Doc, thank you for writing your story. Ross, I concur strongly with everything that's been said on here already, particularly davidcpa, above. And related to your question, ad I headed into my treatment all the advice and info said 'you may experience this, you may experience that' and I finally asked one of the radiation technicians the same question, does anyone get through this without these side effects? and he just shook his head.

I'm 13 months since end of my radiation. I also had three chemotherapy IV sessions (Cisplatin) during my 7-week radiation treatment for tonsil cancer with metastases to my neck lymph system. I, like many, breezed through most of my treatment, but at the end I took a real dive. I may be one of the 10% who had a hard time, as I had some bad mental reactions to something, perhaps the chemo, perhaps some of the pain medications (morphine-like drugs), perhaps to the simple physical beating-up, but in my case it took most of a year before I actually could say I felt "good" again.

EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. This cannot be emphasized enough. I've had side effects that my RO has never heard of (specifically, certain foods trigger neck-muscle spasm/cramping to this day, but it's manageable).

My experience is similar to davidcpa's, but I don't have the thyroid problem (yet, it can take a few years to manifest). Dry mouth, yes, but improving still.

I had many others that I was very worried about, but now have gone away; tinnitus, peripheral neuropathy (numb feet), inability to taste, mouth blisters from anything acidic (tomatoes killed me), neck skin burn, stiff jaw (I still can't open my mouth as wide as before, but I'm luckier than some). Insomnia was one of the worst, initially probably caused by withdrawals from the morphine, but ultimately I don't know, but I slept very very poorly and very very little for a very long time......this was torture. But now I sleep very well!

Mentally, I suffered a strong loss of self confidence, even some claustrophobia, and could NOT face the uncertainty inherent in, say, getting on a commercial jetliner to travel. My libido went out the window, too. I felt OLD.

I'm not trying to scare you, honest, but you need to appreciate that it will be difficult to some degree, and you need to be as prepared as possible. Up your weight while you can, and get as much exercise as you can (while you can). And gather your support team, and if you don't have a good one, hire one. If you don't need them, fine, but if you do, you won't be in any shape to assemble one by then!

I really struggled to eat, and eventually lived mostly on vanilla Ensure. It was very challenging when everything tasted like paste, and I was very upset at losing the ability to enjoy food. I, like the Doc, was determined to not have the PEG feeding tube. It wasn't pride or anything like that. I simply didn't want the experience of anything sticking through my ribs! I did manage to not get the PEG, but I did lose 20 lbs, and starting out "chubby" at 165lbs and 5'7" and small boned, that's a lot to lose, but I figure I had about that much to lose, and am now quite happy with my new 144 lbs, which I am trying to maintain.

Now, just over a year out, I'm in full remission, I've started to exercise again, I'm working again, and I feel good! I've been very fortunate (for someone with cancer, anyway). To look at me, even if you knew me, you might notice that I've lost weight, but that's all. In fact I had an amusing exchange with a suit salesman when I explained that I had lost weight (and needed a new suit). He asked me how I achieved that (very interested for himself) and I had to say, ah, no, you do NOT want to lose weight the way I did!

Good luck. Take heart that there is this option, but it really does seem to be the only real option. I see that you are in Washington (State?). I did my treatment in Vancouver, Canada, just north of that, but now am living in London, England. Let us know how it goes.

Doc, my experiences with staff were somewhat similar. My primary RO was very businesslike, and literally didn't want to see me for two months after my treatment (can't blame him, really, but he was NOT the person to go to for sympathy, which makes some sense). Many of the other staff were fantastic, however, and particularly my nutritionist at the BC Cancer Agency, a true angel.

-Seth