I hated the pain meds too, partly because they didn't last very long and mostly because of what they did to the digestive tract. The difficuly with constipation out weighed the oral pain.

As far as the mucous problem people talk about, I'm happy to say I never had that problem. Perhaps you will be lucky too.

The single most painful part of all my treatments was the tonsillectomy. I just wish my ENT had taken them both out.

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.