| | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 4 | Hello all,
My name is Oprah and I'm a wife and mother of 3 little girls. I was diagnosed in August 2009 and felt a little like everyone else. Lost and crying almost everyday. You can read my signature for more detail, hopefully I did it correctly.
But here I am couple of months later after surgery and radiation(Univ. of MD) treatments saying "Thank You" to everyone that post words of encouragement and advice. This forum was the reason why I decided to get the PEG, my doctors advised against it because I wasn't receiving chemo. But I remember the words from others and I insisted and so happy I did. I made thru radiation not losing much weight. My last week was tough because my gag reflux was pretty bad. Currently, sleeping is OK, still having some mucous issues. But without the forum I wouldn't have known much about how to deal with the side effects. I will be going back to work in March so I have another month to relax. Energy is still a little low but I know that will take some time.
Sometimes I just have the feeling that I want to be sure that I did all I can do to prevent this from coming back. And I realize I just have to have faith and reassure myself I did all I could do. But know of course, I told myself I would start eating better and relaxing more. While I was in the hospital my Aunt told me that this maybe a journey and while on the journey be greatful. Its amazing how something like this changes your life, I have so much more compassion and I just look a life differently. And I am so greatful. Thank You | | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | Welcome aboard Oprah.
You�re a veteran now so feel free in posting whenever you get the urge.
Kelly
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | Welcome. Glad we could encourage you. Thanks posting your information.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 | Welcome! Glad to hear you are doing so well.
Shelley
Caregiver to husband Ron. Throat Cancer. Finished 35 radiation treatments on 11/21/04. 8/2/11 small lesion on lower gum, laser Procedure to remove. 3/6/12 Doc. removed another lesion on outside of his neck. Did a skin graft from his chest to replace the skin on his neck. Went to Heaven on 6/24/12.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 | welcome. glad u made it thru. keep us updated on ur recovery.
Teresa
-----------
CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)
T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09
tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3
PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09
35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10
tx stopped due to complications
IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10
PET 4/12/10 CLEAR!
PEG out 4/14/10
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Another welcome and glad you found this site so helpful.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Oprah, so happy to have you here  You have a wonderful attitude which I truly believe helps tremendously. Its always so nice to hear from someone who has been helped by OCF without even having made one post. Sorry but I am not very good with medical terminology. Did you have your jaw removed and replaced with some of your leg? Seems like there have been several people like that recently. Im curious because my L lower jaw was removed and replaced with a steel jaw on Aug 24th, 2009. Would like to compare notes with you. Thanks so much for taking the step to become a visible OCF member
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Welcome aboard and I guess it is hard for some to post. I'm gald you made it thru this and will go back to work next month.. One poasitive for sure is being there for your 3 daughters and those great smiles.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 63 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 63 | I am new to this just today. Have been searching for support to help me with my frustration and, at times, depression. Family and friends are loving and understanding yet I feel so alone. I finished treatment on 12/21/09, Radiation and chemo for stage 3 squamous cell. My lower teeth were removed back in September and my tongue and lip have been swollen ever since. My speech is coherent but difficult. I've been told they got it all and now it's a waitng game to have reconstruction surgery to replace my chin bone. That will obviously not happen until after the CT scan scheduled for 2/22/10. It seems such a long way away and it scares me too. I don't really know what they plan to do so I'm left to my own imaginings! I'm home alone all day and my job is to make sure I get enough nourishment thru my peg tube. The swelling in my mouth makes it impossible to eat, I can only drink. I sure do miss real food!
Pat - 62 yr. old -DX 8/29/09 SCC stage III floor of mouth
Lower teeth& bone removed
Port& Peg
Cisplatin x3; Rad 35 - ended 12/21/09
Fox Chase 2nd opinion-mandibulectomy; tracheotomy; left neck dissection; jaw reconstruction 5/13/10; flap failed;new flap 7/13/10; lipo January 2011
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Welcome Pat and Oprah.
It's unusual to have 2 allow different posters in the same thread but the topic fits you both and neither of you have any specific question so CONGRATS TO YOU BOTH.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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