I hope this post will give some comfort to those beginning therapy. As you will read, everyone does respond differently to treatment. Before my husband started therapy I had read how bad he "should" be feeling around the 3rd week of therapy...sore mouth, gums, sore throat, thick saliva, etc.
Today he finished his 20th rad therapy and he has also completed 4 rounds of chemo. No chemo side effects at all.
Amazingly, so far, it's just a dry mouth and loss of taste, which was expected. He is still eating soft foods by mouth and supplemently with liquid nutrition through the PEG. I guess the biggest thing right now is that he is sleeping more, but he still drives himself to therapy, and stops by and has lunch with me where at work.
I know at some point things will start getting worse, but it's been a real blessing to get this far without any "bumps" in the road.

Vicki

Vicki,

Here's hoping he continues the smooth sailing!!

Sounds good so far. With any luck, things will remain manageable - I was in about the same state as you describe, and managed reasonably well throughout.

I never got a PEG. Is there some reason not to take all nutrition orally if it's not a problem to do so?

Best wishes,

Chris

Chris,

At first my husband was drinking the Jevity, but he was never a big water or liquid drinker, so when it came to having to have 3-4 cans a day of it, he decided to use the PEG. He then flushes it with water, so at least I know he's getting hydrated.
Want to hear something funny? The company that supplies the Jevity had called a few days after they made their first delivery to see how he was doing with it. I told them he was drinking it and they kind of got bent out of shape and said that the insurance wouldn't pay for it unless he was putting it through the PEG. The can says you can use it orally or through a feeding tube, so I don't know what the big deal is.

That is great you got through it all without a PEG. I think my husband could so far, too, but he probably would have lost weight. It's just a great convenience if the patient isn't in the mood to eat or loses the desire because the taste buds are gone.

Thanks to both David and Chris for their well wishes.
Vicki

Congradulations on making the 20 without much problems. I continue to pray all goes well with his treatments. Marvin is getting the peg feedings down pretty good now. He says all he does is sleep, wake for water, sleep, wake for his can feedings. We are starting 5th week today.

I hope I have the same run of good luck with my radiation treatments. May his treatment continue with as little trouble as you have now.