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Updates (contd): 

    7th August 2005: After several attempts I managed to get back into paid employment at the beginning of January. The job involves looking after the IT equipment at a local school, which means a short working day and generous vacation time. Being back at work has been a great boost to my morale and I'm really glad I made the effort.
  My last three clinical reviews were again satisfactory and, apart from a nasty episode of influenza which developed into pneumonia in February, my general health is good. My sense of taste has improved considerably but, bizarrely, my sense of smell has become erratic after the influenza episode.   Unfortunately my appetite has not staged the recovery I had hoped for and I still never feel hungry, so I guess by now I never will. The only incentive I have to eat is that it is both a comforting and sociable experience. Saliva production has also improved marginally but still restricts what I can comfortably eat. Apart from those minor problems, I feel absolutely fine and well.

   20th October 2005: It is now just over three years since my radiotherapy and I am happily still clear, so my review intervals have been extended to six months.

   10th April 2006: Another review passed without problems. An item of good news for patients about to start radiotherapy at Mount Vernon hospital is the recent installation and commissioning of three new additional treatment LAs. These offer more precise targeting and tracking of tumours than previously possible, resulting in less damage to neighbouring tissue.

   13th September 2006: My recent review was fine apart from highlighting a persistent ulcer inside my left cheek. I have some prescribed medication to apply and, though it's probably nothing more than a transient irritation, I am scheduled for another review in three months.