This week marked a significant milestone in my recovery journey. On November 18th, I made the bold decision to have my feeding tube (NG tube) removed. Leading up to this, I felt nervous and apprehensive since I had not been eating much, and my throat pain remained substantial—about a 7 out of 10 when eating. Despite these concerns, I drew strength from the support and advice of a new friend, Lyle, whom I met at the Head and Neck Cancer Support Group. Lyle, now six months ahead of me in his own recovery, encouraged me by sharing that eating became much easier once his feeding tube was removed. The tube removal itself was surprisingly quick and uneventful, taking just thirty seconds for the nurse to pull it out. The relief was immediate, and it truly felt glorious to be free of it! Another reason for my decision was the hope that removing the tube would help alleviate the sleep difficulties I had been experiencing, as I suspected the tube was contributing to my challenges with rest.

Another important event in week 4 was my check-up with my Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Banargee. I was relieved to hear that he was pleased with my progress and felt that I was “on track” again, especially after the setback I experienced during week 3 post-radiation.

Additionally, week 4 included a visit with an Energy Medicine Practitioner, recommended by my friend Cathy Wareham. I found the session very beneficial; she focused on my throat area for a considerable amount of time, and I honestly noticed an improvement in my throat pain following the consultation. I definitely plan to see her again in the future.

Week 5 Update

In week 5, I continued to make incremental progress in my eating habits. Each day, I managed to eat a little more, focusing primarily on soft foods. Although my weight has continued to decrease—both while on the feeding tube and now that I am eating on my own—I am working on increasing my caloric intake. My stomach capacity remains limited, likely due to shrinking over the past weeks, but I am determined to gradually build it back up by eating a bit more each day.

Family Support and Special Moments

Over these past two weeks, I have been fortunate to have meaningful visits from family. My sons came to see me during the weekend of November 8th, and their presence was a tremendous source of strength and joy. We enjoyed each other’s company, played Catan, and celebrated with Darcy’s version of Thanksgiving Dinner.

My sister Ann also flew in from Kauai for an eight-day visit. Her encouragement was instrumental in helping me transition off the feeding tube and increase my food intake. Together with my sister and brother, we celebrated my birthday with a wonderful dinner. On the second night, they prepared a delicious beef tenderloin—a 3-pound roast that was quite the splurge, but absolutely worth it. I could tell my body appreciated the real protein. Ann and I shared many special moments, including a memorable outing for a pedicure and my first trip to a shopping center in over five months. That bit of retail therapy was uplifting and much needed.

Reflecting on these weeks, I am deeply grateful for the unwavering love and support of my family—my sons, siblings, sister-in-law Leslie, and Darcy. This journey, though challenging, has brought us even closer together. I continue to be amazed at how this cancer journey is strengthening the bonds with those dearest to me, and I am incredibly thankful for the love and encouragement they have shown.