In the last 3 years I've only talked with two people who didn't become depressed about the slow rate at which their lives came back to normal. Radiation and surgery really beat you up, and it seems like it is always something, that is setting your progress back. The weakness, the pain, the saliva issues, the drugs, the Candida outbreaks in my mouth, the mucositis, the diarrhea, the stomach cramps, and the list goes on and on. Is it any wonder that people become depressed? Six months after radiation and surgery my mental state was in the dumpster. The high power drugs were depressive, and I didn't even recognize the signs of real clinical depression. This isn't about feeling down or sad; this is a real biological/psychological issue. I finally started taking antidepressants (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and the combination of those and getting off of the pseudo-morphines started to help. But we are talking 8 months out from treatment before I gave up the idea of putting my head in the oven, and started to actually live my life again. Then the physical challenge of building my body back up was next on the list. Santa Fe has an old plaza in the center of town. At first my wife and I would walk one side of the square, after which I was physically done. Then two sides, and finally a few weeks later I made it all the way around. It was then that I knew I would come back. But it is a long process, and I do not believe there is any way to speed it up. Just try to keep him looking towards the future and the good times that are ahead. It eventually does get better.