Hey John, I am friends with Pam and she told me you were on a "board" ...figured it was this one as I have been all over this since January myself. She sent me all your suggestions. Thanks! my only problem is that I can hardly swallow my own saliva without bringing tears to my eyes.. so yes, i also thank God I put that Peg tube and wasnt my normal stubborn self... It happened so quickly! Everyone wants know the same answers about how long after treatments this hell lasts. Well I told my doctor to pretend and take a stab at it knowing me.. he said (with fair warning and assuring me this is just a guess) that it would be 3-4 months till the tube came out and all that.....
I want to make it happen sooner but we'll see. I am going to Stony Brook daily for my 34 treatments. Thats a 120 mile roundtrip from sag harbor each day. Some days i get a buddy to take me and a lot of times I go by myself. I watch out withthe percosets on driving days... As of today I am halfway through it all. Each week I have a session with Cisplatin and Taxol ... I cannot cut this cancer out. It is in a place at the base of my tongue that makes surgery out of the question. So they are zappin the h##$ out of it!
I rarely want to talk and my mouth fills with what little salive I ahve left and constantly have to use a spit cup. My tonque is and hard palette showed signs of thrush / muscositis so Dr. gave me an antibiotic which I crush and take through the tube.I feel like the end is in sight and all but man this is tough stuff huh? My hair is starting to come out in back... sort of in line with the front of my face/neck where they are concentrating the IMRT treatments. The beard is falling off too. You are further ahead of this than I am and so would like to see how you fair after you are all done... Seems like we have a same physicals/age/situation.... I am using fresh cut aloe too with all the clavicle neck burns, side of throat etc.... i get it at King Kullen or Amagansett IGa has it too. I'll check back in later John, Good luck to you and to everyone else out there in this situation...