#38187 02-08-2005 06:21 AM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 108 Gold Member (100+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 108 | Or maybe just barely I should say. There are several important brain cells that I think got left behind at the hospital as I can't seem to getting anything going in a proper direction.
On Feb 2 they did a radical neck dissection with a few extra nips for insurance. The Trapezoid muscle and the SCM are both gone and I have a wandering trail of staples running from chin to the top back of my rt ear, then on down the side of the neck where they sacrificed all the vessels soft tissue etc. and other "unnecessary strucures". Here is a large OUCH cause that's how it all feels right now. I dropped another 8-9 lbs in hosp. so have some recoup. work to do there.
Getting on the appropriate meds has been difficult...esp after months of chronic pain fron the tumour we're now dealing with acute pain from the surgery. My body acknowledges both at the moment even though the tumour is removed.
A tearful call to my primary nurse at the cancer center has yielded s new set of pain pills and a small vial of ativan. Guess I'll make it through this tough day after all. They plan to take the staples out on Friday and I want to be a little more "together" by then.
In the meantime it's back to bed, a little Oscar Peterson to listen to, and hopefully a rest that heals.
Talk to you all soon.
Blessings,
Fran
SCC Base of tongue diag. April 04 Stage IV, mets to rt. neck multiple nodes 35 rads+8 boosts First recurrence Jan05. Rt.rad neck dissection Feb02/05. Recurred with bone mets in neck July 05.
Committed to survival with dignity.
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#38188 02-08-2005 06:36 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Fran,
Glad to hear the surgery is behind you and that now you are working on healing. You're in my thoughts.
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#38189 02-08-2005 06:43 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Good morning Fran, You and I now have another thing in common (besides snow) we share the same scar and same "Radical Neck". Good to hear your voice, come back after some rest. nobody can spell SCM the right way either 
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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#38190 02-08-2005 07:17 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Hi Fran
Glad you are back, you will take a couple of weeks to replace all the scambled brain cells from surgery, well anyway that was my excuse to lay back and enjoy some ME time..
Sunshine...love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#38191 02-08-2005 10:29 AM | 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 Fran
It is good to hear that you are doing well and that your surgery is over. Thankyou for posting - I had been wondering how you are. Take care of yourself.
Love and light from Helen
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#38192 02-08-2005 12:13 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Fran, glad things are now in the past. I found that the surgery was less of a bother than rad. Is that your feeling also? For your information, removal of the staples when I had mine done was very simple. I had zero discomfort. And no issues at all with removal of the drain tubes. Also, a month or so after surgery, I had 16 or so physical therapy sessions to help strengthen the shoulder. Hope it all turns out well for you.
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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#38193 02-08-2005 12:39 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Hey Fran,
So good to hear from you. Dan also had just about everything removed from the left shoulder. Stables came out fine and it was definitely the easier of the treatments. I pray that you will feel much better soon!
God bless and take care,
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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#38194 02-09-2005 01:33 PM | Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 206 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 206 | Hi Fran, Glad you are doing okay? Sorry that you
had to have all that done not much fun.
Cathy
Cathy
SCCA Stage IV diagnosed 01/90
base of tongue with 1/2 removed.
With neck resection, radiation and chemo
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#38195 02-09-2005 04:21 PM | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 72 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 72 | Fran: You write very well! I got a very good sense of how you are doing by your post. I know this is beside the point (the point being your surgery, your pain, your survival), but I found myself smiling and enjoying your post and I wanted you to know that you have a good knack for writing! Of course, you probably already knw this. I do hope you will feel better soon. - Candace
Sister of guy w/base of tongue cancer, Stage IV, Dx 4/03, finished Tx 9/03
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#38196 02-09-2005 05:54 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hello Fran,
Glad to hear the surgery is behind you. You should feel much better in a week or so. Time to rest and heal. Make sure you drink alot of fluids and get enough nourishment to maintain and heal.
p.s. I'm also in snow with you and Mark.
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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#38197 02-11-2005 07:29 AM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 108 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 108 | Thanks to all for your unfailing support...not just to me, but to each other. This forum overflows with gifts of compassion and understanding.
It is good to recall the advice about surgery being a "piece of cake" after the rads. So I reckon I must be halfway through my slice by now.
The staples came out today, and all the nurses swooned at the expertise of my surgeon. Do you think they have some sort of mutual admiration pact?? He is good looking I must admit.
There is still a fair amount of discomfort and odd skin sensations from where there has been significant muscle loss. I know it takes time to get used to the new improved body. Resting is a major hobby of mine right now.
Once again, bless you all,
Fran
SCC Base of tongue diag. April 04 Stage IV, mets to rt. neck multiple nodes 35 rads+8 boosts First recurrence Jan05. Rt.rad neck dissection Feb02/05. Recurred with bone mets in neck July 05.
Committed to survival with dignity.
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