Hi Jen,
You're in the worst time right now. I remember feeling SO dissapointed because I had expected to feel better as soon as treatment ended. I hadn't found this message board yet so I had no idea what was normal and what wasn't. All I knew was that after two weeks I still didn't have a voice, I still had an open area on my neck and I felt horrible. I marked off on a calender, religiously, each and every radiation day, a big old X, waiting for the last day so life would pop back to normal. Didn't happen that way. After about three weeks to a month I started feeling improvement. Eating was a slow process so have patience with it. I gave into the "tube" and used it to my advantage. It gave me the nutrition I needed to heal quicker. Don't be to quick to get it taken out.
I hope you turn that corner we all describe to you very soon.
Minnie


SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.