Hello Everybody! My name is Sandra Murray. I live in the great white north aka Canada and the weather is truly living up to that name here in Mississauga (just outside of Toronto) Ontario.
I'm a 43 yr old mother of two who was diagnosed first time around last November with squamous cell carcinoma left lateral tongue. I had what my ENT guy referred to as 'Commando' surgery, removal of left half of my tongue with neck dissection removing lymph nodes but I also had a graft removed from my left wrist that they fashioned a flap that sort ot replaced my missing tongue half. Everything seemed hunky dory, lymph nodes and margins clear. But I had a feeling in my gut that the cancer would return.

And as I say to my young'uns, Mommy's always right; I was. They found another growth, this time on the right side more to the middle. I had surgery 7 months to the day of my last surgery, same 'commando' type. Once again margins, lymph nodes clear but 3 weeks from now I start radiation. My ENT dude is so optimistic that I think it's a bit of a problem. The guy doesn't want to even consider this might be an ongoing problem for me. I had to beg for the second biopsy. I may sound like a pessimist but I'm a realist. Cancer sucks, it's evil and sneaky and you really have to be on your toes once diagnosed with it.
Anyways now that I've vented I actually feel much better. The family gets a little tired of cancer this 'n' that. I hope everyone that reads this is having a good day. Stay as well as you can and I look forward to corresponding with y'all!
Love,
Sandra

Hi Sandra
I'm 13 months out from 'Commando' surgery so far so good. I'm so sorry to hear of your recurrence.
Are you being treated at a comprehensive cancer center I know it is different in Canada, but your Doc sounds as if he knows his stuff to have taken you through 2 lots of heavy treatment. Have you met with the radiation team yet?
Stay with us, although I've not had radiation many here have and they will answer your concerns as they arise...
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen

Hello, Sandra.You sound pretty tough to me, and everyone needs a place to vent. This is one of the best. Read everything you can on this site about radiation as there is a ton of great information from the "patient" side on how to get through it. Keep posting. Amy

Hi Sandra - Glad to meet you, though too bad its here! You face the dilemma many of us have faced - how hard to hit back. How much treatment is enough? I don't know of any good answer to that. If you hit back too hard, the treatment beats you up, if you don't hit hard enough the cancer beats you up. Lousy choices at best.

Get second and third opinions. Question your doc about other tx options. What else is being tried? What combinations of treatments are working in other places? There are MANY ways to fight our kind of cancer. Don't let your doc sell you his way, until you feel its the right way for you.

Get him to read up on other tx regimes and talk to you about them. Talk to other docs - and not just surgeons (ENT's). Listen to the wise consumers of those treatments here on this site. No two cancers are the same, but we do have much in common.

The tx technology is evolving almost daily for folks like us. Push your doc to find out about your other choices. Come here often. Hold your head up and defy the beast. Be strong. We are with you. Tom

Hi Sandra, I have been to Ontaro Canada and loved
it. I had my cancer 15 years ago. I hope you are
going to have chemo with the radiation. I'm glad
to meet you too. Feel free to e-mail me anytime?
Cathy

Sandra,

I like the commando aspect. I went commando on my cancer. I promised myself that I would do anything available to combat the tongue cancer, stage IV, that I was diagnosed with. I had very aggressive treatments. I just wanted my life back. Granted my life isn't what it once was. But, I'm a glass is half full kind of guy! I still have trouble speaking and eating. I still face some oral surgery (non-cancerous dental) I'm one year out from "commando" surgery. I was very lucky to have a ENT that I totally trusted. He was with me every step of the way. He has a very busy practice, but he always made me and my family feel as if I was his only patient. He made a very difficult time in my life a little easier.

John

Sandra, we are here for you. I vote for the chemo and rad. I was attracted to your name k9 crazy, I have 3 german sheps laying next to me on my huge couch...

Sandra,
I agree with ShawnaMargo...go for it all!! Get the beast once & for all! DOn't worry about venting...sometimes it feels really good!!! ShawnMArgo...I have a 100lb German Shepherd myself! She's the best! I would have 3 if huuby would let me!lol