Hi sherry - your story sounds similar to mine. Christine will probably be a long to tell you to start a new thread so new members can welcome you individually. But I will welcome you now. Sorry you have so be here. Just to share I too was in your position a few months back - I am 3.1 weeks out of radiation and chemo.

Try not to worry. Radiation is no walk in the park but if you do what they tell you (use your skin cream from the beginning) keep a close eye on your oral hygiene, no antioxidants - this should help with the treatments and the aftereffects. also do your best to eat by mouth as long as possible (even if it's just ensure or boost). I managed to take my nutrition and fluids in the entire time, though there were a few days there that it was mighty hard. Most people do get pegged - if they suggest it... Do it. It's best to have it in whether you need it or not. Eat as much as you can now to bulk up. And try to maintain high calorie and lots of fluids during treatment - don't want to dehydrated.

You will hear a lot of scary things about radiation but please try to remember everyone has their own path. I was fairy fortunate in that i didn't have a really hard time with it until I hit treatment 30. Usually it starts to get hard around week 4, and continues to get worse until 2 weeks after. This is very very true in the two weeks following.

The treatments itself are painless, though I can say from day one I could feel the tightness in my throat. I did the exercises they suggested for maintaining flexibility and swallowing for as long as I could. Then started again once I began to feel better.

With regards to the mask.. Not fun... But its a relatively short time in the room, so I used to close my eyes and meditate, and I would listen to the music they put on. It helps you forget. And right after each treatment i would head to the bathroom rinse, gargle and spit with the baking soda/ water/ salt mixture they suggested. I rinsed a lot actually during the day, particularly after eating.

If you are interested search out the postings on Manuka honey here on the board - you can type it under search, or go to adjunctive therapy. I used it from week three on (would have used it from the beginning had i known about it) it helped me greatly with the mouth sores.

If you need pain meds there is an abundance they offer you. There is no need to suffer - use it if you have to - I was fortunate In that I only needed codeine for a few days at the end, and some oxy for about 5 days after treatment to get me through the worst of it.

The worst thing I found about it all was the crazy drooling after treatment, of course the pain, & the lack of taste. That makes it hard to continue eating, even if you can physically.

I would like to say - it's not fun... It is hard - I won't lie - but it is doable. Try not to worry - It does go fairly quickly- though it doesn't feel like it at the time.
Best of luck, try to stay positive you can do this. I'm sure there will be someone else along to fill you in on anything I missed.