#3628 09-08-2004 02:47 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP  OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | I have been sitting at the keyboard for over an hour trying to find the words to put into this post. I cannot express myself now about my feelings, so I am only going to state the facts so that others may handle this in their own way.
I received a phone call today from Dinah and her husband. As all the long time posters here know, Dinah has been with us since the very early days of the foundation and message board. She was on the live recording for the ACS cancer network with me that you can hear on the multimedia page. She has always been one of the first to welcome those new to this board, helping graciously and intelligently with their questions. If you read her past postings, you know that she had developed a liver met months ago. It was very progressed when discovered, and her only option was to go into a clinical trial program. The first trial drug was successful in reducing her liver lesions in size, but in the long run she had to go off of the therapy as it became less effective. A second clinical trial drug did not produce the desired results. She has now been told that there is nothing further that she can do in the realm of treatment and she has moved into the care of a hospice doctor and staff. They hope that she will be with us until Thanksgiving, but there are no guarantees.
Obviously she and her husband are emotionally devastated by this news and turn of events. My phone call with her today was one in which a great deal of emotion and tears were shared by both of us. Dinah is without question the most courageous woman I have ever been privileged to know. She, through this entire process has stayed a fighter, positive, and met each new setback and emotional challenge with both dignity, and an inner strength that I could only aspire to match. She is not receiving any emails at her old address, and if you wish to communicate with her privately, you may do so by the private message function of this board, or you may post openly here. It is unlikely that she will respond to many of the open postings, but with the help of her husband she will attempt to communicate with those that send her a private message. She would also welcome phone conversations with those who have been close to her here on the board over the last couple of years. Her husband will provide anyone who wishes to talk with her a phone number in reply to your private messages.
Today marks a very sad day for all who have been privileged to get to know her. She is an extraordinary lady.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#3629 09-08-2004 03:26 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Oh Dinah,
My heart goes out to you and your husband. My prayers are with you. You are such an outstandingly courageous person and I have always enjoyed your postings. Thank you for all your inspiration and knowledge over this last year for my family.
Take care,
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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#3630 09-08-2004 03:35 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hello Dinah,
My worst fears came true when I haven't seen a posting from you for so long. I wanted to tell you how much you helped me deal with my own reoccurance. I'm trying to live each day to the best of my ability. I'm not giving up. You taught me that. To take the time to call me and offer advice and encouragement meant so much to me. I will never forget that. You are a lady with class and strength.
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
Love, 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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#3631 09-08-2004 04:02 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | Dear Dinah,
I have not had contact with you personally, but I recall many posts you made offering prayers for Scott and me. I can only do the same in return for you and your family now. My thoughts will be with you as you complete your journey here on Earth.
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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#3632 09-08-2004 04:07 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 | Dinah,
Just a little over a year ago you welcomed me to OCF with words of encouragement and helpful ideas in helping my mom battle oral cancer. The care and thoughtfulness that you have shown me and everyone else on this forum is so evident and touching. My thoughts are with you.
All my best,
D
Mom's caregvr. DDS failed to dx 01/03. Dx Stg IV SCC 05/03. Induct. chemo, IMRT, 5FU, H, Iressa, Neck disect, radiation. Dad's caregvr. Dx 01/04 Ext. Stg SCLC. Mets to liver/bone 08/04. Died 11/12/04. Mom tongue CA dx 06/13, hemiglossectomy (80% removed) 08/13. Clean margins and nodes, but PNI. 6/15/15: Tongue CA at base of remnant tongue. Declined further tx; hospice.
Died 10/13/15. What a long and difficult journey.
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#3633 09-08-2004 04:18 PM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 45 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 45 | Hello Dianh,
My prayers are with you and your family.
Christy | | |
#3634 09-08-2004 05:15 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 | Dear Dinah
You and your family are in my heart.
With love from Helen
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#3635 09-09-2004 01:16 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Dinah,
You've been such a strong example and have shown the way to so many people here -- my prayers are with you and your family.
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#3636 09-09-2004 01:31 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Dinah, I am at a loss for words only to say my thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband. Love, Carol Phil. 4:13
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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#3637 09-09-2004 03:17 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 | Dinah, kind of thought something was up when I hadn't heard from you for a while. Just so you know Nicole and I are wishing you the best.
Bob
SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
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