Just found site wife & I could have used it when I went thru treatments. Not sure how much has changed in the treatments over the years, but am sure the terror factor is about the same. I spent about 18+ mos. begin'g in '94 trying to find out what was creat'g the periodic pain in my right ear when I yawned before everyone (dentist & Drs.) threw up their hands and asked if I wanted a biopsy. My tumor was a "reverse presentation," so the "visual" after the biop was "not cancer." The tremendous shock came a few days later, cancer base of the tongue, and treatments began right after the first of '96. On 2nd day of radiation had 1st of 2 planned chemo (Cissplantnum & 5FU) & was in hospital by next day. Chemo & I did not get along as it created blister burns begin'g in my mouth & clear thru my intestinal system (no chemo #2). Feed'g tube was put in on day 4 & I did not eat, drink and/or talk for the next 5 months, as the radiation now began to blister the chemo blisters in my mouth & on my tongue.

It is interesting that in reading the main page of the website Brian Hill refers to the "light at the end of the tunnel," which was a phrase and visualization that I personally used to get me thru the ordeal of the treatments. It felt like I was in this pitch black cave/tunnel on the worlds largest, most twistiest and scariest roller coster ride ever created, as I never knew from one day to the next what it would bring or how I would feel. However, I would always "look" for this (at first) pin prick of light and try and focus on "the light at the end of the tunnel" and imagine the "light" getting larger and stronger day by day during treatments, no matter how I happened to feel at the time. It was a day to day process.

I feel exceedingly blessed to still be here and be able to enjoy life tremendously with this second chance. This coming Feb ('14) will mark my 18th year of end of treatments and being cancer free. Yes, times of "dry mouth" have not completely vanished, but are infrequent and very livable. The 1st 6 to 8 years I rarely went any where without carrying my water bottle, now I consider myself "normal" when it comes to water (I can go for my walks w/o carrying a water bottle). Food tastes great, I got much of my thin salvia back, it was a long process, but little by little it has gotten better and better. No, annual check-ups never go away.