David,

My husband, Michael, had radiation only. He started radiation on 10/23/06 and ended on 12/05/06. He had a stage 1 SCC at the base of the tongue with a couple of tiny spots on a couple lymph nodes. He saw two local oncologists and two local ENTs and was seen for a second opinion at MD Anderson. They all agreed he just need radiation. The first week or two the cancer lesion still hurt. He said it felt like someone stabbing his tongue with a hunting knife. Then the cancer lesion stopped hurting. That was a real positive. Losing his taste buds was the hardest (I think) thing for him. I think he kept thinking that there had to be something to stop that sensation. Even now nothing much tastes - he says he gets a hint of taste sometimes - green peppers, cinnamon a few other foods. He eats fairly small meals, but last Friday night he pretty much ate a whole steak dinner and Sat he ate a whole catfish dinner.

Early on when the cancer still really hurt and then again later when his throat really hurt from the radiation he was on some heavy duty pain meds, morphine. They caused serious constipation which was pretty painful in addition to the other problems. Mid treatment he got off of the heavy pain pills and at the end again he got off of them as soon as he could.


His throat was very sore and hurt, but he was able to keep eating throughout the radiation without a tube although it was discussed. The doctor did prescribe some steroids at one point to decrease the swelling somewhat so he could keep eating. He was only on the steroids short term. His throat pretty much stopped hurting two or three weeks post radiation.

He was very tired and grumpy following the radiation treatments - especially the last couple weeks of the twice per day treatments. Even though he is still tired he can