Hi,
It will be a while...she may have to find a "new normal." I was still in pretty crappy shape 6 weeks after treatment. The skin darkening was another fun side effect of the radiation. For a while, I looked as if I had 5 O'Clock shadow. That will eventually decrease in time. I still have eating issues, and I just have to try different things. Some things work, some things don't. She WILL get better...it just takes time.

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.