My Husband has oral cancer, several surgeries to cheek, neck and jaw, and is now halfway through his radiation treatment which is 7 weeks, every day, weekends off. He had to stop working after 1 1/2 weeks He believes that as soon as the radiation stops he can return to work. Seems like the dr said that the effects of radiation continue to mount and will last a good 12 weeks after the daily treatment itself stops.
What are others experience????

The doctor is correct. Few are able to go back to work a few weeks after, and some never, like myself, but mine was from chemo alone. Radiation continues to work just as long as treatment lasted, so the continued side effects will continue. Most feel the best recovery at 3 months post treatment, but doesn't mean every side effect will cease then. It takes time, up to a year for some things, and some things like dry mouth, taste changes take longer, if it ever fully recovers. Rushing back to work can cause setbacks, more time off, illness. His doctor seems to be more realistic, and would be guided by he or she with small goals accomplished before jumping into the fire. Is he doing light exercising, such as walking, has adequate nutrition, hydration, no weight loss, and how is his strength and endurance. In my mind, I'm as strong, probably as stubborn, as an ox, but realistically, I'm more in line with a mouse, and know what my limitations are. It is frustrating not even being 50% what I was pre cancer almost 4 years ago, when I was relatively healthy, strong, 48yrs old, working, which job sometimes required my physical attributes. It was, is, difficult to take a back seat when I was the driver in most everything, but it can be done, and everything will have its time and place.

Good luck.

Hi Shelydiane,

I'm currently 9 weeks post Tx. I finished treatment April 24th and went back to work part time (4 hours a day) the end of May. I have a desk job and speak to customers on the phone and work on the computer. I'm now up to 6+ hours a day and will work at getting to 7-8 hours during the month of July.

The reality is that your husband will start hitting the proverbial wall shortly. I hit it halfway through treatment and was totally down for the count from week for to three weeks post Tx. Radiation is cumulative and he will continue to "cook" for a month or two after rads are done.

Hang in there!

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

Everyone is different but I was miserable and had a hard time with no signs of improvement until 2 weeks after radiation, then and now it is a very slow process. I have a desk job and I worked part time except the last week of radiation which I took off. Week 2 after radiation I went back full time but I have to tell you my full time is 20-30 hours a week (I am paid by production not hours). The hardest part for me so far is the food. I am slowly working my way back up but it is OOOO so slow, I want so badly to be able to sustain myself without liquid nutrition or the PEG tube. Yesterday slightly 4 weeks after treatment end I ate half a hamburger and half a piece of pizza among other more healthy choices. Everyone is different, some heal slower and some faster, this is just my experience so far.

Everyone can be different but my experience on this site for the past 7 years tells me that about 10% seem to tolerate this TX as if nothing happened; 10% start having problems from day one and the rest including me started to have problems in week 4 and I got progressively worse until week 3 POST Tx. Appx 1 month post Tx, owning my own CPA firm, I returned to work but at first could only muster a few hours a day. Before long I was able to work normally. I credit my quick recovery from ingesting 3000 cals a day starting appx weeks post Tx. Should have done that sooner but I didn't find this site until that time.

I hope he's one of the "lucky" ones for his sake and yours.

Recovery can also depend on the the amount of radiation (Gy), fractions. the areas radiated, especially key areas, I counted 18 zaps for mine, if both sides were radiated or not, and the duration of radiation each day, and in weeks. It also depends on the type of chemo, any other combinations, and if given as Chemoradiation, amount of chemo, which also goes by your height, weight, rate of infusion, and the duration, that can impact side effects, recovery, as well as comorbities before treatment, surgery, since they may be worsened, and or compound the ones acquired from treatment, as well as how well one did during treatment that may delay or lengthen recovery.