The weeks after radiation ends are really the worst -- the body has been through hell, so you are at the lowest point both physically and mentally, and the effects of the radiation continue to make themselves felt -- that is, can actually continue to show up -- for at least a month afterwards, according to both my husband's MO and RO (and both nurses, all well-experienced with HNC treatment). After a month, then things do start to get better and for some people, this can happen fairly quickly -- they may be eating "real food" instead of liquid stuff -- but in others it is very slow. At this point depression is a real risk. While actually in treatment there is that daily routine and the sense you are "doing something" but afterwards, especially if the hospital does not have good on-going follow-up, patients feel at sea and not in control.

Gail