Update:
Not a great week. This past Monday I had my ~2 week swallow test, after which this $#@! Feeding tube was to be removed. Unfortunately the test showed a leak in a reconstructed area, so not only do I get to keep the tube for another 2.5 weeks, I get to wear something called a “jaw bra”. Something like this:
https://images.app.goo.gl/ghFZLSMQcc6CKxdA8
Wednesday we met with the radiation oncologist. Earlier he had indicated that this “adjuvant” therapy wouldn’t be too debilitating, but this time it seemed like he was prepping me for a tough treatment. 5 days per week from mid-November through year end, lots of bad side effects looming which are hopefully mostly temporary.
As a bonus, I still don’t have that prosthetic device to help me speak again (TEP). Because of the healing delay and need to start radiation (already delayed), they seem to be slow-playing me into the likelihood that it won’t even be installed until after radiation. So I’ve increased my practice of alternate communication using lip speaking and the electrolarynx (robot thing on your throat, or in my case through a tube in my mouth because my neck is still swollen).
It’s not all bad; I do feel better every day, and I remind myself that they got all of the cancer, so I just need to get through the next two months and come out of it as strong as possible.