Sweety,

Welcome to the neighborhood! I am sorry you are having to go through all this and unfortunately it will get a bit rougher before it gets better.

Do you have anybody with you through this? I believe, personally, that this is essential. I could not have done this alone or I would not have chosen to do it alone. My wife took charge and made it much more tolerable...for me anyway. You would have to ask her for the real scoop!

You will get very confused mentally with all you are going through and you might want to get out a notebook or piece of paper and start writing every question down that you have. The treatment will hamper your ability to reason, remember and deal with things as it intensifies.

You are probably too far into the treatment to question if it is the best approach but you can still pester the doctors to answer your questions. That is part of their job, too.

Many times, the chemo is used to help the effectiveness of the radiation. I do not know your specifics, though, and this is my experience.

My hair thinned out and I looked like a (giant) baby bird. When I went by the mirror sometimes I didn't recognize myself. I wore a bandana over it to protect my head from the sun. Now it is very thick and darker than usual, although curly in the back for the first time in life. It took about 7-8 months to fill in but I hardly noticed it.

I hope this helps. If the doctor tells you are lucky to receive a low dose of chemo, ask him why this is so. When he tells you anything that you are not 100% clear or fully understand, ask him until you are very comfortable. He will most likely assume that if you do not ask, you fully understand. Look out for yourself as nobody else will have your interests at heart like you do!

Ed