#12512 10-08-2007 04:30 PM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 | Today, we celebrated my husband's 49th birthday. I have held a mental picture of this day in my mind throughout treatment, and it all came to fruition. I had an instinctive feeling when he was at his worse that he would be so much better by his birthday...although, at times I had my doubts.
Dan finished treatment on August 6th. The first two weeks post tx, he was so dehydrated we had to have a nurse come to the house for daily IVs. His site does not believe in Peg tubes, so that was his only intake for some time. He struggled with getting about 1 protein drink down a day because he had terrible issues with thrush and mucositus.
The 3rd week post tx, he acquired a staph infection. And, the 4th week, the healing began...with the onset of more good days than bad.
He got serious about getting off of protein drinks about the 6th week. And, now eats (but does not always taste) a wide variety of foods.
He is off pain meds (at his max, he was on 10 oxycodone a day). He is driving short distances. And, he has accompanied me on two soccer tournament trips for our kids.
Fatigue remains an issue, finding foods that taste and feel right in his mouth is an issue. But, in general, I feel like my husband is back.
So, today, to celebrate his birthday we went out to dinner with the kids and had a really great time. We had much to celebrate and much to be grateful for. His next big milestone will be when he gets the ok to return to work. He is looking forward to that.
I appreciate the many people on this site who got me through this day by day on days I didn't think the nightmare would ever end. My love and thanks to all of you.
Each week our lives fall in closer to our new "normal"...a better normal, as my husband and I have grown to be quite a bit closer than the two busy ships that were passing in the night prior to the "c" diagnosis.
I wish you all the best.
God Bless,
Margaret
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C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx)
Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3)
Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
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#12513 10-08-2007 05:20 PM | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 | Happy Birthday Dan !! And Magaret you have been a great source of suporrt to many !!
Shar
Sharlee
35 year old Female Non smoker, very occasional alcohol ..Scc T1N0M0,partial glossectomy and left neck disection ,2/9/07 No rad deemed ness. 4/16 tonsillectomy ..Trimengenial Neuralga due to surgery
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#12514 10-08-2007 06:07 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Yeah for both of you Margaret! I've celebrated 5 birthdays since my diagnosis and each time felt like I had won the golden ticket.
Glad life is getting back to normal, he's far to young for it to be anything but.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#12515 10-09-2007 05:05 AM | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | I wish I knew it was his b-day yesterday  If you ever told me the date, I apologize for not remembering. Please send him my love and best wishes. I am happy for all of you. Love, Donna
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
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#12516 10-09-2007 08:59 AM | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Margret i am so happy for you both,and so very proud of the way you traveled your journey.It seems like a very long time ago since you first posted,with all your worries and fears about the cancer and your marriage and look at you both now.
Happy birthday dan and may you have many many more.
love and hugs liz
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
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#12517 10-09-2007 10:01 AM | 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 | Margaret:
Happy Birthday to Dan. Im glad you went out to celebrate.
Dan has come so far, he is almost completly better now. Your timeline that you wrote is inspiring. He has gone thru a rough time, and I know it has been hard on you and your family. Day by day things get better.
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  | | |
#12518 10-09-2007 03:45 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Margaret and Dan - Many more Happy Birthdays and New Normal Days to both of you. Amy in the Ozarks
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#12519 10-15-2007 04:39 PM | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 179 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 179 | Margaret.
so glad to hear how well your husband is doing. I know you think this nitemare will never end but thank God it does. Its amazing when you celebrate how much you realize what you went through. And the celebrations are so much sweeter! Take care and enjoy each day.LJ
CG to husband 53,39 rads. 3 rds cisplastin ended 6/2/07 Tonsils removed 1.10.07 11 of 20 nodes positive- lump removed on rt. side of neck 1/26/07 cancer of nasal pharnyx TXN2MX 2nd rd. of chemo- carbo/taxol on 6/11/07
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#12520 10-16-2007 09:04 AM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 | Thanks for all the kind words. Dan had his first 2 month CT scan yesterday. I was hoping they'd tell us everything was wonderful. Instead, all they could say is that the CT scan represented his new baseline and that another scan done in 2 months will give better insight as to how he responded to tx.
They think that he had a good response to treatment, and upon a visual inspection everything looked good.
We're still trying to figure out when he can return to work as his job requires travel and a lot of time on his feet. His doctor is going to talk to his HR person and figure out if there is a way he can transition back. Dan's biggest obstacle is fatigue...which comes and go and is getting better daily.
Margaret
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C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx)
Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3)
Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
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#12521 10-16-2007 11:06 AM | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 231 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 231 | Margaret,
I dont know if Dan has the option to stay out of work until he knows he is ready but if he does please encourage him to do so. I had to return to work or lose everything. In my line of work it is full time only. I am very tired and I just ask the good Lord every night to give me the strength to make it until tommorrow. I ask Him when I wake up to please give me the strength to make it through the day. I am very happy for you and Dan and may the good Lord bless you both.
Billy
Dx Mar 07 with Base Of Tongue Stage IV. IMRT 35x with 3 doses Cysplatin ran concurrent. Tx ended May 31,07. Left and right node involved. Radical neck disection 7/18/07
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