Nanci Griffith has recorded a song on her newest album called "Hell, no, I'm not Alright". The album won't be available in the U.S. until April, and in the U.K. in February, but the song is available on utube. Nanci is a breast and thyroid cancer survivor. The song isn't about that, but it does resonate with me, and is something that I often feel like saying to well-meaning people.
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
