Hi. I had chemo and radiation then a month to recover. I too was built like a female linebacker lol, and proud of it! I was active and rarely sick. Anyway, I aspirated the night of surgery and ended up in ICU for 7 weeks. Never went through post surgery pain. It was rough for me with complications which I won't go into. It's now been 2.5 years and I am cancer free and my surgeon says, with glee, that I have 10% chance of it returning. I will take those odds. I am 85 lbs and was 135 when this all started. Eating has been tough with food getting lodged in the tube that replaced my asophogus and had to have 6 scopes to widen it. All is better now but I have realized that this will be an issue for the rest of my life. Life goes on. I have issues with acid in my stomach but have learned which foods/drinks upset it. Finally getting my strength back. My advice to you is to eat small meals throughout the day and when you feel up to it get some exercise. Most of all, be positive! You'll get through it, trust me. Good luck and best wishes.