Yes, strep is fairly common. I think this is due to your immune system being compromised from cancer and the treatments. For me, it took several years for my blood counts to stabilize. I picked up every bug around.

Im very sorry to hear you are having some set backs. Unfortunately this is pretty common for most patients during their recovery phase. The best thing you can do is to keep up with taking in at least 2500 calories and 48-64 oz of water daily. This needs to continue until at least the first year anniversary of finishing rads.

Getting the feeding tube out is a big milestone. Im sure you are impatient to get rid of it. At only 6 weeks post rads you still have a quite a bit of healing to do. Keeping the tube around for another couple weeks or maybe even months shouldnt be too hard to manage. Its better to hang onto it for a little while longer than to have a setback and need it after it has been removed.

Hope you feel better soon.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile