Mark, yes, he was close to his parents and had just lost his mother (85) to cancer a year ago. Also, we live in Florida and both of our families are in California, so we couldn't even travel out for the funeral service because he wasn't up to it. The thing I am most concerned about now is that he had been able to eat without the peg all along, only shakes for several weeks, but the last few he had been eating scrambled eggs and soups. Now since his teeth were cleaned on Thursday, he has both lost his appetite and can't seem to eat/swallow very well anymore. The rad nurse checked with the Dr and he said it would have nothing to do with the teeth cleaning. I have an appointment for him at noon tomorrow with the radiation onc. His surgeon/oncologist is a pretty blunt cold fish and she scared us both at that last appt (as she seems to do at every appt - it's her way). The rad onc is quite a bit kinder and more compassionate. I haven't felt this scared since he was first diagnosed. I'm trying to be calm and objective though - not jump to conclusions prematurely.