christine - im not sure what to put in my signature. everyone has all these codes and im not sure how to sum up what we've been through in abbreviations

Dont worry about being too technical. Im not that great with the codes even after hanging around for a few years. Write whatever you feel is pertinent.

Honey, I hope this helps.
My husband has survived three recurrances.
His initial diagnosis was August of 2002 with stage III tonsillar cancer.
Two weeks shy of his 5 year mark, he was diagnosed with base of tongue, stage IV.
In 2009, it showed back up, stage IV.
Three mths later, another stage IV recurrance in 09.
He is working, cancer free, and giving us all the grief he used too!
Don't let anything get in the way. Especially the odds. They don't mean a damn thing!!!!!
My prayers are with you,
Mandy

Emily,

2nd opinions = prudence. Make sure you are getting the best medical advice available before making any decisions...Dr's, contrary to their own beliefs, are not God's even though they have the complex. Get a 2nd or 3rd.

Emily, I agree with Eric, 2 opinion, don't give up without a fight!!

thank you all for the support. it has really helped..especially this morning. we aren't giving up.
the more i think about that 'chief of staff' the more heated i get. he was such an ASS. no sympathy. my mom even aplogized to him saying 'i know this is a hard part of your job' and he just shrugged and said 'well i do it everyday'. he made us feel like it was our fault we're in this predicament because we didnt go to Duke first.
i told him i didnt mean to be disrespectful but lots of people see Dr's like him and hear 'theres nothing i can do' and then they go on to another hospital and are treated and cured. he said 'well youre welcome to visit another hospital in houston or hopkins but i know those guys. theyll agree with me.' he was in and out of the office in 5 minutes. we just left crying with heavy hearts feeling like it was over.

as soon as i got home i tried to make an appointment with MD Anderson. yesterday was a difficult day to do with it being Friday. they lady said if i didnt hear back from her yesterday, shed call me Monday. i guess we'll be flying out there as soon as possible.

thank you again for your positive thoughts. i really need it. i just turned 25 years old..i just got married in november. we were going to start a family but i dont even want to without my mother here to share the experience with me.

coley, that sounds an awful lot like us! what hospital was he treated at?

I wonder if Duke's Chief of Staff is my MO's brother.

Every time they switched me to a different CCC treatment facility they changed out half my doctors and the MO I got at the Tomo Center had zero bedside manners.

At times a real Doctor "Death", although he didn't come right out and "personalize" it (like his "Duke" brother did!). Nevertheless early on, seeing him was down right depressing; but he was a brilliant old fart and I managed to adapt!

Fortunately the rest of the staff more than made up for his shortcomings.

Now-a-days I rather miss the old fart, remember him fondly, and was surprise to learn he always "peer" ranks among San Diego county's top 10 MO's.

So Emily, move on to MDA and don't let a doctor "Death" here and there detour you.

Youre so right. Ive let my mom read some of these replies. Its comforting. Maybe it was a sign we weren't supposed to go to Duke so god shoved something up that mans butt before he walked in to talk to us.

This morning she got dressed and headed out to a friends bridal shower. Shes still gone! I know shell be exhausted when she gets back but Im glad shes still living her life. Does this look like a lady thats ready to lay down and accept hospice?! I love her so much
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos...534038816_333501052_653856_5355401_n.jpg[/img]

Emily, your mother is beautiful She is so lucky to have such a loving daughter.