r/HeadandNeckCancer • u/annyeongdoc_ • 12d ago

External Radiation Beam Therapy - How was your personal experience?

Hii, I'd like to ask if any of you had undergone External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT) and how was your Side effects? How bad was it? Did you have some neck disfigurements or fibrosis? Were you able to continue with your daily activities (eg. school, work), and more importantly, how did you deal, manage or prevent the side effects? How's your quality of life and are there still side effects post-radiation therapy?

Diet recommendations (accessible and realistic) and product recommendations to lessen the debilitating effects are both welcome!

Both personal experience and/or professional opinions are much appreciated!

Personal info: early 20s, female, student, Papillary thyroid CA unresponsive to 2x RAI

Thank you so much!

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u/createusernameagain Valuable Grump😊 7d ago

I always have to check my calendar now, seems like a distant memory. 7 weeks last Friday.

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u/Fryman23 7d ago

Awesome! I’m at 8 weeks and feel great now. I’m hiking and trail running again. My taste ability is still wonky but I recently started being able to taste bitter again which makes coffee enjoyable. No real throat pain but my tongue sometimes gets the fuzzy feeling depending on what I’m eating…I think salty stuff might trigger it. Now I’m just trying to manage the stress of the upcoming PET scan and sacrificing goats for a NED result.

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u/createusernameagain Valuable Grump😊 7d ago

My sense of smell and taste came back pretty quickly, it wasn't fully wonked out though. Glad to hear you are getting in all the outdoor stuff before summer actually ends ☺️

Same about the PET scan I have coming up as well.

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u/Fryman23 7d ago

I wish you the best for your scan!