Hi @bupster Welcome to our group. There are many discussions in this group going back years where patients talk about their experience with radiation and chemo. Certainly your normal daily life comes to a halt. You will spend your days and weeks fighting the cancer because in the end, nothing else will really matter if you don’t fight this.
However, you have not had a diagnosis yet so how do you know you have cancer? Let’s take it one step at a time.

Hello @bupster and welcome to Connect. I had 7 weeks of radiation and a targeted therapy type of chemo 13 years ago for SCC originating deep in my ear by the eardrum. Since you have had scopes I will assume that your lesion is esophageal? The primary focus of the radiation will make a difference in your side effects. In my case skin redness and rash from Erbitux plus rads worsened beginning at 2 weeks through to the end. Oral ulcers on inner cheek and tongue started about a week later and worsened throughout treatment.
Before treatment starts you will be fitted for a mask which is used to fasten your head/shoulders to the table during radiation. My radiation treatment lasted about 30-40 minutes with all the angles that were used. The Erbitux was given by infusion once weekly and the radiation 5 days a week. Nausea drugs, steroids, and Benadryl were all included with the infusion, plus additional nausea oral meds. It isn't a fun experience. Eating and drinking is painful, food doesn't taste right so nutritional intake suffers. This is why so many people will have a feeding tube to continue nutrition during treatment. I assume symptoms of swallowing pain and difficulty are big issues with esophageal cancer radiation therapy and feeding tubes are a must. I needed Iv fluids 2-3 times a week by the last weeks of treatment. Perhaps if I had had a feeding tube I would have stayed better hydrated. Things like Magic Mouthwash and oral Lidocaine gel made it possible to eat and drink with less pain but it is just a rotten experience. You too will get through this treatment as so many others have. Utilize your medical team to provide whatever is needed for comfort. Be the squeaky wheel during this time as they are there to help you survive this. Be very strong. There is an end to it and the new normal includes continuing to live your life.
Search through the various discussions on radiation and side effects here on Connect and you will find many opinions and experiences and suggestions for surviving this treatment.