Hi Cheryl. Yes, these are all scary things about radiation and they sound remarkably similar to what I've been through with the bone marrow transplant. I spent 3-1/2 weeks hospitalized and another month and a half living in an apartment across the street from the hospital to go for daily clinic visits and to be close in case of emergency. I had severe mucositis from head to bottom. I couldn't eat properly for a year (so hard to contemplate giving that up again), my hair is permanently too thin to wear in anything more than a short stubble, my skin is mottled with hyperpigmentation, and I must be ever vigilant for infection, and signs of graft vs. host disease. My eyes and mouth are permanently dry although improved over what they were the first year. And I'm one of the lucky ones who has avoided immunosuppressants, steroids, and infections. The one good thing is that I can never clean litter boxes again :-), a big deal when you have 6 cats. Thanks for the hugs! They're much appreciated.

I met with the doctor who has expertise with graft-versus-host disease and bot cancer (he's also a plastic surgeon and a dentist, a man of many talents). He did a thorough examination and discussed my results from my other tests - CT, PET, MRI, biopsy. I am HPV+. Looks like lymph nodes are involved on both sides but areas are all small. BOT tumor is very small, less than 1 cm and does not cross center line - completely on the left side. He does have concerns regarding usual treatment becuase I've already had so much chemo with the bone marrow transplant and is concerned about potential graft vs. host issues. He's going to confer with another of his colleagues before he makes recommendations. Overall, he was very optimistic. He said, "The treatments will not be fun but I believe we can solve this problem [the cancer]." I meet with my multidisciplinary team tomorrow. I'm going to start a new thread as I am seeking input from all of you oc veterans. I'm grateful to have found this site.

Brian kindly gave approval for me to link my blog, Mausmarrow.com, in my signature. I started it nearly two years ago when I embarked on my bone marrow transplant journey. The journey and the blog are now taking a new turn but all are indubitably intertwined.

Really glad to hear the primary is small, and that it's HPV+. I am sure that your team will come up with an excellent approach for you.
Maria

We're here whenever you need. Glad he was so optimistic! It sounds like you are in good hands. good luck with all.

Thank you!