Yesterday I had my six month check-up and am very happy to report that all was well. The scans are clear and my mouth looked good. At least to Dr. Beadle, it did. My remaining side effects are a very dry mouth, loss of taste; I think I have 40% and lymphademia in my neck. The latter is much improved as I have been doing massages and applying tape. Actually, Nurse R has been applying the tape and it is one of her new favorite activities. The tape is applied near the armpits and has four tentacles on each side which curve up toward the neck. This is done to retrain the lymph nodes to drain. It seems to be working as much of the swelling in my neck has gone down. My weight has stabalized around 171 pounds and I now eat to live; a far cry from my previous living to eat.
I meet with Dr. Weber next week as he was out of town this week and will get the word from him. I may also make an appointment for accupuncture as I was told that is has been effective in stimulating the salivary glands. We'll see. In the mean time I am a very happy camper.
I don't know how much longer I will keep this blog up as it seems that the only time I add to it is after my quarterly checkups. I do want to thank you for your many emails and support during my treatment. Your outpouring of love and support meant a great deal to me and was so very much appreciated. It was one of the contributing factors that helped me get through it all.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Three Month Update
Monday:
It's hard to believe but it has been three months since my last checkup with Dr. Weber and Dr.Beadle. I have been doing well. My tongue is almost completely healed and the only side effects that I continue to have are as follows. I have a dry mouth which usually manifests itself at night and causes me to drink water throughout the night. This of course, causes me to make trips to the bathroom, so, it's a vicious cycle. The other side effect include loss of taste. My taste buds are maybe 40% back but there is a lot I still can't taste. This is the good and the bad news. This means I am rarely hungry and food which once was a highpoint in my day, has been relegated to the back burner. My weight has leveled off at 170-173 and that is good. The other side effect is Lymphedema which is a swelling of the neck and is a side effect from the Radiation. There are exercises and massages that I can do to alleviate the problem and I will find out about them tomorrow. In the mean time I can't button my shirt collars which is only a problem if I have to wear a tie.More tomorrow.
Tuesday:
Today we met with my doctors. The short and sweet news is that the scans were all clear, there is no sign of any cancer and I will be seen again in three months for my six months check-up. That's the best news possible.
I also met with Lymphedema specialist and he gave me a series of massage exercises to do each day for the next two months. He feels this will greatly reduce the swelling and redirect my body to deal with the fluid build up in other ways. The lymphatic system became damaged due to the Radiation and as a result fluid built up. Apparently this is fairly common. I'll let you know how I fare with the exercises. I feel like celebrating. Maybe I'll try my new "dry mouth" rinse.
It's hard to believe but it has been three months since my last checkup with Dr. Weber and Dr.Beadle. I have been doing well. My tongue is almost completely healed and the only side effects that I continue to have are as follows. I have a dry mouth which usually manifests itself at night and causes me to drink water throughout the night. This of course, causes me to make trips to the bathroom, so, it's a vicious cycle. The other side effect include loss of taste. My taste buds are maybe 40% back but there is a lot I still can't taste. This is the good and the bad news. This means I am rarely hungry and food which once was a highpoint in my day, has been relegated to the back burner. My weight has leveled off at 170-173 and that is good. The other side effect is Lymphedema which is a swelling of the neck and is a side effect from the Radiation. There are exercises and massages that I can do to alleviate the problem and I will find out about them tomorrow. In the mean time I can't button my shirt collars which is only a problem if I have to wear a tie.More tomorrow.
Tuesday:
Today we met with my doctors. The short and sweet news is that the scans were all clear, there is no sign of any cancer and I will be seen again in three months for my six months check-up. That's the best news possible.
I also met with Lymphedema specialist and he gave me a series of massage exercises to do each day for the next two months. He feels this will greatly reduce the swelling and redirect my body to deal with the fluid build up in other ways. The lymphatic system became damaged due to the Radiation and as a result fluid built up. Apparently this is fairly common. I'll let you know how I fare with the exercises. I feel like celebrating. Maybe I'll try my new "dry mouth" rinse.
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