#37269 08-11-2004 04:08 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) |  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Millie!
Such great news to hear!!! Please give Rusty a hug for me! I wish I could hear him sing! Hope you are eating some of that ice cream too! You have such inner strength and are such a support to Rusty -- God has certainly answered your prayers. Try to make it to Las Vegas for the reunion in September, it sounds like they are putting together a jam session. Bring the whole band and we'll all sing!!!! - 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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#37270 08-11-2004 05:57 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Millie,
Thanks for sending along your terrific news! Getting back to eating and singing are great milestones. Congratulations to you and Rusty!
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#37271 08-11-2004 10:43 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Millie, what wonderful news. Its so nice to hear good news here as some of it is not so good. Its nice to balance it out some. You all will be in my prayers for health reasons and also that TS Bonnie doesn't drop too much rain. Hopefully, Hurricane Charley will miss you as well and you won't have a double wammy.
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#37272 08-12-2004 12:07 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 146 | Hi Millie,
Thank you for the great progress report. Sounds like Rusty (and you) are getting back to "normal" or at least settling into the "new normal." I went back and read your initial post and it was so dismal as the prognosis was so dreary but here you are today posting such wonderful news with Rusty achieving such memorable milestones as eating and singing! May you continue to build on many more thankful memories to share with each other and those around you. Thanks again - you made my day!
Hugs, Nancy
Stage IV oral cancer (tongue), T3N2, total glossectomy with right and left modified neck dissection 7/03, rad /chemo ended 11/03
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#37273 08-12-2004 10:22 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Millie,
God is so awesome! Your story is so full of miracles. It is so wonderful to see where things are in your and Rusty's life compared to your trip to Gainesville. May He continue to shower you with blessings.
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#37274 08-12-2004 11:13 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 137 | Oh Millie this is wonderful news  !!! I am in tears here. Thank you our precious God for listening and answering our many many prayers of our brother Rusty. Oh how happy I am for the two of you  . The song that comes to my mind is Oh happy day, God Bless, Miss Vicki | | |
#37275 11-16-2004 09:11 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 23 | Hi, All. Has been quite a while since my last post. Being in Pensacola, we were dead in the line for Ivan the Terrible and this has added to our list of things to do! Our house survived and is livable but needs a new roof, etc but we lucked out there. Rusty had mod. rad. neck dissection on left side (not original cancer site) Oct 8 and is undergoing radiation to nasopharynx, which they found using PET scan and CT. Not good news but could be worse. He's still holding out. Is back to having trouble eating due to the tumor on one side, surgery on the other, and radiation above but is managing to hold his weight and hasn't started losing again (was still 40 pounds "down"). He's determined not to get the PEG tube again so is subsisting on lots of potato soups, milkshakes, etc. He's still singing on weekends with help from friends (voice gives out quickly, of course) but is basically keeping on keeping on. The original tumor site was still clear on Oct 8 -- that was an answer to a prayer. We have found an ENT here that we like and trust and who lays it all on the line, just what we needed. With all of the horrors of our Gainesville experience, I promised God that I would not beg for him to heal and save Rusty but that I would thank Him for every day he gets to feel normal. God has more than lived up to my prayer and Rusty has gotten better and better each day. His outlook is brighter, he's much less dependent on pain medications, and is still fighting the fight. I apologize that I haven't been on the board for such a while and hope this finds many of you improving and getting better each day. With all of the obstacles each cancer survivor faces, it is simply amazing at the endurance human beings can come up with when needed. Each of you have held my hand and held me up through some tough times and I greatly appreciate it and will keep each and every one of you in my prayers. Will try to write again sooner. Millie | | |
#37276 12-08-2004 04:22 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 23 | Hi, all -- just a check in and report -- hope everyone out there is doing ok. Rusty had mod radical neck dissection on the OTHER side of his neck in early October. A PET scan found cancer in his nasopharynx so he is currently undergoing yet more radiation for that. Otherwise, he is doing fine. The neck dis with the immediate radiation has made his eating ability drop to soups and ice cream again but he's not discouraged and is continuing to play with his band every weekend. The hurricane hit us hard and his normal place of employment was destroyed so they are traveling to New Orleans each weekend for work. He's not able to sing much as his voice gives out quickly but we are just so thankful that he can play and, once the radiation is done, again, he can sing again. God keeps blessing us with continued answers and help and we keep calling on him for those blessings. If there is a "good" thing about this cancer, it's that it brings us closer together and closer to God. Thank you all for your support. We have been fortunate in that one of Rusty's nurses during all of his chemo at the beginning of last year has become a good friend (he also plays guitar and sings), so Rusty has a built-in educated support group! George, the nurse, is a constant source of back up for the doctors and myself in providing empathy to Rusty. With some hitches along the way, we have finally found a full group of doctors who are all on the same page and who all are committed to helping Rusty down this road. You all help me -- you just don't know how much! I come to the site and just read some days and know how many people are going through what we are and know we're not alone. God bless you all and I hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy holiday -- will check back soon! Millie | | |
#37277 12-08-2004 07:56 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Millie,
I am glad to hear you are getting the answers you were looking for. It sounds like you have been blessed in so many ways, especially in your relationship with God. Call on Him and He will be with you through anything! Thanks for the update and I am wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#37278 12-08-2004 04:09 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Thank you Millie, And all good things to you as well!
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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