next 3 weeks but so far all side effects have been mild to moderate. I've been told that the side effects are cumulative thoughout the 7 weeks; I'll keep you posted. But for right now, I'm celebrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sandyst

Sandy

newbie is a relative term. Many of us here felt just fine like you do at this point. I was particularly proud as I was still eating regular food including pizza, etc, Good thing I had not discovered this board as unlike your matter of fact post, I would have attributed it to my visualization with the toy ray gun, or even manly man status. Then as they used to say in the Luci and Dezi show: "I'd have some 'splaing to do,"
Just a heads up that not only are the effects cumulative, the absolute worst is the first two weeks after all TX has stopped.
You are entitled to celebrate and I hope that you sail through the remaining weeks just as easily. A positive attitude helps immensely and positive expectations are a blessing. Last but not least: I am doing the exact same thing now, with tolerable side effects and will be done TX next Wed. Only in my case, my RO keeps warning me and warning me how bad it is going to get - even worse than the first time around. Let's both prove them all wrong !

Yep Sandy, I never had any probles until later. Got em now a good bit tho. You are a toughy like some of us .

Everybody and their Caregivers that goes thru this cancer gets an I'M A TOUGHIE BUTTON and some of you get a few STARS added for being an OUTSTANDING TOUGHIE.

JMO

Sandy,

I hope you are one of the lucky ones but don't get discouraged if weeks 4 thru 10 aren't as bearable, especially weeks 8, 9 and 10.

Way to go Sandy!!!!

Love your positive attitude and wishing you continued ease thru this. Glad you wrote the note to newer people here, its true you are getting by relatively easy so far. Everybody is different.

Drinking alot of water seems to make this easier too. Hang in there and keep up the good work

Sandy, post again in a few more weeks and let us know how things feel for you. I hope they are good, but I a=had no problems for a long while, then when it rained, it poured. God luck Gal.
'

Sandy, Keep up the good fight and positive attittude, like you I had only minor prob;ems with radiation. GOD speed and good luck.. Semper-Fi Bob

I want to thank everyone for their positive thoughts. I truly feel blessed, grateful and lucky (all of the above) about the treatment so far. I pray that it continues.

People come to this site terrified of chemotherapy and radiation. I just wanted to show OC patients that not everyone experiences the worse. I'm a very strong believe that your attitude influences how you experience your treatment.

I'll update you as time go on...Sandyst

Sandy!

I am so glad you are feeling well. My thoughts are with you.

Chris

Glad you are doing well Sandy. Keep up the positive attitude as it definitely helps and beats the alternative. My dad is at the same radiology center as you and is doing Ok too. We have a few more issues with chemotherapy but we are keeping our positive thoughts going too. Take care and good luck.

Sandy!

Attitude IS everything...just keep on looking forward. The end oftreatment is near...taste buds start to come back a few weeks after treatment. Just keep trying everything...this changes constantly. Keep up the good work!!!

Sandy,


For the vast majority the few weeks post Tx are the worst part of the radiation and your taste will return, well when it returns. The recovery period can easily last well over a year and the taste and dry mouth will slowly recover over that period of time. I saw the first signs of my taste and dry mouth improvement 4 months post Tx and it wasn't until 15 months post Tx that I was satisfied with both even if they stopped recovering. I did see what I think was my last improvement at 24 months. My reason for posting this is I don't want you to think there is some definitive timetable that you can or more importantly should compare yourself to. Your body will dictate that for the most part as there are many many variables that form a part of the equation.