I have had a couple of days full of appointments and have now got a formal treatment plan. Next Wednesday I am having surgery at to remove 6 tumours from my jaw and neck(3 in and around the left jaw and 3 nodes in the right next). I had more scans today to make sure that they were all operable and Neil (my surgeon) is happy that they are. I also have no spread to the lungs (phew!).

I will be in hospital for 3 to 5 days depending on how the radiated side of my neck heals. After that I will have a couple of weeks recovering at home...then comes the worst bit. I will go to Peter MacCallum Hospital (CCC in Melbourne)as an inpatient for a stay of at least three weeks while they radiate my head and neck twice and a day and give me chemotherapy. Hopefully I will be strong enough to leave at the end of treatment. By then it will be Christmas (I know that I have taken extreme measures to have it off this year!).

After being released from Peter Mac I will recuperate at home for however long it takes. The radiation has to monitored very closely because I am being given over the recommended safe levels on the left side of my neck (due to radiation last year) and that has potential to create problems that I don't even want to contemplate at this stage! Certainly Andy, Mum, Tash and I were all teary when the Radiation Oncologist was speaking to us. But it is a calculated risk that has to be taken though if I want my life to extend into 2010 and, hopefully,well beyond.

On the whole I'm feeling much more optimistic and am looking forward to getting this started. My Surgeon was going to be in Queensland on Wednesday but he is flying back to do this surgery (only a day early but I am very grateful!).

(They decided to do the surgery first because the tumours are aggressive and the RO and MO said it takes 6 weeks before you can tell if the chemotherapy has been effective and that would be too late for me if it didn't work!)

Suddenly what they initially regarded as technically very difficult, if not impossible, surgery is now able to be done! Miracles can happen!

Sue

Sue,
I am glad you have your treatment plan and that they now think they can remove it surgically. Will be sending good vibes on their way next Wedsnesday for your surgery.

Take care,
Eileen

Sue,
Great that you now have a timetable for the upcoming treatments and that it is making you feel optimistic. Best of luck with the surgery on Wednesday for phase one. Look forward to seeing your next post when you are able.
Will be thinking about you.
{{{{hugs}}}}Gabriele

Good luck sue xx

Sue, good luck on Weds and the days ahead. We'll all be thinking of you and sending you healing vibes.
Nancy

I'm sure your surgery will go well - sending you best wishes for a speedy recovery and clean pathology reports!

Donna

Thanks to all for the good wishes! I can't wait for this surgery to be done, not only to provide relief from my ear and head aches but also I feel like I have a bunch of time bombs in my jaw and neck just waiting to explode. A couple are quite palpable and appear to be getting bigger and harder by the day. My biggest fear at the moment is that one might burst. Logically I'm sure that won't happen before Wednesday - I'm just glad I don't have to wait longer than that. I'll post again when I get home.

Sue

Sue

Good luck. For what it's worth, my doctors also gave me much more than the accepted radiation doses (I'm up to a cumulative total of 97GY on my neck & hyboid bone area)with pretty much the same rationale yours are giving you about your Peter Mac stay.
Sorry that this has happened to you
charm

Sue,

Sorry to hear of your 3rd go around. I too had 3rd time in July. It was in the scare tissue as well. From what I understand this is not uncommon. I had laser surgery, with clear margins and it was the begining of SCC.

Hang in there, we are all fighting together. You are never alone. Take care.. Diane

Sending you prayers today for a successful surgery and your quick and complete recovery. Hugs

Donna