| | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) |  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | Actually, there was no lemom merangue, but I had a piece of chocolate cream pie, and that was pretty good, too!
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Holiday cheer. The holiday season, what it means to me. Two years ago I was at the height of my success professionally. I had slight jaw pain however professionally and personally I was truly at a peak I had never achieved before.
I had lead a hotel to national prominence and profitability. I had successfully found and added a new hotel project to my companies growing hospitality business. I was making an extremely good living, my family wanted for nothing...but a bit more time from me.
January 2008 I was given my diagnosis, two years later I'm still recovering from what was the fight of my life. During this time I have lost financially everything, a dear friend and business associate, my wife's grandmother and just a few days ago, my sister. All no longer among the living. I share this not to "trump" anyone on loss or situation as there are others with worse situations then mine. I share this to say...i can relate.
I still listen to a song that get's me every time...Defying Gravity from the cast of Glee.
Something has changed within me
Something is not the same
I'm through with playing by the rules
Of someone else's game
Too late for second-guessing
Too late to go back to sleep
It's time to trust my instincts
Close my eyes: and leap!
It's time to try
Defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I am defying gravity
And you wont bring me down!
I'm through accepting limits
''cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try, I'll never know!
Too long I've been afraid of
Losing love I guess I've lost
Well, if that's love
It comes at much too high a cost!
I'd sooner buy
Defying gravity
Kiss me goodbye
I'm defying gravity
I think I'll try
Defying gravity
And you wont bring me down!
To me, no matter how I've changed physically, my spirit still is one of defiance to this disease and to triumph over adversity, no matter what.
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Eric
Great attitude and showing a lot of Holiday Spirit. Guess I should have subtitled this thread inspirational sing a long considering how my replies and others have skewed to songs.
HO HO HO - perfect timing as in the DC area we are expecting 7 to 12 inches of Snow tomorrow and with the subfreezing temperatures, we should have a White Christmas.
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | We have the snow charm,about 6-8 inches and a walk with the dog has lifted my miserable spirits no end lol.Now its hot chocolate in front of the fire Brrrrr
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 92 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 92 | Love it, Eric - Viva defiance!
44 at 10-26-2009 Dx; SCC, T2N2b, St.IV BOT; Rt. Tonsil out; PET 11-12-09 (3 spots); 3 rds Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5-FU started 11-19-09; PEG 12-24-09; 7 wks chemo-rads done 03-16-10. 06-28 CT/PET watching 1 node; PEG out; 11-15 CT - larger; 11-23 PET activity up; mrdc 12-21; 04-01-11 CLEAN SCANS! ; March 2018 new SCC - Meet with surgeon 4-4-18
| | | | | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 | Just to give credit where credit is due: The song "Defying Gravity" is from the Broadway musical Wicked. (Great show, if you haven't seen it. It's the story of a free-spirited girl who grew up to become the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz.)
Leslie
April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Leslie
Wicked is a Wonderful show. Much much better than the book, which is usually not the case. My wife & I saw it three years ago ( before the Cancer) and it was by far our favorite. Thanks for bringing back happy memories for the holidays.
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
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