You can do this, but it will take positive attitude and willpower. Just focus on the fact that this is a short period in the timeline of your life. Like many other things good and bad, it is transitory and does not go on forever. One day you will exit this treatment and shortly thereafter life will get back to normal. You will be changed by it. In some ways physically, but surely mentally. Having endured this, many people feel emotionally stronger than ever. While you are out of control of much of the process, apply yourself where you can control. You can choose to eat tons of calories and choose things high in protein and other nutrients that will keep you physically strong through this. It will make a huge difference. Solid food wasn’t possible for me till after the treatment ended and the sores in my mouth healed up. But I became a master at blending real foods and whey protein powder and along with putting some of that in my feeding tube, I drank some as well to keep my swallowing reflex heathy.

I had friends that called an emailed me regularly, there was nothing like an online support group in those days. Their support was key to my mental health. The jokes, and pin up girl pictures they sent didn’t hurt either, the message was clear….they were all waiting to have me back in their lives. Combined with a wife who was strong when I wasn’t, who went to my doctors with me, took copious notes and asked a lot of the questions, I had a home team that was there through it all. These things all matter. Build your network of supporters, lean on the people in this group. Eat well when things taste like cardboard and your mouth is sore, and push through to the other side. Normal life and the enjoyment of it is waiting for you there. Brian