| Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 | What fantastic news for you both. You must be so excited. Plus the added bonus of only 7 treatments left.
Steve had a ct scan mid treatment to realign for his treatment but he didn't have any further scans for 3 months after treatment finished. Then he had a PET followed up by a CT scan close to 2 months later.
Wonderful news and so happy for you both.
Wife to Steve 43. DX 5 May 09. T4N2MO SCC tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes & jaw bone No surgery Teeth removed 06/07/2009 radiation 13/07/2009 x 7wks chemo 15/07/2009 x 3 Cisplatin last TX 28/08/2009 25/11/2009 PET-lymph node activity. 08/01/2010 CT Scan-ALL CLEAR 03/03/2010-Peg removed 01/2013 left side of Jaw removed and replaced with pectoral flap. 23/12/2020 scan show lesion in tongue 01/2021 SCC stage 3 base of tongue diagnosed 01/03/2021 chemotherapy started.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 33 | Congrats to both of you. That must be a relief!
Maybe I'm weird here, but I had clear scans going into treatment. After my first surgery in Oct 2008, I had clear margins and clear scans, but the cancer came back. This time around even though I had clear margins and scans again, we went ahead and decided to do radiation and chemo. The doctors explained that even with PET technology, tumors had to be at least 7mm (or about 50 million cancer cells) in order to clearly be seen on the scans. It was possible that even though I had clear scans I might have a few cancer cells left. In a way it makes things a bit harder....torturing myself with treatment like this while knowing I have no visible signs of cancer.
Oh well.... it only takes one cell, right?
I'm down to 9 treatments, so I'm right with you guys. It's nice seeing that light at the end of the tunnel.
9.29.08: Dx @ 24 w/ T2 SCC, tongue 10.14.08: Partial gloss. & r. neck dissection. Margins/nodes all clear. No HPV. No rad. 10.06.09: Recurrence in l. lymphnode 11.16.09: L. neck dissection + lost nerve XII 12.28.09: 33xIMRT w/ concurrent 3xCisplatin (no PEG) 02.15.10: Done with treatment!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Teresa,
Wonderful news! You're almost at the finish line.
Anita
Anita (68) CG to husband, Clark, 79, DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08, HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft. Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear, PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14 Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22 PEG 7/21 Botox injections
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 | wendy, i see steve recently had a clear scan...congrats!
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: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 | He sure did Teresa, so I know the feeling that you are feeling. The day we heard that good news I felt like I'd taken my first breath in 9 months. It was such a relief. Now we just are concentrating on his recovery and keeping him cancer free. All the best to you and Andy. It's been a tough road for you both but I'm so glad it's turned out well. Hearing those words makes it all seem worth it somehow.
By the way a nurse said to Steve when he had a stint in hospital during treatment "it's the hardest cancer to treat SCC because of the location and side effects, but the light at the end of the tunnel is huge". They were great words of encouragement and inspiration to get us through to where we are today.
Jen in Az, I think you made the right choice. My father inlaw had surgery for scc years ago with no treatment. He has since had further surgery still with no treatment and now is also battling melanoma. It only takes 1 cell remaining to start the rollercoaster over again so in my opinion you are doing the right thing.
Take care all
Wendy
Wife to Steve 43. DX 5 May 09. T4N2MO SCC tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes & jaw bone No surgery Teeth removed 06/07/2009 radiation 13/07/2009 x 7wks chemo 15/07/2009 x 3 Cisplatin last TX 28/08/2009 25/11/2009 PET-lymph node activity. 08/01/2010 CT Scan-ALL CLEAR 03/03/2010-Peg removed 01/2013 left side of Jaw removed and replaced with pectoral flap. 23/12/2020 scan show lesion in tongue 01/2021 SCC stage 3 base of tongue diagnosed 01/03/2021 chemotherapy started.
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