burtgoldin's Journey with Head & Neck/Throat Cancer

Having cancer has changed every aspect of my life. There were so many things that I did without ever giving a thought to them that now must be carefully weighed out and planned. There is no comparison between my life pre and post cancer and Im not the same person I was before.

Radiation is the worst kind of torture I can Imagine. I was radiated from my sinus to my collarbone 5 days a week for 6 week, a total of 29 treatments. At one point all the skin peeled off my neck in sheets and my wife had to rub silvadene cream into the wound to help the blood coagulate and so I wouldn't ooze blood everywhere I went. A mesh mask was made for me so that my head would be in the same position for each treatment. There were 4 holes for bolt saround the edge of the mask and my head was bolted to the table for each treatment. Above me there was a fluorescent light fixture with a beach scene as it's cover. After 2 weeks I asked for it to be turned off so I could have the treatment in relative darkness and the techs allowed my request. Radiation was a horrible experience. 6 years later the back of my throat is still red as a result, I've lost all but 5 of my teeth due to chronic dry mouth and I still experience pain that keeps me from eating normally. But I'm still standing

July 3 2006 was the last day I took chemo and radiation treatment. I celebrate it as my personal independence day. On the occasion of the first anniversary I went back and visited all the doctors and techs involved which was an overwhelming emotional experience. When I got to the nuclear oncologist's office I cried like a baby as I embraced each of the people involved in my treatment. Reflecting on the experience I realized that the reason that I cried was because i could go o the doctor's office and leave and he could no longer cause me any pain