My son

Hi JJblueeyes  Good to hear from you and that your son is nearly through treatment. 
I can tell you that the radiation has a residual effect for two to three weeks and most of us find those weeks the worst. At least his daily visits will be over and he can hunker down. 
I slept on the sofa for most of  those weeks but by the time six weeks had passed I was finding my way out of the pain and the tiredness. By 12 weeks I had turned a corner but it was six months before I could say that I was much better 

Hang on in there. It’s a marathon not a sprint. He’ll get there. 

PS

look out for masses of thick sticky mucous in his mouth. I spat a lot and it took a good six weeks before it settled down to be replaced with a dry mouth. 

Hi Thank yiu for the update as Daninsays it’s a marathon not s print some days he will be 2 steps forward and ine step back. 6 months is a good point to aim for. 
Hazel 

It sounds like your son is doing great, especially if he is managing without a feeding tube. To be honest, recovery doesn't start until 2-3 weeks after treatment ends. How long it takes varies - everyone is different. I managed a semi-normal Christmas dinner 6 weeks after finishing, and was hill walking after 3 months. 

Hi Jjblueeyes

so good to hear that he is nearly at the end of treatment.  Same as what Dani said.  I slept on the sofa for much of the time.  It actually helped with the days to go faster. Literally the majority of the day. My tracker was recording 16-17 hour sleeps. I was vomiting if I tried to sip even water.  Those weeks can be really hard but everyone is different. He just needs to listen to his body and rest. He’s doing so well. 

About 2 months post treatment I was beginning to go out and about socially.  But small steps and couldn’t eat or drink and tired very easily. So only with very close friends and family who understood.  I went on holiday for a week too.  I was bolus feeding.

5 months post treatment I was back at work on a phased return.  6 months, back to full time and back to long hours. still suffering from fatigue and working on my eating.  And still recovering now at 11 months out.  As Hazel says it’s a marathon…. 

you're son will get there. But it might be a bit rocky.  As you said he’s strong.  Wishing you and him well. 

I am now 4 weeks out of treatment and as the others have said I spent the first 3 asleep, almost around the clock.  The side effects of treatment continued to build during those weeks.  The 4th week was very much easier.  It is often 2 steps forward and one back at this stage.

I ate right through to my last RT session.  That last week was really tough with the side effects coming fast and frequently unlike earlier weeks.  After that last session I was on liquid feed.  Tell him not to be scared to go onto liquid feeding as he needs the calories and his mouth/throat needs to recover without the stress of trying to eat.  This last week I have been taking soft foods alongside my pump feed. So immediate recovery can be relatively rapid if you help the body.  The longer term recovery will take time, but he will get back to a good quality of life.