#3289 08-12-2004 01:39 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | I am not sure if Helen's brothter intends to post for her, but I wanted everyone to know that he emailed me to say Helen's surgery went "as expected" and it lasted 8 hours. She is currently in intensive care. He got to see her for a bit yesterday and today; she gave him the thumbs up sign and has been communicating by head movements and notes. Whooohooo, Helen!
More prayers to you, Helen!
Christine
Wife of Scott: SCC, Stage I retromolar 10/02--33 rad; recurrence 10/03--Docetaxol, 5FU, Cisplatin; 1/04 radical right neck, hard palate, right tonsil; recurrence 2/04--mets to skin and neck; Xeloda and palliative care 3/04-4/04; died 5/01/04.
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#3290 08-12-2004 02:00 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 | I am with you Helen. Lots of love from Helen in Oz.
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#3291 08-12-2004 02:41 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 | we're all pulling for you and praying for you Helen...
Tongue cancer (SCC), diagnosed Oct. 2003 (T2 N0 M0). Surgery to remove tumor. IMRT Radiation 30x in Dec 2003 - Jan. 2004. Recurrence lymph node - radical neck dissection June 2004. Second round of rad/chemo treatments ended Sept. 2004.
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#3292 08-12-2004 02:49 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Thanks for the update on Helen. "Let the Healing Begin" Ditto on the prayers coming at you Helen!!
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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#3293 08-12-2004 05:06 PM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 | Helen, We are all pulling for you, you and your family are in our thoughts and our prayers. God Bless you, Miss Vicki.... | | |
#3294 08-12-2004 11:10 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 | Way to go Helen! Hang in there - it does get better and we're anxious to have you back here with us. Take good care of yourself and don't give the nurses and doctors too hard a time!  Prayers coming your way, Nancy
Stage IV oral cancer (tongue), T3N2, total glossectomy with right and left modified neck dissection 7/03, rad /chemo ended 11/03
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#3295 08-13-2004 05:05 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Helen! We are praying for you every step of the way! Looking forward to seeing your posts soon, too! Love and prayers, Kris
PS to Christine- email these posts over to Helen's brother so he can take a copy to the hospital. Just in case she doesn't get her lap top going soon.
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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#3296 08-13-2004 09:15 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 156 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 156 | I have goose bumps from the news! Keep up the great work Helen! We're all pulling for you!
Sabrina | | |
#3297 08-13-2004 09:19 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Helen, Here's prayers from across the pond to a speedy recovery and a thank you Lord for guiding the hands and hearts of the medical team. Get better soon so the red grape can tremble in fear.
Lots of love,
and kind
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#3298 08-13-2004 10:56 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | Another update: Helen is out of intensive care, and she got out of bed four times today. She's been joking and cutting up. Such great news! Way to go Helen. We love you, girl!
Kris, I'll send these to her brother ASAP. Great idea. I don't think Helen has internet access at the hospital.
Christine
Wife of Scott: SCC, Stage I retromolar 10/02--33 rad; recurrence 10/03--Docetaxol, 5FU, Cisplatin; 1/04 radical right neck, hard palate, right tonsil; recurrence 2/04--mets to skin and neck; Xeloda and palliative care 3/04-4/04; died 5/01/04.
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#3299 08-13-2004 11:03 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | PS--I'll send updated messages to Helen's brother again tomorrow (Saturday) evening, so if anyone wants to add messages here, Helen will hopefully get them over the weekend.
Christine
Wife of Scott: SCC, Stage I retromolar 10/02--33 rad; recurrence 10/03--Docetaxol, 5FU, Cisplatin; 1/04 radical right neck, hard palate, right tonsil; recurrence 2/04--mets to skin and neck; Xeloda and palliative care 3/04-4/04; died 5/01/04.
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#3300 08-13-2004 03:29 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Hey Helen,
Praise God for you getting thru the surgery! I am praying for you everyday and that all goes well. I am now living in Alabama, been here a week. Sure do miss Maryland and my boys, but Dan started back to work this week. It's been a bit hard and he's very tired, but things are so much better than 6 months ago. I am trying to find my way around Birmingham...I am on a first name basis with the people at Super Wal-Mart here! That's scary!!
You take care, girlfriend, and know that you have many people praying and thinking about you!
Love,
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#3301 08-13-2004 04:48 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Helen,
I hear through the "grapevine" that you are doing very, very well with your surgery. I didn't expect anything less. I'm so happy to hear that you are making such good progress. I have a feeling that particular hospital will never be the same again!
Love,
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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#3302 08-14-2004 05:44 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Hi Helen, I am so grateful to read that you are doing very well, you go girl!!! Love, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#3303 08-14-2004 12:23 PM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Wonderful wonderful news...hang in there sassenach!
Cheers
Marica
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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#3304 08-15-2004 07:56 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 Member | | Member
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 | hi everybody i'm mick, helens brother i am now able to log on myself and have printed off all the messages so far and taken them to helen who read them last night after we had left, i could see from her face that she was pleased to get them so i thank you on behalf of my big sister for all your love and encouragement.
she is doing well she is out of itc and in a room in the high dependency unit she is off oxygen and some of her drains have been removed but she still has her tracheotomy tube so we are communicating with helen repling with written notes as she cannot hold her laptop yet she has been out of bed to sit in her chair but no walking yet i will keep you all informed every 2/3 days or so as i get time thank you all again
Mick. | | |
#3305 08-15-2004 11:32 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 | Hi Mick,
Thanks for the update on Helen. Sounds like she's coming along nicely and good to hear that she's out of bed, off the oxygen and some of her drains have been removed. Tell Helen to hang in there - we're all pulling for her for a speedy recovery. My prayers are will all of you.
Hugs, Nancy
Stage IV oral cancer (tongue), T3N2, total glossectomy with right and left modified neck dissection 7/03, rad /chemo ended 11/03
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#3306 08-16-2004 04:11 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 143 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 143 | Just back on line after 6 month vacation and move to Alabama...........checked OCF first, just to find out Helen has had surgery, please let her know know the Wicked Witch of the South wants her to hang in there and many prayer are headed her way......................Love and Hugs, Dee | | |
#3307 08-16-2004 08:21 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Thanks for the update Mick!
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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#3308 08-16-2004 10:51 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Mick, Welcome to the site. Thank you so much for updating us on your big sisters progress. We all wish her well, more than I can describe. She has been a faithful friend to all of us and we pray for her wellbeing, strength and recovery.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#3309 08-16-2004 12:12 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | Welcome, Mick,
I'm so glad Helen's condition is improving. I'm glad she was able to get our messages. Thank you for being a sweet brother!
Here's a message for you Helen: I've bought MORE SHOES in the hopes that I'll feel better and maybe you can feel better vicariously. I discovered a NINE WEST store in nearby Winston-Salem....You know how I have a Nine West shoe thang....and girl, I finally found my favorite Australian Merlot at Kroger. I stocked up. I am having a glass in your honor as I write this.
Get better, OK? We miss you around here.
Love and hugs to you,
Christine
Wife of Scott: SCC, Stage I retromolar 10/02--33 rad; recurrence 10/03--Docetaxol, 5FU, Cisplatin; 1/04 radical right neck, hard palate, right tonsil; recurrence 2/04--mets to skin and neck; Xeloda and palliative care 3/04-4/04; died 5/01/04.
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#3310 08-16-2004 06:26 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 | Wonderful to hear that Helen is improving. Boy, does that woman have attitude! Can't wait for her sunshine to grace the board again. Love from Helen in Oz 
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#3311 08-17-2004 06:13 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 | Welcome Mick,
It is great to have you in the neighborhood, too. You till your sister I am praying fervently for her and wish her the speediest recovery. This time, it is me sending her the sunshine and hugs!
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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#3312 08-17-2004 08:41 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 Member | | Member
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 | hi again everybody Helen has had her tracheotomy out today and she is TALKING!! and she sounds the same as ever. she has to have a swallow test tomorrow and this is ok and there are no other problems she is hoping to come home on Friday and this is only the sixth day since her op
thank you all again
MIck. | | |
#3313 08-17-2004 11:12 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Goodness, that was quick. I thought she said 17 days in the hospital.
I am so glad she is recuperating so quickly and now talking. Not being able to talk is the pits in the hospital whne you are trying to tell the nurses something.
Hope they use her red wine for the swallow test. Bet she could get that down.
Tell her to take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#3314 08-18-2004 02:51 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Good for Helen, this is awesome news!!!! Cannot wait til she is up to posting again! God Bless! Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#3315 08-20-2004 01:57 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 80 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 80 | more sunshine to you, helen, and to you, mick. good thoughts for healing and peace.
gita
sister diagnosed 11/03 SCC maxilla keratenizing stg IV T1N1Mx; 4-7 positive lymph nodes; dissection 12/03 left upper pallette removd; radiaton left side 35 sessions 2/04-4/04; recurrence same side 4/04; chemo began 5/04 incl cisplatine, 5fu, taxotere
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#3316 08-26-2004 09:50 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 Member | | Member
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 4 | hi all sorry iv'e not had time to report back as Helen came home on Monday and iv'e been rushed off my feet at home and work. But she is doing really well. she has her pc back on line so i'm sure she'll post something herself soon. But i would like to say the biggest thank you to you all for your messages, you cannot appreciate how much they have helped me cope with Helen's surgery, to know that there are other people out there who know what i'm going through was so helpful. I did'nt know about this web site and i've been having a good read and it has helped enourmously take care all of you and a final big thankyou Mick. Helen's little brother. | | |
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