Hi everybody! My name is Jon and I hail from Western New York. I just had surgery on February 14th to remove my rt tonsil, 20 lymph nodes (2 cancerous) same side, partial soft pallat removed and I believe part of my right esophogus. They made a flap from the underside of my left wrist to graft into my throat, which included a blood supply.
Despite all of this, my surgeon say's he believes that I have a high probability for survival and quaility of life.
6 weeks ago I would not have believed you if you told me I had been through all this and now fighting to be a cancer survivor.

I'm going to need alot of help from you folks to help guide me through the coming months. I am 49 years old, but am not ashamed that I have cried a river over the last few weeks.

If anyone can't sleep in the middle of the night, maybe we can hookup for a chat.

Thanks!

You have certainly come to the right place! There are lots of great and experienced people here that can help you with any questions your have. Your surgeon sounds very encouraging which really helps a lot. Has he recommended further treatment like Radiation or Chemo therapy? There is a "search" feature for all kinds of information available on this site and on the home page that can help you to ask the right questions when you see your doctor. Most of us have shed a few tears, too so you're not alone there. But it's important too, to let the doctor know how you feel in the event he thinks you might need meds for anxiety or anything else. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Welcome! If you are looking for support, you have come to the right place. I am a relative "newbie" here, but I can assure you that this is the best bunch of people around. It is good to hear that your Doc has given you much hope for the future. But for all the questions that I am sure you'll have, this is the place to be.

God Bless,

Amy

Hey Jon,
Welcome to the club tht no one wants to belong to. You're doing exactly the right thing...fighting the demon, with everything you've got. If you'd said you hadn't cried over this, I wouldn't have believed you.

I'm about 8 months further along than you, and I underwent major surgery and radiation. It is the biggest battle you will ever fight, but you will learn things about yourself that will amaze you.

Keep hanging around here and you'll meet some of the most amazing and wonderful people you'll ever have the privelege of meeting
Wayne

Welcome Jon,

Welcome to a great site that will be here for you 24/7 and will help walk with you through your recovery.

Use the search to help you find what you need. If you do not find, then just post in the area, such as after treatment, coping etc.

Tears are for healing so do not feel bad about that. We have all cried over our situation. You are not alone we are all here to help each other through this journey.

OOps

Hit the wrong button again!

I was going to say; to make sure you look up Dry Mouth and Thyroid. Those two things are really important along with nourishment & liquid intake.

by for now
Take care
Diane

Welcome, Jon....sorry that you have to be here, but you are a lucky guy to have found this site. I am only a year out from surgery, and I have learned soso much and, more than that, have felt such sincere and caring support here that I know that this site is a true blessing. I have found several new friends here who have had similar surgery to mine, and that has helped a lot, but even those with different actual surgeries all share the fact that we all are fighting this monster that tries to damage our bodies and our spirits. We are determined to fight it with everything we've got, and we are here to help each other do just that.

I have lost part of my hard palate. Do you have to wear an obturator to close the defect in your soft palate?

Hi, Jon, so what kind of concerts do you like to go to ?? And what kind of fish do you like to catch?? Crappie, pan fried, is my favorite to eat, or red snapper grilled and laced with garlic. Please catch us up on what is happening with you at present. There is lots of help available here. If you are having radiation or chemo, please tell us. Amy in the Ozarks

Hi Jon, Jack also had the right tonsil, about half of his soft palate, a base of tongue resection and a neck dissection last year. He was part of a clinical trial at U of PA testing the DaVinci robotic surgical technique. That was followed by chemo radiation.

It's very hard in the beginning to believe there's another side to this and that you will come thru it. None of us had any perspective in the beginning but it really does get better. One year later, we've just come back from our postponed trip to Hawaii where Jack ate everything he wanted to and went scuba diving with me. We even got remarried. I'd say that was pretty good quality of life.

Swelling is very common at this point post surgery, how have your graph sites healed? Are you scheduled for radiation and chemo, and if so when does that start, and how's your swallowing? We were very concerned about Jack's speech and swallowing when he was diagnosed but I am happy to report that his speech is perfect and his swallowing is getting better. He had speech therapy and did exercises to strengthen the muscles affected by the surgery and that worked well. He also had acupuncture for the dry mouth and is one of the ones that had very good results - I know others who have not felt that benefited them.

He's able to eat just about everything he could before but goes a little slower, doesn't chew and talk etc. He does not need an obdurator plate because his graph site on the soft palate healed very well, and he learned what worked and didn't with swallowing. Occasionaly he'll get food stuck but he "repositions" (hacks it up) and hasn't had major issues.

How's the snow up there in Western NY? I went to Niagara University and lived in Buffalo and had a good time up there...when I wasn't freezing. This site is a wealth of information, take some time to browse on the main page and try the search functions. If there is a topic you are interested in you can also search on this forum and come up with what others have said about it.

Regards JoAnne

Jon,

I warned you that you will not alone. We will all cry together, and then laugh together. My wife is at home on the couch with a broken foot. She told me to tell your wife to give her a call anytime for some info, along with moral support. Let me know how today goes. All our best.

Rob J