Time for my first post-radiation CT scan of my head and neck. Compared to being strapped down for the radiation treatments, this was a breeze today.

The time in the scan room was only about 15 minutes. But first they needed to draw some blood to check for something, not sure what. That consumed another 20 minutes or so. Then there was the “too-often typical” 2 hours sitting in the waiting room 🙂

No results today – will need to wait to hear from one of my doctors.

It has been four weeks since I’ve seen Dr. Barbara, my oncologist. As my recovery continues to progress smoothly, the appointments will be scheduled further apart.

Swallowing is more difficult in the mornings and seem to accompany the dry mouth I’m also experiencing when I first wake up. The radiation treatments have damaged some of my saliva glands so I’m not getting adequate saliva production. The doctor recommended several things – use a humidifier while I sleep; make sure I’m doing the exercises for my mouth, throat and neck; and drink lots of water.

Also on today’s agenda – dental care! Because of the reduced saliva in my mouth, I need to brush my teeth 2-3 times during the day plus brush with prescription fluoride toothpaste before bed. Also, time for another visit to the dentist, which are now needed every six months.

Overall, the doctor is very pleased with the progress of my recovery.

Today my feeding tube was removed. Removed sounds painless, but that does not describe what happened.

I’m not sure if I explained how the feeding tube was placed in my stomach. So let me explain. First, they put me under anesthesia. Then they put a scope down my throat to my stomach. After finding a suitable location, they punched a hole through my stomach and through my skin a few inches above my belly button. Then a “string” was used to pull the feeding tube down my throat to my stomach and out through the hole in my skin.

At the end of the feeding tube in my stomach is a small, mushroom-shaped inflated “balloon” that kept the tube inside my stomach. For nearly two months, that “balloon” did it’s job of keeping one end of the feeding tube inside my stomach.

So how do you remove this type of feeding tube? Actually, it’s pretty straight forward – you just pull it out!

Yep, that’s what they did. A little numbing fluid on the skin, and then pull it out!

The mushroom-shaped “balloon” collapses under the pressure of being extracted.

The doctor warned me that it would hurt for a few seconds. She was partially correct – it did hurt. But it hurt for more that a few seconds. Since the doctor required two “yanks” before the tube escaped my stomach, I’m sure that explains why the pain lasted several minutes.

So what did they do to the hole in my stomach? Nothing. What about the hole in my skin? Taped some gauze over the hole – no stitches required!

In a few days, the hole will heal and there will only be a small scar to remind me of my feeding tube experience.

The feeding tube was very important to my recovery process and I’m grateful, but I’m glad that it’s gone!

Today I received more good news. I had an appointment today with Dr. Jim, who had originally discovered the tumor at the base of my tongue and diagnosed my cancer. He placed a scope through my nose so he could get a good view of the base of my tongue. He could find no tumor where there was a tumor 6 months ago.

Good news – no more tumor!

This is not definitive proof that the cancer is gone, but it’s a great start! In November I will have a CT Scan that will provide a better reading on the status of the cancer cells.

I am grateful for the good news today!

Thanks, Dick

I have been eating much better lately! This is because the sores on my tongue have finally healed, and the other sores in my mouth are not as painful. Swallowing is a bit painful at times, but not nearly has painful as it had been. This has allowed me to eat “regular” food like the rest of the people in our family.

Today, I had an appointment with Dr. Barbara, my oncologist. She is very pleased with way the sores in my mouth are healing. I told her that I’ve been cutting back on the time I’ve been using the feeding tube from 11 hours to 8 hours to just over 5 hours. I told her that I’d like to stop using the feeding tube all together, and she agreed. The only caveat is that I need to maintain my weight for the next two weeks. Okay, I can live with that.

So I’m off the feeding tube as of today! Yeah 😉

Thanks, Dick