#33736 01-11-2005 11:47 AM | Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Sep 2004 Posts: 2 | Even though I only posted once to the board, and that was just a month ago, I wanted to let you know that my sister Gina passed away on 1/4/05, one day after turning 40.
Gina had been fighting her cancer since January of last year when she was diagnosed with stage 4 SCC on her tongue. She had surgery that removed half of her tongue, and the right side of her neck was disected and the lymph nodes removed. She followed the surgery with both chemo and radiation. She had a reoccurance in late August, and they removed a tumor in September that was growing against her larnyx and carotid artery. She followed that surgery with agressive chemo. Halfway through the chemo treatments, the cancer returned again with no other means of fighting it. Gina entered Hospice care at home in Novemeber. Hospice asked if we would move her to their inpatient care center for about a week of respite care on December 30. This turned out to be a blessing for our family. It allowed us to be a brothers, sisters, and mother again rather than caregivers. Gina passed very peacefully without any of the "final" complications she feared and I'm very thankful for that.
I want to thank the OCF, and the many posters on the OCF board. While I may have been a lurker, I read a lot here and the information available here is invaluable.
Thank you all.
Mike
Mike ** Co-caregiver to sister.
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#33737 01-11-2005 12:11 PM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Dear Mike
Please accept our condolences to you and your family.
Your sister was obviously loved a lot , I am so glad she had a peaceful passing.
Take care
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#33738 01-11-2005 12:16 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Mike-
I am so sorry to hear that Gina lost the battle to this disease. She fought a good fight and was very lucky to have been blessed with such a caring brother. My prayers to you and your family during your season of grief and may you find peace as you remember the good times with your sister. Love, Kris
SCC Stage IV left tonsil neck disection 3/02 radiation finished 6/02 chemo finished 9/02
Stage 2A left breast cancer 3/09, chemo and radiation, finished treatment 2/7/10 -Stage 2 right beast cancer 10/14 chemo and radiation
Every day is still a gift :-)
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#33739 01-11-2005 01:04 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 | Dear Mike
I am sad to hear that Gina has passed away at such a young age. She was obviously deeply loved and will always be with you in your heart.
Condolences to you and your family with love from Helen
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#33740 01-11-2005 03:01 PM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 | Mike,
Tom and I will remember Gina and your family in our prayers. We extend our sincere condolences to all of you.
Nicki
Nicki, wife of Thomas
dx July 2004, SCC, Stage 4 Tonsil. Tx begun 8/4/04. Cisplatin/Xeloda x 4; IMRT 7 wks, 8/7 - 10/25/04 Modified Radical Dissection (right), Selective Dissection (Left) 12/10/04.
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#33741 01-11-2005 03:48 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Mike,
So sorry to hear of Gina's passing and I pray God gives you and your family peace and comfort as you obviously miss her terribly. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#33742 01-11-2005 03:51 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Dear Mike,
I am so sorry to hear of Gina's passing. You and your family have my deepest condolonces. This is one unforgiving diaease! I take comfort in knowing Gina sufers no more. Try and remember the good times you shared with Gina. It may ease the pain your in now. Your love for her leaps off the posting when read. She was lucky to have you as her caregiver.
God Bless, Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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#33743 01-12-2005 04:23 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Dear Mike, I am very sorry to read of Gina's passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless You, Love, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#33744 01-12-2005 06:13 AM | Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2002 Posts: 546 | Mike, I, too, am so sorry that Gina is gone. As I told you in my email, I will be making a donation to OCF in Gina's memory. For fellow OCF members, should you care to also make a donation in her memory (hint, hint!), she was member #1093, Gina (Regina) Wilson. Mike, you and your family did a wonderful job of caring for Gina. I'm glad you had those last days to be by her side as loving family, not as harried caregivers. Take care of yourself. With deep sympathy, Rosie
Was primary caregiver to my daughter Heather who had stage IV base of tongue SCC w/ primary recurrence. Original diagnosis August 21st, 2002. Primary recurrence March 18th, 2003. Died October 6th, 2003.
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#33745 01-12-2005 06:29 AM | Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 36 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 36 | Mike
I am very sorry to hear about your sisters passing.
My sincere condolences to you and your family.
It hits very close to home for me as I have seen a lot of friends that I have met through my course of treatments with this disease not make it.
I'll say a prayer for you and your family
God Bless
Ray
Stage 4b Tonsil cancer Survivor!
Dx 11/05/02 SCC 2cm tumor in left tonsil 7x4cm neck node L/side with other positive nodes on right,
Wide field Tonsillectomy Nov 20/02
Tx 1/2/03, Cisplatin Chemo x3, IMRT x 40 L/Neck Disection 08/15/03
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