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#44323 12-14-2004 11:52 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,152
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,152
Hi Nicki,

Glad the surgery is over and Tom is home. I warned you that he would look like they had run him halfway through a guillotine, but with a good surgeon, the scars should heal quite nicely. Ask the doctor about using a deep wound cream like Biafine on the scars and get him or a PT to show him how to massage the scar so that it does not tighten up. He should also be scheduled to start PT for his neck and arms within a week or two after surgery. Make certain that he does not lift anything over a few ounces for the first sevral weeks until the shoulder gets it stength back. As to the Dr. comment about living another 2 years, are you certain you heard that correctly? Or did he say that there was a 95% chance that he would not have a reoccurence in two years? A reoccurence is not necessarily a death sentence as some of us can attest to.

To a speedy recovery but don't push to hard and remember to take time for youself. You deserve and need it. It's been a rough road for all.

Take care,
Eileen


----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
#44324 12-14-2004 12:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
A 95% chance of 2 year survival is as good as it gets! (95% of recurrences occur within the first 2 years) Be happy! Not that you should pay any attention to the statistics.

I am glad that Tom is finally home.

My wife is an esthetician and occasionally sees people with facelifts which can involve a lot of surgery. Swelling is quite common in facial surgery and in some instances it can take almost a year to completely resolve. I saw a lot of people at the OCF convention who had radical neck disections and the surgeries really weren't very obvious - it just takes a little time.


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
#44325 12-14-2004 02:05 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,627
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
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Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,627
Hi Nicki,
I'm happy for you and Tom. The biggest issue I had with the neck surgery was the tightness. Make sure that's tended to. I got very depressed about it when I began to feel better after my surgery and noticed how stiff my neck was. Take care and keep us posted.
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.
#44326 12-15-2004 12:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 217
Nicki Offline OP
Platinum Member (200+ posts)
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Platinum Member (200+ posts)

Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 217
Every day IS better smile Just the idea that treatment is OVER has brightened the outlook.

We took the bandages off today. (Big Sigh). He's pretty swollen, and I think I am already seeing the 'lumpiness' in several areas that I'llhave to research on this site. I believe I recall reading that we'll have to massage those areas to move the fluid.....he's a bit gun shy about having me touch anything right now....

Minnie, the stiffness is already in his arms, esp. the right one. So far he says he can't feel a thing in his neck except for a bit of tingling.....
He got back on the treadmill this morning and did a mile smile and we have our sights set on Tuesday's meeting with the surgeon.

I'm keeping a keen eye out for the depression - I know it is lurking. I try to alleviate his anxiety - and tell him often how 'good' he is looking. That may well be stretching a point, but to me he is still the most handsome guy I know smile
I'll let you all know the pathology report next week..
My best 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.
#44327 12-18-2004 04:51 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 482
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
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"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 482
Nicki, how good can it get? Bless the both of you for what you have been through. It all is just better and better from here on out. Give it time as healing is something that only time can help. But it just gets better from here on out. I am so happy for you both. You must be very excited to start the upward path from where you have been. Just think of it getting better day after day and pretty soon, you'll look back and hardly remember the difficulty. God bless you both.


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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