Hey Shannon,

Good advice above and there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Jim. I was able to stay on my feet, doing lectures and odd tasks up until the half way point, then I climbed into this lazy boy chair and didn't move except to go in to the clinic and the dentist.

The pain I had was SWALLOWING and a horrible mouth. Onery as they come, I started to hit the pain meds hard just before umm "meals". Not even water would go in without morphine. Only once needed IV fluids that I recall. Using a vaporizer seemed to help keep the airways clear. Tell Jim "Just say YES to da drugs" if he will feel more comfortable.

By mid summer I was DRAGGING myself around the Cascades with a chainsaw helping an old friend clear downed trees. Complete with suspenders and bailing wire, cuz I didn't own pants that I could keep up, not even the ones from high school!

Almost 3 years since DX now and things still improve. Not back to normal, but getting close. People walk up to me on the street to say "Whoa, I heard you died! But here you are, and look pretty good too."

Eating better and gaining weight, finally thinking about scrounging up cash to hide in the mountians for a while this summer... However, the endurance and strength haven't quite returned, yet.

Now if it would help, I could put on a cheer leader outfit, dance around and cheer: Go Jim! Go Jim! Go Jim! ... But I think if YOU did that, it would be a much better visual for him. [{;-)


ENT conjectures before, no PET approved by HMO. Metastasis 11/06. CT 2/07: mass RT sub-mandibular gland. 7 CM mass/tonsil, base of tongue removed, biopsies 2/07 and 3/07. Vein lost, RT face numb. PET scan: spot in chest, un-investigated. Oral surgery 4/07. 3X Cisplatin and 32X IMRT from 4/07-5/07.