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#28889 04-24-2007 02:40 PM
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Hi..Just wanted to say that my husband and I seen our radiation doctor today and he gave us a 50/50 chance of a cure. Wondered what anyone thought??? He stated at one point that the tumor in his mouth is the largest he has every seen. He also stated that he has seen worse but only a few and they had been cured. We are confident this doctor will do everything in his power to cure us. Any thoughts??


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
#28890 04-25-2007 04:07 AM
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Confidence in your Doctors is incredibly important.

I hate odds. The odds say that oral cancer patients have a 50 to 60% survival rate over 5 years. I'm sure there is some mathamatical base for that arguement, but I personally don't buy into it.

I think that your husbands will to fight this beast, and his Doctors willingness to go after it agressively, make a lot of difference.

You trust your Doctor, and must. He has his game face on, and is ready for the fight. You, and your husband need to be ready to come out swinging as well.

Fighting cancer is not passive; it's something you have to be agreesive about mentally as well.

From the day I was diagnosed, I said that I would be DAMNED if I let this thing beat me. I've said the same thing every single morning since, and I still feel the same way

I will be DAMNED if I let cancer beat ME.

There are times during treatent when letting it win would have been far easier than fighting. Don't EVER give it even that one single day.

You and your husband are in the biggest fight you will ever be in. Give it all you have to give.

Keep coming back, asking questions, venting or just to say Hi. We want to know what's happening
Wayne


SCC left mandible TIVN0M0 40% of jaw removed, rebuilt using fibula, titanium and tissue from forearm.June 06. 30 IMRT Aug.-Oct. 06
#28891 04-25-2007 05:32 AM
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Thank you, Wayne...needed that...


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
#28892 04-25-2007 08:06 AM
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Keep in mind that cancer survival statistics are very difficult to interpret accurately -- and really do not mean much in terms of an individual case. One example is 5 year survival vs. 5 year disease specific survival. 5 year survival rates include death from all causes, not just the cancer. Disease specific cancer survival is higher. Also depends on lots of diagnostic variables, compliance with treatment, and availability of top notch treatment.

You can drive yourself crazy with statistics. The one statistic I know is that I am vertical and breathing today, so it is a good day!


Jeff
SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007
T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa
Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007
39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07
Complete response to treatment so far!!
#28893 04-25-2007 08:58 AM
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Mom,

One word you should try to avoid using is the word "cure". Unfortunately there is no cure for our cancer presently. We all live from scan to scan and hope that the little beast hasn't returned. The object of the treatment (Tx) is to kill all the cancer while keeping the patient alive.

In order for us to be more specific you need to be as specific as you can about his Dx and Tx.


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.
#28894 04-25-2007 11:22 AM
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Davidcpa..."cure" It was our family doctor that said it is curable...then they continued to say it was curable..right up until we met with our current radiation doctor. He told us it was 50/50 chance of it being cured. When my husband asked the question of whether it was curable he then said there was a chance of 50/50 of NOT being cured. When I got sick with cervical cancer, I was told it was 100% curable. They removed everything and I continue to have tests and they are negative....If they give radiation and chemo and remove all the tumors..and the CT scan shows no signs of tumors..Is it NOT a cure...or in this case, the case of Oral Cancer are you saying it can reappear? Why were so many specialist saying if we got treatment it was curable? Thank you.


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
#28895 04-25-2007 11:42 AM
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There is basically no cure for life. All life results in death. Don't pay attention to statistics; they're really just an opinion and don't apply on an individual basis. That said, get another opinion from an experienced oncologist. Not for statistics, but for treatment recommendations.


dx 2/13/06. modified radical neck dissection 3/9/06 multiple biopsies of upper airway and direct laryngoscopy. 1 of 47 lymph nodes positive for metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma). Unknown primary. Finished radiation 5/24/06.
#28896 04-25-2007 12:07 PM
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Please take a look at my observations about this on this page of the main site. http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/stages_cancer.htm


Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
#28897 04-25-2007 01:19 PM
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Thank you Brian...We believe he is in the best hospital Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, with the best doctors and with the most current equipment (that is why he was sent there) and his treatment plan is individualized. Thank you again. Because of his emergency treatment we do not have Stage information, but know it is quite advanced. Stage IV right tonsil, poorly differentiated. We can beat this thing. (Thanks Dragan again)...


Carol CG to Husband age 60 Stage IV SCC right tonsil T4AN2B tx rad x 35 chemo x 2 Currently after treatment no sign of cancer in throat. (all clear to date)
#28898 05-06-2007 10:32 AM
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My friend Rod had a huge tumor on his left tonsil.It was the largest his doctor had ever seen too. He is now 3 years clean! smile


maureen (friend to Rod SCC tonsil diag. Mar 04 stage 4 -concurrent rad. & chemo) Finished tx July 04
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