Hi amycole,

I had something similar with SCC in the tongue. I "luckily" only had to radiation without chemo so my experience is somewhat different.

I can't stress how important the eating and drink are to a neck radiation patient. I could not do it and ended up dumping 7 cans of Ensure a day down a PEG tube for 5 months to feed myself. Then had a long recovery until I could swallow and talk again because the muscles had atrophied in my mouth.

I am now 4 years out and all clear. Most people don't notice any speech iregularities unless I am really tired then I sometimes slur.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Jim