My name is Billy Calcutt and I am new here. I signed up as the Marlboro Man because my wife has a blog for my family that is called that so they can check on me...LOL

I Have stage 4 tongue cancer and am 44 years old. My doctors are telling me that I need 7 weeks of radiation at 5 days per week and also 3 doses of cysplantin(spelling?).

I have a beautiful wife that is 34 years old and 4 great children(Michael 23, Donnie 18, Krista 14 and my baby Rebekah who is 10). They are my support group and all of them know everything that is going on. They are behind daddy 100%. Rebekahs teacher asked her the other day what she had to do that day and she told them she had to " take care of her daddy ".

We all believe in the good Lord above and I have told everyone in my family that I will die someday but it won't be from this.

Thank you for letting me share my story with you and I can promise that each and everyone of you will be in my prayers.

Billy Calcutt

Hey! We are behind you 100% and we'll all get through this.
I'm glad I got to be the one to respond first to your post (lol)

Hello Billy,
My name is Petey. I go by the user name PeteyB.
There are plenty of beievers here, and we pray for each other.
Please enter your Dx & Tx at the bottom of the page in your profile.
See how Lissy and I have ours.
This is very helpful for all who write you, and when you post something. They will know exactly what you have and they can respond accordingly. This will appear everytime you post something.
Any question you have, ask it, and someone here will respond.
You have a beautiful family. They, and the Lord, and the people here will give you all the strength you will need to see this through.
PeteyB

Hi Billy, I too was diagnosed with Stage IV tongue cancer at age 44 May 10, 2002. I am still around, so that is a good thing! Please PM me with any questions, or if you think I can be of some help, I had 7 weeks of radiation, did not have chemo....God Bless and Take Care, Carol

Billy,

I am a base of tongue victim myself and was diagnosed last April. I had never had any "up close and personal" experience with cancer involving me or any close relative.

I would be more than happy to fill you in with answers to any questions or concerns you may have if I think I could be of help. Feel free to e-mail me directly in that regard.

One question I will ask at this time is whether or not you are going to have a PEG (feeding) tube installed prior to starting treatment?

Bill D.

Bill, did you have a peg tube? I elected not to have one and hope I did not make a bad decision.

Bill,

I had no choice on the tube. Emory will not treat for head/neck cancer unless it is done first. A policy they started about 8 years ago. They were having too many cases of treatment being interrupted with swallowing/eating issues.

Bill D.

Dear Billy C., It sounds like you have your primary support system well in place ! Hope you are finding time to read alot about the rad treatments so you and your wife will be forwarned about things that may crop up. The 5 days a week x 7 weeks will likely have a negative effect on you and will rearrange your wife's schedule also. Start eating everything you love now and pack on some weight- address the yard work, household chores, etc. that you are used to doing and assign them to someone else- try to get your life organized to the point that all you have to focus on is getting well. [easy to say-hard to do]Please Keep posting so we can help. Amy in the Ozarks

Hello Billy. You and you family are in my prayers. Sounds like you have a good support group. I hope we can help you out as well. One thing, your family will need a little help too at times. It's hard for us but sometimes harder for the caregivers. They usually allow us to focus on fighting the battle while they take on helping us with that plus all the other things that goes with life that they don't want us to be bothered with. I'll pray for each and everyone of them as well. Good Luck.

To all of you Bills, Billys, and Hillbillies,

I am a base of tongue Stage IV survivor who is doing just fine approaching my 5 year anniversary. You guys will probably do just fine as well.

Best of luck with your treatments and recoveries,

Danny G.