Ok, end of week seven. 7/7 chemo down and 33/33 radiation treatments given. Last radiation was on Thursday. Not showing up at 3:30 on Friday to get zapped was like nothing I've ever felt. That part of this process is done and there's no where to go but forward from here.

Saw my MO on Tuesday before my last chemo. He had some interesting observations. After looking at my throat he said in appearance it looked like I was in week 4 not week 7. I had my neck wrapped with non-stick gauze at the time and before he looked he said he probably wouldn't treat me this week. Apparently chemo also can sensitize the skin to the radiation and make the burns worse on the neck. I unwrapped my neck and he sort of threw his hands up and said 'Amazing'. His expectation is that you'll see either neck or throat bad or both but he just doesn't see both tracking behind expectations. He looked at my blood work and said we'll just go ahead and proceed with the treatment.

We had a long conversation about chemo itself. What he expects it to have accomplished and why dropping the carboplatin after week 4 should have no statistical effect on destroying this cancer and lower the recurrence rate. I felt good after leaving his office that I got so lucky in how I passed through this course of treatment compared to so many who truly suffer. My heart breaks for all of them.

He also pushed out my next follow up a few weeks. His theory is they measure patients on 5 tipping points (Throat damage, neck damage, nutrition, pain management and one other) by week seven most people have fallen over the edge on more than one and may be close on others that the 5-10 day cooking period after treatment stops may push them over. He said that these people generally will need further attention in areas and that's why they stress the whole it gets worse before it gets better after it's over. In my case he said I should get no worse than I am now and should see improvement much sooner.

Met will my RO next who also said the throat looks good and is still amazed at my lack of having used narcotics or a feeding tube. She just doesn't see that and was very happy for me. I will get my first scan in 6 weeks but that will probably just show surgery if anything. Apparently the six month one is what we are waiting for.

My neck is down to the annoyance of a sunburn right now. I keep lotioning the parts around the treatment area and the exit areas on the back of the neck. The actual entry points i'm still using Aquaphor on for now as they do try and scab a bit. That will end soon I think.

Nutrition is meh at best. I'm eating but my menu choices are limited and I'm getting bored. Throat feels a little better today so hopefully in a few days i'll be able to expand my choices.

Mucous has ramped up in the last week for sure. It's not always as bad as other times but it is a problem. Makes me cough a lot which holds back the throat healing. I had fantastic results with Mucinex pills for the last several weeks but have developed the dreaded "I can't swallow pills" problem. They get stuck and i end up coughing them out or shooting them across the room. What clever solutions have people come up with for this? My main concern is getting my Zantac down because I do get heartburn easily now.

I think that covers it. I took the next three weeks off of work to rest and try and get more food down throughout the day. All in all I feel not so bad and generally lucky to have found this when I did and have been in the hands of such great doctors. You all have been a source of strength and inspiration. I'll keep updating this post so folks that are in treatment can get and idea of how one person tracked on the road to recovery.

Regards,

-Rich