Rett,
I noticed the radiation immediately. From day one, an hour or so after treatment my face felt like mild sun over-exposure and I had a stuffy head. After a couple hours it passed.

Fortunately those effects were mild and never really got much worse.

I also had mild nausea spells off and on beginning very early in my TX, then in my last week the nausea turned severe (over a holiday week-end). I was give Zofan (Ondansetron Hydrochloride Oral Solution) and that took care of the nausea.

I also had thrush around week three and/or four and Nystatin cleared it right up. I was told thrush is common when you have recently been on antibiotics.

I never had mouth sores, but from time to time my mouth was quite sore and I only had very light mucosis.

I would agree that your dad's age is likely a factor. My MO told me older patient seem to have a harder time, but there are many exceptions. Likewise he said some young patients have a real hard time of it.

Overall I did extremely well and I was never very ill. I drove myself to treatments except for the last three when I was still dehydrated from the nausea. Never-the-less, to some degree I experience most of the common side effects.