Flight...     I am in the US and this is pretty much how they played the mortgage game out here....     Tax returns last 3 years, pay stubs last 3 months, bank statements last 3 months.    They also wanted to make sure we've had money for the down payment stewing in the bank for 6 months.    The rest of the mountain of paperwork was simply details and they qualified us for a mortgage payment not to exceed 25% of our income.    Life insurance?  Not a word-more like mortgage insurance.     Your income, your credit score and your down payment is what banks are interested in out here.     Regards, Joe Trucker ... View more

Ebiker...    I'm 62 and just went thru the Rad and Chemo for Head and Neck cancer.  I've always been a type A rush rush goal oriented sort of fellow...    And 5 weeks into treatments fatigue set in to the point my 24hr routine was going from couch to kitchen, to the Loo and back to couch.    This went on til I finally delved into my blood work and found my iron level made me borderline anemic.  Yes Palliative care is not practiced, it seems, amongst my doctors and their practice.     My point is-can your severe fatigue have roots in your diet?  Please check into this as it may make a difference.     My energy started coming back a few days after I started supplements and got my daily iron intake up.    Regards, Joe AZ Trucker ... View more

Hi Bill...   Not sure why my original response never posted, but here's the gist of my suggestions.    First off, you are doing good by informing yourself about your condition...but you are using info to build a mental chamber of Horrors.  Man, you really need to work on taking it this cancer one day at a time-there'll be plenty of challenges but depression and ulcers really shouldn't be some of them.    I would reccommend you take up yoga and or Tai Chi.  Not a bad idea to get competitive and join an internet group for chess or backgammon.  Really, get your mind away from your vision of what's to come...face it if and when.    I'm almost to my fourth week after last chemo and yes still have issues.  I did not have a PEG intalled and probably wouldn't have really needed one til Week 5.  From what I've read, PEGS have their own issues and require some learning and creativity to minimize those.  It was painful to eat and yes I lost around 20 lbs-2 of those the first week after last chemo.   We all walk a different path in this journey...but self control and a can do attitude is half the battle here.    Remember-a lot of us make it to the other side a bit worse for the wear but stronger for the experience.    Regards, AZ Joe Trucker ... View more

Hi Cap...    Sorry I missed your post.   According to my journal the mouth sores were mostly gone towards the end of my second week after Radio...about a week after last Chemo.    We're all different, true but I did not have a peg so I did use and abuse my mouth.  The throat (swallowing) pain stayed with me at say a level 5 for another few days, and is now at a 2 or 3 going just over my third week after last chemo.    Regards and stay positive   Joetrucker ... View more

I experienced that same problem with chewing stuff to death.    I found that the problem (besides the inability to taste a lot of stuff and non_existent appetite) was my choice of foods.    Experiment with as large a variety of food items as you can to find the items you will be able to chew reasonably well (most of my teeth had to go...) And comfortably (least painfully) swallow.    Hope this helps. ... View more

Hi Roxy-   My saviour was a milk shakes with 6oz of milk and 3 scoops of strawberry ice creams (I guesstimated 400 cals), then picked up solid calories from over easy eggs, scrambled eggs with Mayo and cream cheese sandwiches dunked in warm chocolate milk.    I still lost 18 pounds-mostly during week 5 to 6th and a couple of pounds the first week after Radio ended.    Although I too refused to get a PEG, I now wonder if it was worth the pain.  (I didn't start taking acetaminophen til Week 5...it was the only painkiller I dared use.) ... View more

My mouth sores began to disappear towards the end of the 2nd week after mmy last radiation.  Right around this time it was possible to start eating solids without a lot of discomfort (I never had a PEG).      Now on my third week out, throat sores are gone but throat pain when swallowing still slightly there.    Interestingly, the radiation burns in my neck began getting worse on the first week after radiation and now on my third or so week out, it's finally healing...albeit slowly. ... View more

Hi BugZapper-    How are You holding up?  I'm on my third week out of last treatment and energy is finally coming back.    Experiencing problems with my salivary glands both day and night (might have something to do with the Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer) but otherwise all good.    Hope you're doing well.   Joe Aztrucker ... View more

Thanks, Captain!    Appreciate the info and, yes, I'm taking advange if the "feeling a tad better with each passing day".    Expanded my exercise routine and began to wolf down real food now that the throat thing is a mere discomfort.   I mean, who cares if the bloody sandwich tastes like mostly lard-It knows and I know it's Meat and greens in there, so down the hatch it goes...    So far besides the desert dry mouth all looks good.  Can't wait to start gaining back on that 18 lbs lost.     We'll get there.  Thanks. Regards,    Joe Aristy ... View more

Hi Debb...     I too experienced this and found hydrating as much as I was able to helped alleviate that feeling. ... View more