John, I really understand what you are feeling. Three years ago I was just beginning the journey that you have completed. My doctors did try to prepare me, but nothing could have possibly prepared me for what I went through. My neck got so badly burned by the radiation that they had to stop for a week. To top it all off, because I also had the three strong doses of Cisplatin, I became extremely malnourished and had to be hospitalized a week after I had completed my treatments. Today, while I still have eating and fatigue issues, I am doing quite well. My ENT and my oncologists have reduced my visits to every six months, and damn it, I am going to make it. You will, too! Feel free to come here and vent any time. We are all here for you, and it WILL get better!


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.