This update will be a little shorter than my last journey through my emotions and get straight to the point on the details of what has been happening in my life. Recovering from radiation treatment has worn me out and my creative juices need some time to regenerate.

Wednesday marked the end of my three-week radiation treatment on my sinus tumor at UNC. After getting removed from the trial, it was determined the best course of action was to get the sinus tumor to shrink some prior to heading to chemo to alleviate the pressure in my head, pull the tumor away from some crucial nerves, and help reduce the double vision. We have achieved that goal, and I have been told it will continue shrink the next couple months as the residual radiation continues to destroy the tumor’s DNA. I guess you could say this was our first win in the cancer fight! But as you all know, sometimes you have to make sacrifices to get the win.

Due to the location of my tumor in my sinus cavity, and its very close proximity to so many important things in my skull (such as my brain and eyes), the radiation treatment plan had to be drawn very carefully. The highest dose would go directly to the center of the tumor, and the areas closer to the important organs/nerves would get lower doses as to not cause any permanent damage. While the radiation machine being used to give my treatment is extremely accurate in administering the doses, there are still radiation beams traveling through my face hitting stuff that doesn’t necessarily want to be hit by radiation, mainly the sensitive skin inside my mouth.

I lost my sense of taste about week into treatment. Dry skin around the bridge of my nose, inside my nostrils, and around my eyes were the next thing I noticed a couple of days later. Last week was the real kicker: radiation sores. The first one showed up on the right side of my tongue. Within a day it had grown from the tip of my tongue all the way to the back of my throat. Then came an inch long sore on my bottom lip. Then both cheeks, and the roof of my mouth, and then the muscles at the very back of your mouth behind your molars that controls the opening and closing of your mouth. By Friday of last week I was on a strictly liquid diet.

I have been at home in Wilmington since last Monday. We drove up and back to UNC Monday-Wednesday for my last three treatments. It is nice to be home with Ann and the boys and be able to sleep in my own bed. I spend a lot of time watching cooking shows because all I want to do is get my sense of taste back and eat real food, and these shows motivate me to keep chugging the ensures and know at some point the sores will go away.

The next phase of treatment is chemotherapy. I will begin chemo on 4/14 at UNC. Hopefully infusions will be day trips up and back, and I will have the ability to recover in the luxury of my own home. I will be doing two to three chemo cycles before I am scanned again to measure my disease progression.

I want to thank everyone for the massive support I have received; from rocking stickers, to buying shirts, to messages, to food delivery, to telephone calls, etc… It means the world to my family and I to know we have your support. To all of the people who called, I’m sorry I didn’t pick up and haven’t called back. Talking with radiation sores is near impossible. I’ll get back up with you at some point.

For now, keep fighting, keep digging deep, and for the love of God please social distance and don’t be an ignorant ass. Stay home!

*Picture is of my radiation mask. It is a custom mold that latches my head to the radiation machine table and shows the technicians where to line up the radiation "laser" so I can get accurate dosages each treatment.*