Well folks, two weeks and two days after last Chemo.    That first week the Radio burns made a mean statement about my still having to avoid the Arizona Summer Sun.  Neck still smarting and very slow in healing.  As a footnote, the Urbitux face rash has been trying to make a comeback but nowhere near the pustulent mess it was.     I'm guilty of stopping the antibiotics the minute they ran out three days before the last Chemo.    The throat pain actually seem to get worse that eighth week, but just having finished the 9th week (2 weeks after last chemo) its becoming a nuisance rather than a pain in the...uh, throat.     Appetite-it is still an inconvenience to eat since I still can't taste much.  It is nice to be able to swallow without having to fight tears.    Libido is also making a comeback. The only bad news I have, and I trully hope is my imagination, the Old Mass seems to be regrowing.  I'll be visiting the doctor on the 17th and will request a scan.  Hopefully its just swelling and tissue settling around.    I'll keep y'all posted.... ... View more

Well, I guess this Cancer thing is for keeps.  Better develop another game plan for my recovery schedule.    I guess having managed with just 2-500mg acetaminophen a day would mean I really have had it easy pain wise.  Sure, I've always had a pretty decent pain tolerance threshold...but I think I've had it easy.    It seems to me the pain in the throat is actually getting worse-and I've backed up from all hard foods.  No serious "Mukossa" issues or Road Kill Syndrome...but you're making it sound like zi should be adding "Yet!" To that.    Grrr. Thanks for the tip, Captain.  Maybe I better forget the Road and start thinking about starting that Plant Nursery business that'll fit just perfect in my backyard.    Regards,    Commader Oblvious ... View more

Thank you, Captain.    Truly this is one medical trial I simply cannot blissfully ignore as I was likely to do most of my life (my life Nickname is "Commander Oblivious".  I will be seeing my Oncologist Head Quack today and will discuss as per your advice.    Certainly the way my throat still feels like chopped meat almost 2 weeks after last Rad makes me leery about collateral damage.  By the way, would you remember how long it took for your throat to feel humanly pain free?     Regards,         Joe ... View more

Hi Folks... Day 6 after last Chemo the throat is definately improved that I can handle both warm coffee (to dunk my cream cheese and bagel) and cold drinks (as in my 310+ calories shakes).    The "cone" of pain seems narrower and located higher towards the nasal passages rather than the esophagus. Just plum easier to swallow, but I don't think I'm ready to get too creative with hard food again. I still lost another pound this week since my appetite and gag reflex decided to team up against me, but I think that my ability to hydrate effectively will get me back on track. Although I feel weak and fatigued...I no longer feel "unwell". I truly believe today is a turning point. Honestly, this week, the last Chemo Week, feels its been rougher than all previous ones. Could well be the cumulative effect of weeks of treatments.   Looks like a light at the end of the Tunnel.  Hang in there and work through the pain.     This will pass.     ... View more

It occurs to me that I've never disclosed my age.  Give you a couple of hints from my teenage music... "In Burmingham they loved the Governor...(boo boo, Boo goes the choir...)  And (ok this is a bit unfair) the quote is me, not the lyrics) "For us Head and Neck Cancer enthusiasts who saw the 70s as Teenagers, we call that nasty Saliva problem "Soul Mukossa".    I'm 62 and Captain you might be right I may have overextended my stay...but I've always believed I'd be late for my own funeral.    This trip has been rough and is not over yet...but I'm already glad to be able to support others.   ... View more

Hear Ye!  Hear Ye! Glad to hear you're hanging in there.  I found that the herb Cilantro (its a Latin thing-wonder if you can get it down under...) Spices up lots of the old bland stand bys without salting.    Uh yeah I'll make sure I hit Napa Valley in California once i keep On Trucking!   Regards-  joe ... View more

I have to agree as to the advantages of a feed tube.    I chose not to have one (ok, I refused to have one installed) and I can tell you that right around week six my caloric intake fell under 900 calories a day.      For almost a week.  I dropped 12 lbs and got severely dehydrated.     WAAY a painful to go. I would take foolish pride in my being obstinate had I not kept a log of the times whatever scant food I managed to get past my throat was libricated by tears.   I soon discovered that a milk shake 6oz of milk and three scoops strawberry ice cream (320-350 calories) was doable 4 times a day with a side of two eggs.     I'm now one week past my last Radiation...started playing with solids on the 7th week, damn the tears, but it still a battle to eat.     As a postscript-Mucositis did not seem to become a real issue.  Losing my ability to taste (my favorite cream cheese tastes like lard!) Really killed my appetite. ... View more

Hey Bugzapper, how are you faring?    Today is a week out from my last RadioZap (3 days out from last Chemo).    No real changes energywise and throat still delicate...mouth, for some reason (yah like eating Tortilla chips) once again sore.    Got a nice bottle of California Cavernet Sauvignon to celebrate but mouth & throat refused to join in...    Hope all's well. We'll get through this. ... View more

So Radiation is a week past as of today and Chemo is four days out.    Perhaps I was a bit unrealistic thinking that it would all start getting better.    Well...not quite.  The usual side effects-shredded throat, sore mouth, lack of appetite and overall fatigue (most infuriating of all!) Actually seem to have gotten worse (yes, probably a function of being impatient?).    I honestly believe that the throat shredding had a lot to do with experimenting with harder foodstuff once I was "Free of Radio-Knifing".    I lost two more pounds last week, for a total of 14 for the duration of the treatment.   Lost an awful lot of muscle and tone...but still, not as bad as I feared the experience would be.     My nasal passages still bleed and the nose gets rather scabby, and the Urbitox Rash still decorates my face and neck...but thanfully there's no itching or severe scaling.    I am hoping to see improvenent once the Chemo is out of my system in another week or so.  Mostly, I am hoping enough energy returns to I can once again travel the highways doing what I love most-Truck driving.     Hang in there-this too shall pass!     ... View more

Rang the Bell.     Last day of Radio and I'm looking forwards to regaining use of my throat...or at least being pain free.    Like the Grateful Dead should have sung, "what a long, Painful Trip its been" (ok, ok they should have sung that...).    I am proud, and thankful, of having made it through without sticking a feed tube...but I'm sure it would have made the whole experience less painful.    One more chemo on Monday and then, hopefully,  this chapter will be closed.     Hell of a way to quit smoking!  And just think-all that money I'll be saving for the next few years will go to paying bills for Cancer Treatment.  Geez.😉   Find strength at the lowest times because this too shall pass. ... View more