My name is Sharon and I was diagnosed with oral cancer in April. I sure haven't been given much information from my doctors, so have to guess at my cancer stage. According to the biopsy report (I had to demand a copy), I have:

Left soft palate lesion, invasive, moderately-differentiated squamous CC arising from highly dysplastic surface mucosa; tumor invades to at least 4 mm below the surface, and is transected at the deep margin of the biopsy; negative for vascular or perineural tumor invasion.

Left retromolar trigone lesion, extensive in situ squamous CC and dysplasia of the oral mucosa; negative for invasive carcinoma.

Left tonsillar fossa, benign reactive squamous mucosa with underlying dense submucosal scarring; negative for dysplasia of the surface mucosa and negative for any invasive carcinoma in the underlying scar tissue.

So, I assume the soft palate biopsy indicates a T2 level, while the retromolar biopsy indicates a Tis level? Don't know what to make of the tonsillar biopsy. But I definitely like seeing all of those "negative for invasive" phrases!

I'm to be given the 7-week radiation routine plus "a few" chemo treatments (no one will be specific!). All docs say because of location, surgery is not an option.

Had a PEG stomach tube installed first week of May, still having problems with pain/infection, so they're removing and installing a 2nd tube today (mid-June).

I'm finding more information on this forum than I've gotten from my doctors (either written or oral). What a Godsend! Reading some of your posts on what you've undergone and are going through makes me feel a whole lot better about this.

Hi Sharon,

I'm sorry that you have joined us but you will find support here. It's a great source of information. I hope that the peg tube went well today, that's the only way Jack was able to maintain his hydration/nutrition during the radiation and chemo.

Good luck with everything and keep asking questions until you get answers that make sense to you.

Regards JoAnne

Hello Sharon and welcome.
I hope you will do better now they are replacing that PEG.
You have quite a road ahead of you and we wish you the very best.
Take Care
Marica

Hi Sharon,

Take it one day at a time. It is a rough road, but is completely doable. I hope you have some support network set up.

Steve

Hello, Sharon, I just want to wish you the best as you start your treatment.Please tell us more about yourself so we'll know who we are talking with. We have an "Orchid Lady" here in Cherokee Village who is fairly famous- her name is Sidney Nisbit and she developed a new orchid several years ago. I know you are having fun with yours. They are such beautiful plants and so challanging. You are going to have a few new challanges ahead and I know OCF will help. Amy

Sharon,

Welcome to this site -- I'm glad you were able to find it fairly early in your cancer journey.

I was interested to see that you grow orchids -- that happens to be a hobby that I got into after I was done with cancer treatments, and I love watching them bloom in my sunroom in New England in the winter when everything else is dormant.

Please feel free to post your questions here as you go along. You'll find a great deal of support and information.

Cathy

Hi, Amy! Yeah, orchids are my obsession, uh, hobby. I've been growing them for many years now, just for pleasure, not for sale. I do have a web site where I post pictures of the ones that have bloomed, guess it's OK to put the address on the forum? It's www.sdahldtp.com, the "com" is only because I set up the site when that was about all that was available, before any of the "net" or other classifications came about.

I pray that the treatments don't wipe me out to the point where I can't care for the orchids for several months, but with only "a few" chemo treatments (they say), perhaps I'll not be knocked down quite so hard?

DH and I are retired, heading into our 60's. Just downsized and moved from the southern Califoria area to the mountain area very near Yosemite in California. Makes getting to the nearest large town for advanced medical care a bit more difficult, but it's still doable.

Thanks for making me feel welcome on this forum!!

Sharon

Sharon, I'm wanting to see your orchids, but the web address won't work for me. How is your new peg working? We can relate to "getting there for treatment" John's hospital, surgeon and rad. txs were a 3 hr. drive one way. Hope yours is shorter! Amy

Hi Sharon,
That's the most beautiful collection of orchids I've ever seen - My uncle was really into that - he even had a steam heated greenhouse.

Sorry, Amy, the trailing comma "caught" in the web address. Try www.sdahldtp.com and see if this one works for you better.

The orchids are just starting to rebound after their maltreatment for the past year. I sure look forward to my weekend "retreat."

The 2nd PEG tube is so incredibly better than the first one! Healing slowly, still have a huge bruise around the incision and it's sore (more so as the day wears on), but it's getting there. Am ready to contact my assorted doctors today to get the ball rolling on treatment again.

Sharon

OOh I love your web site on Orchids, I have been intrigued by them for a few years, but havent had the nerve to try them, maybe I can gleen more information from you and your site, so I have the courage to try. I had no idea that vanilla was an orchid, and the process was so amazing and difficult. I just take vanilla for granted I guess.
Thank you for your contribution!!
Jennie

Sharon, they are beautiful-thank you for sharing them with us. Glad the new peg is better. Take care. Amy

Those orchids are gorgeous, Sharon! I'm glad your PEG is working better.

Nelie