Day #27 27 Down and 8 To Go

Day #27 Friday January 29, 2010

Can you believe it? I only have 8 more treatments to go, WOW! I have been lucky with my treatments time being around 11am each morning, with a few exceptions. Now that I am close to the end, they are changing me next week. Monday will be at 7:40 a.m.. With the traffic situation going over to Portland, I will have to get up a little early to get there on time. Hey, with only 8 to go, I'd walk to Portland if I had to. Today was a special kind of day. I was able to bring Kari into the treatment room with me. I wanted her to see the table that I lay on for my treatment. I also wanted her to see the mask that is put on for the RT. As soon as I was locked down, she had to leave the room with the techs. The mask seemed tighter than normal but as I said before, I think it has to do with my face swelling from day to day. I was locked down and 16 minutes later, I was done with treatment #27. Just like the weekend, I have had a tough week with the saliva, man this stuff is bad. I am drinking a little water throughout the day. Now, It's not like I can drink 80 oz. but, I do get down about 16oz. by mouth. I do get plenty of water from my stomch peg after each meal and meds. My throat is still really rough and I am trying all types of things for this. I am not really talking at all which can help but also can hurt. I know I need to keep those vocal muscles moving so they don't freeze up on me. I must keep using them. I am not able to eat anything as of yet. I think the Dr.'s think I should be eating by now but, I can't. They problem is getting the food to the back of my mouth. As I have told you before, the human tongue is a remarkable thing. It moves food around you mouth getting it ready to be swallowed and puts other food on the side of your mouth because it need more chewing. Well, I have lost all of that from my tongue. Since I only have about 1/4 of my original tongue left, you can't have the other 3/4 of tongue learn something like that. I have been told that over time I will be able to eat but, I think it will be on a small scale. Now, I want to be proved wrong! I will keep trying and hopefully I will over come this cancer and beat it. Now, since yuo are probably alone reading this, let me hear you say this loud- WHO DAT!!!! Now, if someone else is in the room, they are looking at you like you are nuts. Next Sunday will be a very happy day in my life. The New Orleans Saints are playing in the Super Bowl and will WIN!!! I will have the score later in the week. I almost for got Day#27 27 Down and 8 To Go