Has it really been almost a month since surgery? Time flies, whether you're having fun or not.

During that time, things have steadily (not necessarily quickly, but steadily) improved and we have done our best to help that along. Daily walks, a trip to the beach, an art museum - healthy, stimulating activity.

We met with my ENT doctor on Friday. He is very happy with my progress. The "cavern" (his word, not mine) in my throat is filling back in well, for instance. This, by the way, is something I didn't realize was possible, but am glad to know is. They hollowed out the back of my throat like they were scooping out a honeydew melon. That flesh can indeed rebuild there makes me happy.

This explains why swallowing improves every day. I am now eating just about anything I want. I say almost because I am craving a burger from Godfather's Burger Lounge in Belmont but can't quite get my mouth open wide enough. Maybe one more week?

Being able to eat now is important, because we will begin radiation treatments in a couple of weeks. While no cancer was found outside of my tonsil and the one telltale lymph node, we can't be sure it isn't still lurking there at a molecular level, waiting to mess with me at a time it finds convenient. So, radiation it will be.

This will be less intensive than the originally planned radiation chemotherapy combo - another thing that makes me happy - but as my straight-shooting ENT put it, "It's still going to suck."

I've been told to expect the equivalent of a bad sunburn on the inside of my throat. My salivary glands will be damaged. Blisters were mentioned.

However, the effects are cumulative, not immediate. I understand that these icky side affects won't get too bad until after the second week. That means I have about a month to enjoy eating and maybe put on a few pounds before it's back to smoothies and applesauce.

Thankfully, my co-workers got me hooked up to a fantastic smoothie service that will still be available through all of this. Also, radiation treatment won't be any longer than six weeks, and likely a bit shorter than that. We meet with the radiation oncologist on November 3rd to finalize the plan. I should know all the details then.

One other positive development, at this phase of treatment I will actually be able to go back to work. I will need to schedule around daily treatments and I suspect there will be a need for some sick days as the effects accumulate, but it will be nice to be getting back into the swing of things.

In the meantime, its more healthy activity, including physical therapy for my left shoulder. A neck dissection - the procedure used to take out the lymph nodes on my left side and the reason for the glorious scar I now have - often affects the spinal accessory nerve, which is central to shoulder function. It did so in my case and, long story short, things are now a little wonky. Nothing a few months of PT can't fix.

So here we are, focused on eating well and getting good exercise, rest, sunshine and fresh air. That doesn't sound so bad. In fact, I plan on enjoying it to the fullest.