| | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 Senior Member (100+ posts) |  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 | Hi Julie: I haven't been on the site in a while. I started my first week of treatment (chemo x 1 and radiation x 5). The chemo brought me down hard, but I do feel a little better today. One week down and six to go, but not all weeks will have chemo, only two more. I was first diagnosed on 12/23 with SSC after a surgical biopsy on a lymph node. After that, I had about three or four weeks of tests and biopsies to find the primary tumor, which they knew was HPV+. A final tonsillectomy with more biopsies revealed the primary tumor on the left tonsil, which I guess brought me to my official diagnosis. I am working with a small cancer hospital in western Massachusetts but did get a second opinion at Dana-Farber in Boston and was revealed that they agree with everything the local cancer center has recommended. Truth be told, my feeding tube is the worst of it, and I knew it would be, and I wish I had insisted on not getting it. I can be stubborn, and I would have been as stubborn with swallowing as I am with hating this feeding tube. But I am stuck with it now. The tube makes me feel sick in a way the cancer doesn't; strange, huh? Thanks for checking in. How are things with you, now that I babbled? LOL It's good to be back, though. -Michelle
SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.
| | | | | 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 | Julie what you are experiencing is probably just scar tissue from the surgery you recently had. Sounds like your doctors are on top of this. You are so fortunate that you do not have cancer!!! Best wishes.
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: Nov 2010 Posts: 19 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 19 | Thank you, I am very fortunate and hope to stay that way.
JAS
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 19 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 19 | Hi Michelle - I have been thinking about you and wondering how your treatments were going for you. I am glad to hear today you are feeling a little better. I simply cannot imagine what you and everyone else are going through. You are such a strong person. You have a cheerleader in Packerland that is routing for you. 
I am doing fine, awaiting the Superbowl for excitement. Should be a great game. Tomorrow MRI in the morning, oral surgeon at noon. Yippee I am so glad to get the second appt done. Keep your chin up Michelle!!!!!
JAS
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 | Enjoy the big game, Julie. This time of year I always wish I were a football fan, but alas, baseball and tennis are my games, which is another good reason to pray for summer's quick arrival. -Michelle
SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 | Hi Julie,
I was told that I mixed up my way through the threads and may have spoken out of line to you. I guess I didn't address what you wrote. Sorry if I went on too long about my case. I am not sure what I did to get lost in the thread, but I am still trying to manage this site.
Sorry for any inconvenience.
All the best,
Michelle
SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 19 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 19 | Michelle -
Please do not apologize for anything. I am not sure what out of line would be. I was really happy to hear from you and your treatment progress please I appreciated everything. I guess I didn't know there was an order either. No worries Michelle.
I wasn't a huge football fan until a couple years ago. Now my husband and son duct tape my mouth shut and tie my hands together oh..... twice this season just so they can a minute of quit ha! It was funny.
Wishing you the very best this week in treatment. Cheering for you. God Bless You.
JAS
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Wendy just curious - why no radiation or chemo - trying to figure out what determining factors are... Thanks for your time and patience!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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