Hello to all, I am the husband of a stage 4 SCC hard palete beautiful wife. She has learned of her cancer just a little over a month ago, and is having the hardest time coming to terms with it. I am suffering as well, but hers is a suffering I can not begin to grasp. I will be seeing her doctor for the first time Wednesday, and it has advanced to her Lymph nodes, and sinuses. We went from stage 3 to 4a in a month. I will be spending as much time as I can researching this disease, and any suggestions would be welcome.

Hey Robert,

I'm sorry about your wife's condition. You're wise to stop by here. Read as much as you can and ask whatever questions you have on the forums. It's a long, hard road, but we'll help as much as we can.

Clint

Rob,

What type of doctor are you seeing Wed and for what reason(s)?

Who did the initial Dx?

Are you going to a Comprehensive Cancer Center?

Why was nothing done in the month between stage 3 and 4?

Rob - I'm sure glad you found this site. I don't know what we would have done without the caring and compassionate people we've met here. My son and I are from the Knoxville area, too. He went to the UT Medical Center which has a Comprehensive Cancer Center and everyone there has been extraordinarily helpful. It's good you are going with your wife on Wednesday. It helps to have other people with you so that you can take notes and make sure you have all your questions answered. Has your wife already had a biopsy? It is a difficult time, but you and your wife can get through it. There are lots of people here that will help. Let us know how the appointment goes.

Rob --

Do a search (top of each page, in the center) for postings from August, who had a partial palatectomy last year. I'd think your wife's surgery could be similar to what she had, and Colleen (her name) would be a great source of information about what to expect.

All the best --
Leslie

Rob, welcome to the forum. This is a great place to get answers, find questions to ask the docs and sometimes just vent a bit. Let your wife know we are here too. It took me awhile to want to talk with others when I was dx'd with MS but I finally found a forum and it helped me a great deal because I knew that the people I was talking with really had first hand experience with what I was going through. So when I was dx.d with cancer I quickly found a forum with cancer survivors. This has helped me stay positive. Hopefully your wife will come visit as well. You are in my prayers. I'm almost halfway through my treatments and hanging in there. I don't have the same primary sight as your wife so my surgeries are different but treatment is probably close to the same. She can do this. It is very helpful to have someone at the dr.s appointment to help take notes and remember things. When I go I here everything they say and even take some notes, but I always forget to ask the questions that I really wanted to ask. My wife always has to remind me. You can get through this. My family and I will pray for you. Lee

Thank all of you for all the answers and support. This site, (all of you), is great.