Barry,

I have to agree with the suggestions about "bulking up" ahead of time. I was very committed to keeping up my nutrition levels during radiation, but still lost around 15-18 pounds (from a starting point of 130).

I'd also recommend that you think in advance about what elements of your daily routine can be temporarily handed off to someone else (or postponed) in the event that you get to a point where you can't realistically keep up with all of them. The effects of radiation can sneak up on you - I know I felt quite good for about the first three weeks and thought I was going to skate by with no significant problems, but I was wrong. Before my treatment started, my typical work week was around 55-60 hours; by the middle to later stages of radiation (and several weeks beyond), it was down to about 30 hours. The good(?) news for me was that, even with the skin and mouth burns, thrush, and severe chewing and swallowing problems, I was able to keep up with at least a part-time work schedule, which allowed me to keep some sense of "normal" in each day.

Good luck with your treatment -- please keep us posted as you go along.

Cathy