Sorry, I posted that reply too quickly. Anyway, on a positive note, I am able to do pretty much everything I did pre surgery and radiation and for that I am unbelievably grateful!!! God Bless!!

Nicki,

The hair and beard stuff will most likely return to normal. I had not cut my hair this year because the radiated area in conjuntion with the chemo created a little swatch of curls. Being asian descent, I have never had even a slight curl in my hair. I wanted to trim it up a bit for a job interview and the cutest of the curls are gone . Of all the things, I wanted this one thing to not go back to the way it was before cancer. God certainly has a sense of humor!

We had a family portrait done just before everything started and it is prominently displayed where we all see it as soon as we leave our bedrooms. I may still look a bit "undernourished" compared to the picture but I planted some winter rye that will look like a golf course all winter and get cut 1-2 times a week and a bit over a hundred flowers in the front flower beds. I missed that the past two winters with various illnesses. (I sneaked a peak at the flowers twice already this morning .)

I am glad to hear the mammogram was good!

Ed

Boy aren't you the optimist! I have "holes" in my beard where the main beam entry points were and the hair from the bottom of my chin to the top of my shoulders is permanently gone (except for a few very annoying hairs on my adams apple -but maybe that bodes well for the thyroid).

Many of the hair follicles fell out. It also killed all the skin tags and I don't snore anymore. Better living through mad science :p

Nicki, about the hair at the back of Tom's neck, I, too, had what the techs referred to as the "radiation hairline" but it all returned to normal. I wear my hair up most of the time so the hairline is exposed to all and I would never do that if it were as crazy looking as it was. Yet another thing that just takes time.

Nicki,
Hair follicles lost to radiation don't grow back. Like Brian, I could grow a goatee, but the part of my beard on my lower jaws will never grow back. (not that I mind...it leaves less area to shave, and the skin is as smooth as a baby's).

It took a while, but even with my limited diet, I have gained back as much weight as I want...the waist in some of my pants has gotten tight. I feel like I am strong and still play a lot of golf, and can hit the ball as far as I ever could...subject only to my less than perfect golf swing!

Yes, the boredom is one of the worst things about the recovery period after radiation treatment ends. I read a lot, took a daily walk, napped a lot, and even got to where I liked the rap music T.V. shows that came on in the afternoon that my teen-aged son turned me on to. Go figure.

Anyway, things will no doubt improve for Tom, and for you as well in time. The good news is that interest in intimacy returns as well.

Take care,
Danny G.

Hi, All..
Tom's first 'day out' didn't go as well as we'd hoped. A friend came by to visit, and ended up driving Tom to a party being held at Tom's office. Tom's been asleep since I got home, but the friend called to tell me that Tom got sick on the way in - - but insisted on getting to the office. From what I understand, he was able to stay around there for about one hour, and a co-worker brought him home. Guess he's been asleep since.
I'm glad he got out - he hasn't seen some of his employees since September - and hope the episode of vomiting doesn't deter him from venturing out again. A very good friend is testing for 6th degree black-belt tomorrow night, and I know he wants to be there. I'm not so certain I want him in a poorly-ventilated dojo with a lot of people, some of whom you KNOW will be carrying something!

QUESTION - Is a CTscan a definitive test, or would another PETscan be needed to see if there are still 'hot spots?'

Talk to you all soon. This is a big ol' lonely house with just me rolling around in it.....having him up and about will be a good thing!
Nicki

No scan is definitive. It is only a piece of the data and subject to interpretation. The visual and palpation exam are equally as important.

Tom's doing pretty good - I didn't go out in public places at all until June (my treatment was concluded in March). He's taking a small risk with a compromised immune system.

One day at a time Nicki
Thats the way it goes.
Sending good wishes and positive thoughts your way.
Marica

Talking about hair loss as a result of radiation, I consider myself really very very lucky that I not only kept all my hair but it grew even stronger and healthier after radiation. I was prepared to lose most of my hair during treatment as I was already warned by my doctors that the possibility was high due to my intensive treatment of both chemo and radiation. So before my treatment started, I spent a lot of money getting a wig for myself. Really expensive because it was made from genuine human hair. I am that kind of woman who dosen't want to appear different and get people's sympathy. Surprisingly, apart from normal hair fall off after washing, nothing changed on my head. That's why when I returned to my work after a few months, some naughty colleagues came to pull my hair to see it was a wig!They were 'disappointed' So the wig is still lying in my closet and hopefully it will be there forever and that I won't need it for the rest of my life. My friend who received radiation only to his neck area did lose hair at the back and a letter M appeared. It took quite some time for the hair to grow back in that area. Since he is a man, he doesn't care too much and just tells people with amazing looks that it is the latest hair style for mature guys. Sometimes a sense of humor can be a good medicine.Be patient Tom,things will get better.

Karen

Nicki,

I went back to work a couple of weeks after radiation and actually worked for about 2 1/2 months before the fatigue kicked my butt. Of all the things that I remembered, one day I was heading back just before Christmas (work was 400 miles away). I had not planned on coming back so I asked someone for a ride to the airport 2 1/2 hours away. As we were getting ready to go, I threw up violently and was so embarassed. This guy that worked for me was so nonchalant about it but it still bothered me. He is still the only person in my life that has seen me throw up at work. Lucky him, he got to see it several times.

Tom is really doing well and you are so awesome!

Ed