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.

Danny G.,

You don't know how glad I am to hear your story since I came in with a verdict of the same last April. I will look forward to approaching my 5 year point in about 4 more.

Bill D.

WOW !!!

That is all I can say at this very moment. You guys are great and never ever did I think I would return here to find an overwhelming response like this. I have been very busy with all of the things leading up to therapy and that is the reason it took me so long to get back. That and I cant stay on here long as it makes my head pound. Thank you all so very much for your advice and loving support. I start treatment on Monday and will try to post as often as possible.

Thanks again,
Your friend in Jesus, Billy Calcutt

Billy

Just wanted to join the group to let you know we will be praying for you also. Prayer has helped us get thought alot of ups and downs with our treatment. This forum and all you reply on here have been a live saver also. It has helped me to know what to look for and things to ask the doctors. Marvin only has 7 more rad treatments and 1 more chemo. Then we wait and pray for the best results. I have to say that Marvin getting a peg was the best thing for him. He lost his taste and appitet early on. So we have been using his tube alot. Tonight was the first time in a long time that he ate something. Take Care and keep us all posted as to your treatments.

Danny G. Congrats on your upcoming 5 year mark! I am approaching mine too in May, I am happy about it and scared, too.....I don't know.....menopausal, what can I say?
Carol

Billy,

Is your cancer base of tongue or on oral tongue?

Keep your spirits up for the approach of Monday! Look at it as suiting up to take on and slay the dragon. Think of that radiation as the offending weapon that will overcome the disease and look forward to it every single day. Go in there anxious each day knowing that you are zapping a little more life out of the cancer every time you get onto that table. That is the best way to approach it. Look at the chemo treatment pretty much the same way except think of it as a means of enhancing the radiation as an added punch to the attack on the cancer.

Based on my personal experience, pay close attention to any ear ringing noticed after first round of Cisplatin. This was one of the side effects I was told to look out for and to report immediately if noticed. I did notice it and now 8 months later still have the ringing. I was switched to another blend of chemo right away. I can't tell that I have any actual hearing loss or damage other than the ringing.

Bill D.