This week marked the end of my radiation treatments and our return home to Cold Lake! Looking forward to some healing over the next weeks. My side effects have been:
1) Back of throat is swollen and hurts a little bit when swallowing. Swallowing specialist is pleased with what I can eat although I do typically need lots of water and take my time (long time to eat!).
2) Taste changes. Most things just taste "off" and although things still smell good they just don't taste good. Some bland things like eggs, oatmeal, apple sauce taste okay!
3) Skin on my neck is quite red and irritated but fortunately I don't see any blistering but they did say it may get a bit worse before it gets better. Using a recommended cream and it works well!
4) Still some fatigue and weight loss (around 25 lbs since before my surgery at beginning of July).
5) Some pain and limited mobility of my right arm from my SAN (Spinal Accessory Nerve) as it was in the area of surgery and radiation and has been "aggravated" but some physio and stretching exercises are helping and should improve over the longer term.
That's pretty much it for the bad but on the positive side, I'm thankful for all the great care and attention the different medical experts have been able to help me. Saw alot of different people at the clinic who seemed to have greater challenges yet had inner fortitude and frequently a smile or acknowledgement that there was common bond.
Have follow up appointments in Nov with surgeon, radiation oncologist, physiotherapist.
Here is quick but quite an impactful read that although dramatic is very real and hard hitting:
Thanks for reading all!!