I will get the last of my 60 rad treatments Monday. From what I have read on this forum and from talking to others in treatment I have been blessed with relatively minor, but no less uncomfortable side effects. I have so far experienced; minor sore throat, almost complete loss of taste, dry mouth, minor soreness inside the mouth, and recently, "sunburned" skin on my neck and shoulders. I haven't had to use my peg tube at all.

Last week, when we visited with the doctor, I asked how soon after treatment could I have the peg tube removed. When the doc replied "a month or 2" my wife said she had never heard me say the word "WHAT?" so loudly. I was thinking maybe a week. A friend of mine who under went a heavier dose of radiation treatment along with chemo had similar, but more pronounced,symptoms as mine. A month after his last treatment his "sunburn" is nearly gone, he can swallow soft foods but he is still using the peg, and he is beginning to recover some sense of taste.

I will see the rad doctor on Mon. but the vibe I am getting from her is that once treatment is done she is kind of done with me. I don't have a "family doctor". I get routine stuff done with my primary care doctor at the VA but he is kind of a "pill pusher" and not very familiar with the cancer stuff I have been doing. The only other doc I have seen is the surgeon who operated on my tongue and neck.

Though I appreciate very much the fact that I have been blessed with relatively mild side effects and I'm not prone to depression, I am becoming anxious about the recovery process. I want my teeth back, I want to be able to taste the food I smell, and I want this damn tube out of my belly!

My questions for the forum are:
1. If you weren't using the peg at the end of treatment did you find a need for it post treatment?

2. For those who had their teeth removed, how did you know when to be fitted for dentures and who determined that?

3. How long before fried bacon tastes as good as it smells?



Thanks
Bud