My beloved husband was diagnosed with base of tongue cancer, metastasized to lymph nodes and underwent Transoral Robotic Surgery with neck dissection at Mayo Clinic Oct 29, 09. Began Chemo/Radiation treatments 1/6/10, PEG tube 1/14/10. Dreading this painful, debilitating, barbaric treatment, but we have our eyes on the prize (goal): Forgetting what is behind and straining toward the goal, we press on to win the prize.....The treatments over, "Yeah God!!!" but the next few weeks proved to be the worst so far: pain, mouth sores, discouragement, temper flare-ups. We're making it through though, with prayer and lots of encouragement from others on this site!
9/11/11 An update: Bart is handling his "new normal" fantastically. He has this VERY positive, glass 3/4 full, where mine is 5/8 empty, attitude. It's like he's blocked out all the pain and misery he's been through, accepted the many symptoms he still has, and is thankful every day to be alive. In reality, he's got dry mouth to the point of still taking 1/2 hydrocodone a few times a day, waking up 3-4 times at night for water, and being able to eat a very healthy, but extremely limited diet with no alcohol. He's kept about 50#s off; despite the fact that he loves to cook, and always makes WAY too much food..
He had extreme problems with radiation carries and his teeth literally crumbling, but God led us to a dentist that works with bonding material at 1/4 the cost of crowns. He had every tooth in his mouth worked on for decay at the gumline as well as the biting surfaces ~ no hyperbaric chamber necessary. Only one had to be redone, and that was one of the worst that was recommended for pulling. Remarkably his gums have (don't know the word for the opposite of receeding, but that's what they've done.) He's been diligent with his brushing and applying high fluoride toothpaste after every meal.
Life is so good that we're back to sniping at each other again! (lol)