It's three weeks post-surgery now, and I am feeling really pretty good. Not using any kind of pain meds at all. I went trout fishing for most of the day yesterday -- a sign that I could definitely be back at work. The weather is too nice for that though. Why have cancer if you can't abuse your sick leave a little?

I had a post-surgery consult this past Wednesday with the Medical Oncologist and Radiotherapy Oncologist. No real surprises came out of it. Because they found escaped cells from the lymph node, we already knew I'd be having both chemo and radiation as follow-up treatments. It was up in the air whether I would have a PEG tube or not. Because of the chemo-radiation combination though - as well as the decision to irradiate both sides of my neck - the RO was pretty direct about recommending PEG. And all of your advice in these messages made it easy for me to agree to that. I have a consult next Wednesday (May 20) with the team that does that up at UW hospital. My second lifetime surgery, all in less than a month. Guess I just can't get enough of hospitals these days!

During the Wednesday visit they also did a pre-treatment CT scan and fitted me for the mask. At this point it looks like I'll have the PEG tube put in late next week or the following week, with 33 radiation treatments (total 66 units) starting on June 1 and going Monday-Friday until they're finished. On Wednesdays of each week I'll be getting the chemo (cisplatin 40mg). So 6 or 7 of those.

At the consult, both the RO and MO repeated that everyone responds to this kind of treatment differently, and that some folks are able to work right through it. In the worst case I will start feeling bad by the 3rd week of treatment and potentially be unable to work from week 5 until 2 or three weeks after treatments end. So we are anticipating that, but hoping for better. I feel ready for whatever comes.

The docs remain confident of and committed to achieving a cure with these treatments, so that makes me confident in turn. But it also means a miserable couple of months health-wise, with restrictions to stay away from crowds and from sick people and getting to know the UW Hospital parking attendants on a first name basis. Nothing most of you aren't used to already.

I just want to say again how much I appreciate all the advice and answers I've found here. I don't know how I'd be this ready without all of your help.