Nicki,
Danny G. voiced exactly what I was going to post. I hit a severe depression when I finished radiation. I felt like I was sitting there doing nothing but waiting for "it" to come back. I cried all the time and held myself away from my family. It only took me a few weeks to snap out of the worst of it but the feelings of fear were still very strong for months and months. Cancer dominated my every waking thought. That does pass and gets better until we all find our own ways of dealing with it all while enjoying life.
Boy do I remember my last day of radiation.......it was the one and only time my husband and younger children came with me......and I rang the heck out of that bell. I threw the mask away (couldn't believe they asked me if I wanted to keep it) and walked out of there near tears.
I hope it goes well for Tom and be sure to keep an eye on him for depression.
Take care,
Minnie


SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.