Hi Ron in LA,

Forgive this informal approach. I have been most interested in your posts over the months as your illness, its commencement time and type, appear similar to mine. I do believe though that I am much older than you (me 73 years). However, if I remember correctly you, like me, received radiotherapy only.

If the above be so, it is natural for me to judge my recovery progress with someone of similar experience. Anyway, that is what I have been doing.

It is now some 18+ months since cessation of my radiotherapy and, to the best of my judgement, most of my effects due to treatment have faded excepting the following: dry mouth (not always, but often); limited taste buds (some sweet and sour taste but mostly food 'tastes' bland. Adding Marmite or other tart substances to sandwiches helps. Of course, liberal amounts of liquid helps the swallowing process.

Energy level. I am somewhat below my previous energy level but it is difficult to tell whether this is the result of my illness or the fact that I have aged two years since diagnosis.

I sometimes hesitate to report my good recovery progress especially when others are reporting so much suffering, however, I now do so in the hope that good news will be encouraging to others. I wonder how you and others feel about this.

Regards,

You are doing very well, especially considering your age. I am "only" 49, and have pretty much the same status as you, 21 months after treatments. You're right that I had radiation only, affecting my mouth and neck.

You might be eating better than I do. I very rarely eat any kind of sandwich because opening my mouth that wide, and chewing and swallowing bread is too problematic. I mostly live on milk shakes and pasta dishes, with some soft meats and daily vitamins.

I feel like my energy level is back to 100%. There are also patches on my face and just above the back of my neck where the hair still does not grow back (but who cares?).

Ron,

I guess I must consider myself fortunate. Clearly our recoveries have gone well. Long may it continue.

Regards