Surviving Stage 3 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

[Solly Mack]

8. My throat was irritated and swollen from the radiation, and I was producing excessive mucus - thick mucus.

So thick it clung inside my throat, causing my gag reflex to go into overdrive. I couldn't swallow and what I could swallow couldn't go down.

Dry mouth, dry nose, with nasty muck clogging my throat. Sounds gross because it was gross. I disgusted myself a few times.

I had to relearn to swallow, yes. Force myself to swallow.

I stayed with soft food for a long time. Little by little adding other things back. It all depended on taste too. Some foods still taste funny to me.

I don't have meals without a cup of coffee because something hot/warm helps with swallowing.

I am doing much better, thank you.

Time is both your friend and your enemy.

Patience exists to taunt.

But a sense of humor is a lifeline.