Bill finished his last rad two Mondays ago and today, HE WENT TO WORK! I am so abundantly grateful that he seemingly is not having the much dreaded post-treatment issues and is getting stronger by the day! So, for those currently in treatment and worried about the future, I can definitely say that miracles do happen. We, of course, are early in the game and don't know if Bill is cured or not, but for the moment, he is doing so well.

He still has his Peg tube and we are using about 4 cans of supplement a day, but he is also eating (and drinking)...eggs, bacon, grits, ham, soup, bananas, yogurt, coffee, tea, water. He can taste the eggs and bacon...not so much the sweeter things. He's gained two pounds in a week and a half. He walks about a mile morning and afternoon...power washed the neighbor's lanai on Saturday and did repairs at our house Sunday. His rad burns have all but peeled away leaving healthy looking skin. His beautiful silver hair is thinner but still there...no beard yet (he's glad.) He has no swelling outwardly...has slight throat pain and his tongue becomes sore after eating but he's off all prescribed pain meds...takes advil in the evenings. The mucous that was choking him three weeks ago is almost gone completely...very managable and his speech is very clear. His energy level is probably 75% of normal...he is not taking naps at all now...goes to bed around 10 PM and is up at 6AM..just incredible. He did have problems with getting to and staying asleep the first two weeks off the pain meds...he pretty much stopped cold turkey the last week of treatment (just didn't need them.) I'm pretty sure that was the cause of the sleep issues, but it has resolved now. And today, his desk at home was empty....laptop and files went with him to work.....hooray!

We are blessed and I hope that for some, this will give you the power to think positively! Deb


Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!

Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill