Hi Steve,
I guess I look at it this way...if you don't do it you won't be able to breathe soon much less speak. If you do it you know there is a CHANCE you will be able to speak again eventually, and breathing will continue. It is wonderful that you have a doc that wants to get right on it.
That being said, we have had the discussion several times that if a recurrence happens in our house and Kevin has to have the big surgery and never eat or drink again like Charm talks about, he might not do it. It is a personal decision and we are here for you no matter what you decide. There are folks like Charm Christine and Eric that are pounding the pavement and are truly our heros, but Kevin just doesn't know if he could be them. I have to accept that it's him living it, not me. Although you know I would be living every moment right by his side.
I don't know...keep us posted!!
Kathy

I was fortunate to have had my doc let me choose the date for my mandibulectomy. He told me it must be within the next 2 months or the cancer may not be able to be cured. I selected a date almost 2 months later to give myself time to prepare. Boy did I live it up during those 2 months. I also prepared to die and made all the necessary arrangements for my children in case that happened. It was the longest 2 months of my life. I will never forget being at the hospital at 5am with my son waiting for the surgery. I was laying there joking, I even had photos taken after the doctors signed my face and neck. I made sure if I didnt come out of it he would always remember it was what I wanted to do to try to survive. I never wanted my children to ever feel any remorse for my choice of having the surgery. It was one of the hardest things Ive ever had to do staying cheerful and optimistic in front of my son while I was scared to death that I wasnt going to ever see my son again. The 2 months also gave me way too much time to worry which wasnt a good thing.

If you choose the surgery today, I wish you all the very best with everything!!!! I will wait to see your posts. Thinking of you today!

Christine and all, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. I have surgery at 2 this afternoon. Seems this tumor is growing rather quick. I have maybe 25% airway left and the plan is to try to remove most of the tumor today. I have a very short neck and the tumor is tough to get to. The doctor will try a supracricoid larygectomy which may give me some voice. I've watched the visual on You Tube and seen the results from a man speaking.Knowing what I have is reality,not knowing the future and the results are in Gods hands and the surgeon. I fell blessed to have found this site and all the positive energy provided by everyone.Am I scarred to death,yes....
Am I ready to move forward and try to beat this.....yes. Steve Hurlock

You will get through it... god bless and saying a prayer for you.

Yay Steve. I know you won't see this for awhile...but great decision. Hope all goes well and you kick this thing in the butt.
Kathy

Hi, Steve.

I'm just reading all of the posts on this thread. I hope you are resting comfortably as I type this. I think you made the right decision to fight. There are many people here rooting for you. Your life will be worth living!

My father lost his vision completely, due to diabetes. I was very young when this all happened, but I do remember times when my father had sight. He was completely blind by the time he was in his mid-to-late 30s. I can only try to imagine how incredibly hard it was for him and the rest of the family. He was a skilled printer by trade and loved cars and working with his hands. He lived a fulfilling life for many years after he lost his sight. It wasn't easy, but he enjoyed his family and friends. He had to leave his career as a printer, but he was able to work. It wasn't what he was doing for work that mattered, but he got out of the house and socialized with people and made friends.

I am confident that you will find your own way. I wish and hope that you can look forward to a cure and go on living with your new normal. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Please keep us posted as you are able.

With great care,
Kerri

Good luck, Steve! Thinking of you and sending positive healing thoughts. We'll all be here waiting for you...

Well its done. I went to the hospital the 27th to have the polyp removed and come back in a coup;e of weeks to get the supracricoid larymectomy. The surgery was later at 3 in the afternoon and my wife and kids and grandkids were there. I asked my family if they thought I should go ahead with the major surgery now since I know worrying the next two weeks would have put me in the same spot anyway. The Doctor finally came in at 4. We discussed all the options and I asked him if he would be able to do the 4 hour operation so late in the day. He said he was ready if I was. WE did the operation on the 27th. I just got out of the hospital friday the 6th of July.I have the trac in currently This is a tough operation and really has wiped me out.
I live at 9,000 feet and so I have O2 equipment home with vaporizer. The reasons I love the mountains has unfortunately now become a curse. My resting pulse ox at this elevation is in the mid 80s with out the supplemental equipment. I can get to 93 with the oxygen. I have 4 levels so I have tanks and equipment on every level..I failed the first swallow test at the hospital so I go in Mon for a check up and see a swallow therapist.Currently Im tube feeding through the nose to stomach. Hopefully this won't be in very long.
This is quite a journey and i don't think i could have made it without all the support from everyone here. I'll stay posted Steve Hurlock

Keep us posted.

Hi, Steve.

I'm sorry this has been such a tough journey for you. There are a lot of hurdles that you have to jump, but it seems like you have an excellent support system.

I wish for you a speedy recovery and that you are able to get those O2 sats up so that you start to feel better. Besides the major surgery, low oxygen saturation will make you exhausted on its own.

Take good care,
Kerri