Hi Danielle, There is a high probability that a lot of people do better than what is average here on the OCF site. The reason is simple: if you are doing fine you don't need to get help and or advice. I don't want to sound smug either, this is not an easy treatment.

I can tell you I received the maximum dose of Non-IMRT radiation. I drove myself to every treatment except the first. I worked almost every day (with lots of rests) I did NOT have a feeding tube, I did NOT get external burning, I did NOT have mucositis, I was able to eat throughout the treatments (But I still lost 30 pounds). I did have pain later (around week 5 or 6)and that pain was sometimes a "12" out of a possible 1 to 10. For me the pain medication side effects were worse than the pain and so I tried to get by with out them. The thing for you to remember is that she CAN do this and WILL.

Radiation IS the best option with this kind of cancer. It is able to reach the microscopic cancer and it clearly offers the best cure rate.

Hang in there and ask for help when ever you need it.

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.