Tony,
Welcome and congratulations! I admire anyone who came through treatment like you have.

Thankfully, I have an amazing wife and family, with lots of support. I can't imagine not having that network...I'm not sure I would have come through this as well, or at all.

I had SCC in my left jaw, which they removed and reconstructed using bone from my left and tissue from my arm, then 30 radiation treatments. Yesterday marked 6 months post surgery, and I haven't returned to work full time yet, and likely won't for several more months. Depression is really common after treatment ends, and you don't need to suffer from it. Talk to your doctor and take medication for it. Don't let it get too bad.
All the best
Wayne

Tony, how old are you? [I'm asking because of the stroke you had-I had one too, but I was 63 when it happened] Do you have any residual effects from it? I think you can get tested for the HPV-16 virus if you ask [and you want to know if that has played a part in your cancer.]Since it doesn't sound like you have lived a monogamous life style, it would be good to check this out. If depression is a serious issue for you, then get some help for that-the sooner the better. Amy

THanks JAM, Good avise. By the way, I had my stroke when I was 40 and now I'm 45. Long road ahead but I will make it. Tony

Dragan, My heart goes out to you! That sounds just awful. But you sound pretty upbeat. I have to get a root canal done on a tooth and I was wondering if that has anything to do with my getting cancer. One day this past summer, it just went crazy when I drank something cold so I went to the dentist and she said she couldn't find anything wrong with the filling or the tooth. She had me start using that sensodyn toothpaste.If that is all that I can think of to worry about, I am very lucky. Well, hang in there man and treat your family like gold because I would!!!

Tony, you sound like you have a great sense of humor, I could tell you were a ladies man the second Amy asked about your age. Smoking, Drinking, and kissing women leads to cancer, well now I know why I've survived so long. Wishing you the best you won't fall thru the cracks here.
Mark D.

Mark,

Now I know how I got it, thanks. And you said I was ugly.

Tim Stoj

Hey Tony, and welcome to the site. You sound like you are doing just fine, actually you sound damn lucky!!! Keep the great spirits up and you will come through this with flying colors, as far as the depression, maybe you just needed to talk to someone that has been through what you just went through, cause i dont care what anyone says...its scarier than hell!!! The worst part, is the "not knowing and the waiting". But its all over and now you can take a deep breath and move your life forward! As far as your "guy thing" best advice i have for you (being a woman) is keep that puppy in tact and be more careful, haha hell your old enough to know better!!! Your like a cat with 9 lives, a stroke and now this...wow, someone up there loves you!!! Take care and keep talking, its the best medicine

Oh and P.S. your title listing..."Hello Everyone", thats how i found you, cause that was mine too, i got excited that Tim was writing to me, haha. Long time Tim, how have you been?

Linda you sound like a real doll! I can't believe I have found so much info and good karma here! As far as my guy thing, its called a tongue! and I thought I was doing everything fine! I am not that wild (I wish!). I was poking around on this website and I found out that they are doing research on the HPV vacine for men and throat cancer patients that are cancer free after treatment. I want to get involved, I think that is why and how I got here! By the way I not really shy!

By the way, I am driving up to Washington to see a Redskin game this weekend! The driving is a pain but there is no to talk to so my voice heals! I can't cheer them on but I am a true fan! Season ticket holder. I found out that I was eligable after 21 yrs on the waiting list. They told me I had cancer about a week later. So I said screw it, I will go to a game before IT takes me away! Well, this is my fourth game! I'm still alive so I'm going to keep going! Hail Redskins!