My Cancer Journey: A Multipart Series ->Part One

What I'm dealing with now after laryngeal & oropharyngeal cancers, the treatments--surgeries, chemo, & radiation therapy. These are the major aftereffects:

• First Bite Syndrome

• Esophageal Stricture (was 0.5cm->now 1.9cm)

• Facial Alopecia

• Aphasia

• Vertigo/Lightheadedness

• Chemo brain

• Mandible Osteoradionecrosis

• Radiation Fibrosis

• Dysgeusia

• Facial Lymphedema

• Dysphagia

• Acute insomnia

(Photo is me during chemotherapy)

Links for definitions of above conditions

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24603-first-bite-syndrome

2. https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/gastro/esophageal-health/diseases-we-treat/esophageal-stricture

3. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/hair-loss

4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aphasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369518

5. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/vertigo#:~:text=Definition,world%20is%20spinning%20around%20them.

6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chemo-brain/symptoms-causes/syc-20351060#:~:text=Chemo%20brain%20is%20a%20common,cognitive%20impairment%20or%20cognitive%20dysfunction.

7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430917/#:~:text=Osteoradionecrosis%20%28ORN%29%20of%20the%20mandible,least%20three%20to%20six%20months.

8. https://www.ahns.info/radiation-fibrosis/#:~:text=Radiation%20Fibrosis%20Syndrome%20%28RFS%29%20refers,muscles%2C%20nerves%20and%20blood%20vessels.

9. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22047-dysgeusia#:~:text=Dysgeusia%20is%20a%20taste%20disorder,the%20underlying%20cause%20of%20dysgeusia.

10. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/patients/lymphedema.htm#:~:text=What%20Is%20Lymphedema%3F,other%20parts%20of%20the%20body.

11. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/eating-problems/swallowing-problems.html

12. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/sleep-problems/what-are-sleep-problems.html