My husband with tonsilar cancer T1N3 had a neck resection in June, tonsillectomy in Aug, and October 31, completed 7 weeks of radiation and 3 doses of cisplatnim.... Overall, I can see tiny tiny steps of recovery but he is SO TIRED and still not able to tolerate eating ANYTHING (only small sips of water), is keeping his weight up through the feeding tube and jevity (never thought I would be so greatful for that tube but it has been SO helpful for him to keep up!)..... but it is so hard not to know what to expect. The 2 weeks AFTER the radiation were the hardest- most pain, most secretions, most fatigue, any emotionally, the most discouraging. People keep telling us that things will turn around, that he will be able to tolerate smoothies soon, that his energy will come back.... and I KNOW it is individual in recovery but what has been your experiences???? He was so hopeful to get that tube out as soon as he could keep up with eating and right now, that seems so far away. I figure I'll have the nieces decorate the cans of jevity for thanksgiving but now I am wondering if we'll need to order more cases and be decorating cans for Christmas too....
We seemed to rally so well DURING all the treatment time. It feels like now is really a harder time than we expected. Does anyone have any words of wisdom for how to help this recovery time? Any tricks to help his throat feel better? (besides the narcotics). The robitussun seems to have helped thin the thick secretions a bit..... but still, its hard to have all this linger. For those of you ahead of us on this roller coaster- any advise? I am feeling so tender about it and so want to make it better and maybe cant but if there's anything that can help, would love to hear about it.... thankyou thankyou thankou. Martha