Hi all,

Firstly - Merry Christmas and I hope everyone had a chance to take a break from the big C and enjoyed the festive season with loved ones.

Jen recovered very well over the past week, and her RO was very pleased with how she was progressing and we took out the Nasal Gastric Tube last Friday (Jen had actually gained around 1kg!) meaning that it was only in for around 8 days total.

This means, she is now taking all of her medication & food orally and the pain in her throat has all but subsided. Unfortunately, taste has yet to come back but I am sure this will come back slowly but surely reading what others have posted on this forum.

The radiation burns on her neck have all but disappeared, and her 'tan' is now coming back to her usual skin tone and colour. Also, the swelling around her neck caused by the scar tissue has become much better as well and she was confident enough to go out for a BBQ with friends for the first time since treatment last Saturday.

Medication wise, we are on around 10mg of MS Contin once a day, and taking paracetamol every 4-5 hours just to be safe. She is feeling a 'tingling' sensation in her tongue and I suspect this is because of her body trying to recover from all the damage done in that area, and new tissue & cells forming which I can visually see happening on a day to day basis.

As you can tell from above - the physical recovery has well and truly started and it is incredible how the human body is designed to recover so rapidly.

Unfortunately, the mental and spiritual aspects are a different story, and I can now relate to everyone's view point that Cancer will be around for a very long time, even after the physical symptoms are all but gone. I guess this will be the next challenge that we must overcome, and I look forward to 2013 (good or bad) and all God has in store for our family.

With all that has gone on this year, every Christmas as a family will now be a time to celebrate and be grateful for, and I hope there are many many MANY Christmas's to come.

God bless you all and I hope that despite all the challenges, sufferings and losses in 2012, I am sure that this experience has made all of us and all those affected stronger, more resilient people who are able to appreciate life and all it's wonders in a different shade of light come 2013

Seasons Greetings & Happy New Year!
Jen, Jay & Hunter