Basic info about the situation

I heard that we need to provide some basic information for those not already in the know. Some of this was published earlier but other bits might not have been mentioned.

• This cancer is considered to be VERY TREATABLE. After treatment most folks will never see a recurrence
• The PET scan revealed that the cancer is only in the area of Jim's tonsil. It had not spread to the lymph nodes.
• The treatment does not involve surgery. (He had 2 surgeries but they were the biopsy and to place the feeding tube.)
• The treatment consists of 7 weeks of radiation and chemotherapy. Radiation 5 days/week, chemo once a week.
• The radiation does most of the work. Chemo is just there to make it more efficient.
• Jim is not expected to lose his hair though it will probably thin some. (I suspect he's a bit disappointed in this one; he wouldn't mind being bald. And I'm sure he'd love for me to knit him some special hats.)
• The treatment is brutal. The nurse in the radiation department told me the other day that this is one of their most painful programs.
• After treatment is over Jim will still have a number of months of recovery.
  

And ... Jim can expect within a year he'll be back to doing all his usual activities.

Happy Friday!