Hi Danielle,
What type of work does your mother do? Going back as soon as possible will be good for her. I worked during my radiation except for the last two weeks or so. Everyone got used to my lobster red face! But I have a very flexible job and had the luxury of setting my own hours.
Please make sure your mom understands that she will not miraculously (sp?) feel better after her last treatment. I put a calender up on the fridge and my biggest joy of the day was Xing off one of the blocks in my countdown to the end of my radiation. I would go to that calender a number of times a day and count up how many days I had left! But, when that last treatment came, it was over, and I STILL felt the same I was depressed. In fact, I felt worse over the next couple of weeks. And tell her that the taste comes back but it comes back very slow, it took me about 4 months to notice any huge change. Same thing with the saliva, it does make a come back, albeit very slow.
She's a tough woman to do it all without a tube, my doctor put one in when I had my surgery and it stayed in until a few months ago. I am thankful I had it.
Wish her luck and tell her that in a few months she can start giving advice to the newcomers on the board.
Minnie