The see-saw of energy is hard to take. On good days or a good stretch of days I feel like I am out of the woods and somehow back to "normal" (whatever that is) and then I crash. I am six months post-treatment. I try to be optimistic and life is better now than early summer, but radiation is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Seize the good days and be patient with yourself, if you can. Things will get better. -Michelle


SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.