Hi,

Week 4 was actually better that week 3--here's a short and sweet synopsis:

--Short week (3) Tx due to Christmas.

--Got a fentanyl patch on Wednesday...this is an absolute godsend to address constant pain from the Grade 3 mucositis.

--Now have thrush--received a liquid antibiotic to address.

--It seems my taste is better than it was a few weeks ago, and my tongue is no longer gray colored. However, the taste buds are still way off.

--I am able to eat with the help of lidocane prior to the meal--usually soups with bread softened in the broth.

--Neck is starting to get red.

--Hair on the nape of my neck (right side) is gone. Looks goofy from the back like a very bad haircut.

--Doctor cut out my Monday treatment to give the mucositis time to clear--so another (4) days w/o tx.

--I bought some otc rinse called Prevention--it seems to work pretty good.

12 more treatments to go.

Best Regards,

Oscar

Oscar,
It sounds like you are right on track and doing well. Try the Biotene products also, they worked great for me.
Minnie

Hi Oscar,

Well,12 down,18 to go here. It's getting a little difficult to swallow, but I'm managing so far. Still doing just liquids. I can taste only a few things slightly, very frustrating to watch the rest of the family eat, especially this time of year. The thrush I had last week is now gone, but I have an ulcer on the left side of my tongue which is troubling me. First because it's painful and second because this is how my symptoms began before I was diagnosed. I'm going to have the Dr. look at it Monday. I want him to look at it and tell me it's just from the radiation and not something my imagination is dreaming up. So far, the pain is manageable with percocet. My neck is starting to get red too. Putting on lots of aquaphor. The percocet makes me pretty tired, but nothing else to report.