That sounds like a really tough experience, especially having to deal with severe burns without effective relief. It’s frustrating when a trial doesn’t work out as hoped, but your insight could really help others going through similar treatments.   Moo Goo sounds like a fantastic alternative natural ingredients and real relief are exactly what people need when dealing with radiation burns and dermatitis. It’s great to hear that a senior nurse recommended it too, which adds to its credibility. Sometimes, off-the-shelf options can be just as good, if not better, than specialized clinical products.   For anyone looking for gentle and effective skincare, whether for healing or everyday use, exploring skin perfection products  with natural ingredients like Moo Goo could be worth considering. Thanks for sharing your experience it’s valuable info for anyone going through a similar situation! ... View more

Hi @CaptainAustrali    If you could please go back and edit in "inspiring and truly courageous" that would be much appreciated (and very appropriate).    In my book, "inspiring and truly courageous" is exactly the same thing as "some big crazy arsed walk". Wear it with pride mate.   I reckon the question you throw out to the universe is a bit more complex than the obvious, almost cliche assumptions that cancer makes you stronger, wiser (or breaks you).   Absolutely. The range of how to effects and changes someone is almost as large as the range of cancers. There is absolutely no single response. I'm genuinely interested to how people have dealt with it and the range of responses.   -s       ... View more

Hello, thank you for the reply. It came as such a surprise because my post was a year ago and my situation has changed so much since then. I am very happy to tell you that I subsequently healed completely, can eat and drink anything now. My tastebuds are probably 90% and I enjoy spicy food more than ever.  My salivary functions are not fabulous, but I don't have to carry a water bottle with me literally everywhere anymore.  I returned to working full time in a very busy job that I love and in fact was promoted to a higher role only 5 months later. I have no signs of cancer (I alternate between ENT and Oncologist every 8 weeks). I am a very lucky woman and never forget it.  Have a great day. Angela   ... View more

So good to hear that you are getting hair growth back, I really hope that you are feeling happier and that your hair grows back beautifully. I have also found that not washing my hair too often helps the natural oils to condition the hair and scalp better than frequently washing and conditioning. It takes about a few weeks of doing this to attain shiny silky locks and a healthier scalp. Initially it feels a bit grotty but the end result is worth it. ... View more

Hello, I also did 7 weeks radiation plus 3 chemo sessions (throat cancer). I am now 6 weeks post treatment and eating all my meals. However although my tastebuds are slowly coming back but it is definitely a work in progress.     I have only recently been able to eat red meat (I had a very tender steak last night and it was quite good). But I still cannot eat anything that is acidic at all (still have some ulceration in my mouth). Also cannot eat anything that is dry or very sweet (no biscuits or chocolate for me).     My current diet consists of milk, grilled fish, steamed veggies, brown rice, eggs, pasta, cheese and a LOT of oats.  I just keep trying different things and today I had english muffins with butter for lunch. I am drinking water and weak hot chocolate (coffee and tea still taste awful).   It's a slow journey but I am getting better every day. Hope you continue to progress too. Angela      ... View more

Thanks very much for your reply.   I am in fact going to follow your advice (and Nike)  - and just do it.  I find that I am more tired on days that I am less active (mentally or physically). Whereas when I make the effort to start doing things early in the day, I can achieve quite a lot and have more energy than if I just lay about reading or watching tv.   Cheers Angela                       ... View more

Hi Shaun, your reply is extremely interesting and a timely reminder to me that there are many people who are far worse off than me. I thank you very much for sharing such personal details.  I can see why you needed long time off work to manage your health.   I am somewhat paranoid that I am not "sick enough" from the treatment and that maybe that means they didn't do the radiation correctly. I will confess that fear to doctor at next appointment.   I am most certainly a glass half full person, always have been.  My husband is a bit of a pessimist but not to the point of being a drag. My health (aside from cancer) was very good. Physically fit, regular walker and runner, ate very healthy foods, maintained healthy weight, no smoking, social wine drinker but only on weekends and not a big consumption.  On the negative, I definitely worked too many hours under significant stress.  Running was my form of meditation and stress release. I was very self sufficient and self motivated.   My job relies on my brain and communication. It is a high stress position but generally I cope very well with that and find my work to be very satisfying. It's all sedentary, office work and the most physically draining part of going back to work will be the effort required having to get dressed, put on makeup and catch bus to city.   I didn't even know Alopecia was possible side effect.  My hair is much thinner and I have lost it along the base of hairline, but I just need a good short hair cut and will be ok.   I have muffled hearing but hoping that will fully pass or I guess I will have to learn to live with it. I have the constant phlegm in throat and the unsuccessful clearing of it. I have a lot of mouth ulceration that seems to be taking a long time to heal (and this is preventing me from being able to try more foods to swallow as only very bland food like oats can be tolerated currently) I have bad taste in mouth constantly (all that phlegm doesn't help) I eat oats very slowly each morning and yesterday managed to eat some 2 minute noodles at lunch time. I am going to try creamed rice next (home made). All other meals are supplements via the PEG. Radiation burns to neck are healing nicely (lot of red skin still but the broken skin has healed) Teeth are fine. I have nausea to the point of vomiting at night (weirdly always around the 7.30pm mark). The only remedy I can find it to ensure that all peg feeds are completed no later than 4pm each day. That way there is nothing to actually vomit up at 7.30pm. Dry heaves is all I could manage last night. Weight appears to be stabilising at 54kg. I started treatment at 57.5kg so this isn't too bad (I am a fairly small person and quite short at 161 cm), but I can't afford to lose any more. I am physically tired but not exhausted and I reckon I am getting slightly better each day. Mentally ok - but extremely bored with tv and my own company (the COVID restrictions have made this much worse because I have not been anywhere except hospital appointments for 9 weeks now. )   ... View more

Hi Paula, I read your post with great interest. I have just completed 5 weeks of chemo radiation (throat and neck) and have two more weeks to go. My taste has already gone (left at week 3).   You are further along that me, and I am wondering if you can tell me have regained any taste as yet?   thank you for any information you can share. Angela ... View more

I would. While when it begins and how long it lasts may vary, some degree of fatigue seems to be a universal experience for both chemotherapy and radiotherapy patients, not just during treatment but also during the immediate post-treatment period.   I'm currently undergoing chemotherapy for a different type of cancer and have been told to expect the fatigue to set in from about half way through my course of treatment.  I've been planning for that eventuality since before I had my first cycle.  Although fatigue hasn't yet set in for me, I am beginning to find some of my usual walks a little more taxing and I imagine something similar may happen with climbing stairs. There's a lot about our experience of cancer which we can't make any easier for ourselves.  I'm highly in favour of making everything else easier whenever and in any way that we can, so I would move downstairs. ... View more