#21265 10-02-2006 04:38 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | 3 Years Ago: My life changed forever.
3 Years Ago: I Was diagnosed with Head & Neck Cancer.
3 Years Ago: I was shocked and upset to the very core of my existence.
3 Years Ago: I thought I was going to die.
3 Years Ago: I found out just how fragmented medicine is in the United States.
3 Years Ago: I learned that I am my own advocate in this battle and am responsible for the management of it.
3 Years Ago: I taught myself how to do research.
3 Years Ago: I readied myself for my toughest battle of and for my life.
3 Years Ago: I shaved my head for hair loss that never occurred (my doctors still laugh about that).
3 Years Ago: I discovered you can feel very very bad from Chemo/Rad and still be in a good mood.
3 Years Ago: I learned that it takes longer to heal physically than I thought.
3 Years Ago: I learned that it takes longer to heal mentally than I ever thought.
3 Years Ago: I saw light at the end of the tunnel.
3 Years Ago: I found out why I fell in love with and married the finest human being on this earth 10 years earlier.
3 Years Ago: I began to understand what's really important in life.
3 Years Ago: I found out that belief is not something to be taken lightly.
3 Years Ago: Although I thought it wasn
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#21266 10-02-2006 05:54 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Robert,
Thanks for your uplifting post -- it expresses the thoughts of many of us who have been through the oral cancer experience.
Quite a few people on the forum were concerned recently because they hadn't heard from you in awhile, so we're glad to see you here again.
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#21267 10-03-2006 04:48 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Too Everyone. Sorry I have been away for a while. Turns out I had a Staph? infection and that is why my nodes were raised. A real nasty buger that is resitant to antibiotics.
I got it form the hospital when I went for my normal 6 month CT. I had a zit on my leg and it got into it. Wierd huh?
Anyway, sorry to all that I have not been around. I have been travelling (Hong Kong, etc)and getting the kids ready for school.
Thanks for the concern.
Peace and love,
Robert Hamilton
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#21268 10-03-2006 07:01 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Robert, I am fairly new to this Board and only 5 weeks out of chemoradaition without surgery for Stage IV SCC nodes and base of tongue. Even though I am a baby survivor I could have written everything you said word for word except I have been married to the my finest for much longer and never really knew it until 3 months ago. I'm sure you have spoken for everyone who has made through treatment. I printed this out to let my wife see that I am not alone in my thoughts. I have tried to get her involved in this site but she still thinks it will depress her. I hope posts like this will convince her otherwise. Thanks
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#21269 10-03-2006 08:06 AM | Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2002 Posts: 642 | Robert,
Very well put. Thank you for articulating thoughts and feelings that we all share.
Danny G.
Stage IV Base of Tongue SCC
Diagnosed July 1, 2002, chemo and radiation treatments completed beginning of Sept/02.
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#21270 10-03-2006 12:07 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 | RobR,
I am a newbie too...but I just wanted to say Well Said and Very Truthful!
Tim Stoj
60 yr old. Dx Jun 06 with BOT Stage IV. Neck dissesction on 19 Jun 06. Started Tx on 21 Aug 06/completed 33 IMRTs and 3 CT (2 Cisplat & 1 Carboplat) on 5 Oct 06.
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#21271 10-23-2006 05:43 AM | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 248 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 248 | Robert Great Post I hope
3YRS from now you can sit with your family and say we need to change those 3's to 6's. Great job and best of luck to you.
p.s. it seems like you were pretty busy 3 yrs ago how are you doing today.Do you have 5 kids, If the awnser is yes than you don't have to awnser that last question. My best wishes to you and your family.
Mark
Mark D. Stage 3 Nasopharynx dx10/99 T2N3M0 40xrad 2x Cisplatin 5FU. acute leuk 1998.
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