Hello Worried Mom,

I am currently in my third week of IMRT radiation and about the only thing I have noticed is I can't taste anything, and today my throat is a little sore. I too am having it on both sides of my neck so I am guessing this is pretty standard, I am also undergoing chemo at the same time and the side effects of this are pretty much bearable. i would encourage your daughter to just relax and go with it. Take one day at a time that is the only way to do it. When she feels good have her go with it and do what ever she thinks she can, and on the bad days just get lots of rest and know that it is her bodies way of rebuilding itself. IMRT is the best radiation there is to offer and we who are recieving it are very lucky. Mimimal damage if any is being done the healthy areas in our neck, and most of these not so pleasant side effects go away after treatment is stopped. I use a meditation I learned from a friend during the treatment and find that I am very relaxed and ready for the day when I am done. I am looking at this as not so much an inconvenience but an opportunity to learn more about what life is about, what is really important to me, and what I can do to help any one else who is undergoing this treatment. We are very lucky to have contracted this desease today and not 10 or 15 years ago, we have not been given a death sentence, we simply have caught a treatable desease and we are being treated. Help your daughter see that her life has not changed, she is still the strong wonderful woman she was before this happened and with the love and help of her friends and family she will be a stronger more caring woman when this is over.
I am going to take only positive thngs away from this, there are days that is not too easy to do but in the end it makes the treatment more barable and I am hoping me a better person. Good luck to the both of you. Your daughter and you will both be stronger, better, women when this is done. Her children will be stronger also trust me.

Have a great day.
Pat