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I just started radiation, what kind of side effects should I expect?

Posted by alberth @alberth, May 3 8:21pm

I had surgery on 3/20 for tonsil cancer that was HPV positive. I started radiation on 4/16. Im half way done and I have a very dry mouth and no desire to eat, even when I force myself I only eat 2-3 bites and I'm done. My throat is swollen and it feels raw.
I drink protein drinks and Gatorade or water. How long will my side effects last? When will I be able to eat real food again?
I believe I'm already healed as I'm standing on the word of God.

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alberth | @alberth | May 29 2:29pm
In reply to @mwpcaretaker "@alberth my husband went through treatment in 2012 and lost so much weight they finally put..." + (show)
Profile picture for mwpcaretaker @mwpcaretaker

@alberth my husband went through treatment in 2012 and lost so much weight they finally put a PEG tube in because he wasn't able to swallow. I half joked that he was saving us grocery money because the liquid supplement he was prescribed didn't cost much. He just had to put that stuff down the PEG tube 3X a day.
The only issue was that after the GI doc removed the PEG when treatment was finished, he had to do esophageal dilations several times so my husband could eat solid foods again. He still lost almost 100 pounds, but he gained most of it back as he healed.

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@mwpcaretaker
Thank you for that. I only lost about 25 lbs before I had a tube put in although I can still swallow. I just have no desire to eat real food because I have no taste buds and everything tastes like garbage.
I finished radiation today and I'm leaning on the Lord to give me back my desire to eat in a few weeks to a month.

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