Craig,
The radiation continues to work even after the last treatment, causing further side effects. Also, once treatment is done, patients tend to feel helpless, like they aren't doing anything anymore to fight the cancer. They become fearful and that's when depression can take hold. When we DO begin to feel better is when the depression can REALLY take hold, as now we are feeling well enough to worry! I know, it really sucks, doesn't it? Everyone's different, you may breeze through it. But I can almost guarantee that you will not wake up the day after the last treatment and all of a sudden feel noticeably better. Not trying to be negative, but it's crushing to look forward to and want something and then it doesn't happen.
Wishing you well at your last treatment. Do they do a bell ringing ceremony?
Minnie

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.