#16247 08-20-2004 06:33 AM | Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 | Hi All:
Congrats again to Ilene! Seems to be the day for catching up with friends. I, too, have some good news to share. Many of you know Dave, who was diagnosed in August, 2002 with SCC of the tonsil. He had a neck dissection and radiation. The folks on this board were pivotal to both of us surviving his surgery and treatment. I am writing to let you all know that Dave and I got married this summer and have just returned from a trip to Manchester, UK (where Dave is from) to visit his family and celebrate our marriage there (in a pub, of course!). I can't thank all of you enough for helping us get to that moment and especially for helping me believe in good things and the power of hope. I am also grateful for every day all of us on this board do well and it is with joy that I also report that this month it is two years of survivorship for Dave!
Now, on to practical matters-because we have been away and had no computer access, I lost the whole thread about the OCF meeting in October. Could someone please let me know if that is still a go and if so, could you provide the dates and hotel contact information.
Thanks so much and it's nice to be back,
Kim
kcdc
Wife of Dave,diagnosed with Stage III Tonsillar SCC,August '02
Modified radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy
'There is glory and radiance in the darkness and to see we have only to look"
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#16248 08-20-2004 06:45 AM | Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 | Kim,
It is always a pleasure to hear from you, and I am so happy that Dave is doing so well and that you and Dave got married. For those of you who don't know Kim, trust me, she gave more to this board than she ever received. When I discovered OCF Kim became one of my first friends and supporters at a time when I really needed it. Her caring, funny,loving and intelligent posts were always an inspiration. I even got to meet Kim and Dave when they came to Houston.
Congrats to Dave...you are a lucky guy!
Danny G.
Stage IV Base of Tongue SCC
Diagnosed July 1, 2002, chemo and radiation treatments completed beginning of Sept/02.
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#16249 08-20-2004 12:33 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hi kcdc,
If you go back on the General Board posting's you will find one with all the reunion info.
The date is Sept 24 & 25 at the Imperial Palace in las Vages. Was wondering what happened to you. Congradulations on your marriage. Tell Dave congrat's on the two year mark.
Your postings were missed!!!
Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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#16250 08-21-2004 01:58 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 | Dear Kim..
i love this board! I am slowly getting my husband to sit and read posts with me. This morning, I was showing him the Archive section, and I read your initial inquiry about selecting a course of treatment. We read the entire thread and then it dawned on me that I had just seen your name on something new.....while he was sitting with me, I found this post! Do I need to tell you that we both cried happy tears...for Dave's survival and for your marriage? It is a gray, drizzly day here, but you added an abundance of sunshine!
God bless you both, and thank you for encouraging us as we start this trip.
Love
Nicki
Nicki, wife of Thomas
dx July 2004, SCC, Stage 4 Tonsil. Tx begun 8/4/04. Cisplatin/Xeloda x 4; IMRT 7 wks, 8/7 - 10/25/04 Modified Radical Dissection (right), Selective Dissection (Left) 12/10/04.
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#16251 08-21-2004 02:22 AM | Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 | Okay, Danny- you have made me blush but thanks for the kind words.You're pretty cool there yourself! Dan B.-I've missed you too. I noticed on your signature that you have faced a new challenge since we last spoke. I'm wondering if you can fill me in more about how you are doing either on the board on in a private e-mail? In any case, I'm pulling for you!
Nicki: welcome to you and your husband to the OCF board. You won't find a group of finer individuals committed to helping each other and the cause of promoting awareness about oral cancer. I'm wondering if your story is similar to Dave's? I also hope the threads you read made sense! Feel free to e-mail me or post any questions here as they come up.I cry alot of tears these days-some happy, some scared of uncertainty, and some in gratitude for the people on this board and the collective struggles. Thanks for your kind words. There are lots of inspirational people here whose names and stories you can think about-that's what I did and still do to help me keep going on the scary days.
Dan B-thanks also for the info about the meeting. Does anyone know if there is a block of rooms for OCF and a contact number?
Thanks,
Kim
kcdc
Wife of Dave,diagnosed with Stage III Tonsillar SCC,August '02
Modified radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy
'There is glory and radiance in the darkness and to see we have only to look"
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#16252 08-21-2004 03:16 AM | Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 | Okay, scratch my earlier question. I called the hotel and found there are still a couple of rooms left in the OCF block. Count Dave and I in for the weekend. Can someone tell me instead if there is a formal conference schedule?
Sorry to be a pain-I hate it when you miss a big thread and apparently I did on this one!
Now I'm on to finding a deal on flights.
Thanks,
Kim
kcdc
Wife of Dave,diagnosed with Stage III Tonsillar SCC,August '02
Modified radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy
'There is glory and radiance in the darkness and to see we have only to look"
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#16253 08-21-2004 12:49 PM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Congratulations Dave and Kim..ain`t love grand !
My husband ,a Liverpudlian, and I are planning a trip to Manchester area for Xmas, and do we feel blessed that he is fit and able to go.
To all of you just starting your journey..there is light at the end of this stinkin` tunnel !
Marica
Caregiver to Pete stage IV Base of tongue ,Dx April 2003. One year PET results clear...wooohooo
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#16254 08-21-2004 01:12 PM | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 | Welcome back, Kim! For info on the OCF reunion, go to the General Board. A post entitled Reunion Reminder has the info you want. It is about the 18th post down, started by JetAgeHobo. Looking forward to meeting you in Vegas! Rainbows & hugs,  Rosie
Was primary caregiver to my daughter Heather who had stage IV base of tongue SCC w/ primary recurrence. Original diagnosis August 21st, 2002. Primary recurrence March 18th, 2003. Died October 6th, 2003.
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#16255 08-21-2004 03:26 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Kim,
I am also happy to see you back on the board. Congratulations on your marriage. Your posts when I first started on this board always helped me.
You should look up one of our newer members, Sabrina. She's from Boston also and tells me there is a rest. that serves ONLY DESERTS, lol. I bet the two of you would hit it off. See you (I hope) in Vegas.
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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#16256 08-22-2004 01:42 PM | Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 246 | Hi Marica:
We paid a visit to Liverpool and I was amazed by the Beatles museum. It rained and was cold but so what else is new in the U.K?
Rosie-the biggest hug in Vegas will be from me to you! Thanks for the tip on where to find the info...
Minnea: Thanks for the tip about Sabrina. We Bostonians are few and far between on this board and as we write we have been in touch. Thanks!
Viva Las Vegas I think!
Kim
kcdc
Wife of Dave,diagnosed with Stage III Tonsillar SCC,August '02
Modified radical neck dissection followed by radiation therapy
'There is glory and radiance in the darkness and to see we have only to look"
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#16257 08-23-2004 10:07 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Kim,
I am glad to hear your great news...I am not sure which is better so I will include the congratulations on your wedding with Dave and tell Dave congratulations on TWO BIG YEARS! May you be blessed with many, many more!
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#16258 08-24-2004 04:23 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Kim-
Congratulations on your marriage and Dave's big 2!!! Look forward to meeting you in Vegas! My marriage was scheduled for June 2002 but found out about the cancer end of March. Would have been in the middle of radiation at the time of the planned wedding so we eloped between the tonsillectomy and the neck dissection! I am sure you have been as much a part of Dave's survival as my husband has been to mine. We couldn't have made it without our caregivers!!!! - Kris
SCC Stage IV left tonsil neck disection 3/02 radiation finished 6/02 chemo finished 9/02
Stage 2A left breast cancer 3/09, chemo and radiation, finished treatment 2/7/10 -Stage 2 right beast cancer 10/14 chemo and radiation
Every day is still a gift :-)
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#16259 08-24-2004 09:15 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Hi Kim
Fantastic, great to hear some wonderfull news, and where better to go than good old cold and wet England
Sunshine... love and Hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#16260 08-24-2004 09:58 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 33 | kcdc, congradulations on your marriage, that is wonderful news. Be happy & healthy. And may God bless you and your husband in every way.
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