 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Bloop, please dont waste time being concerned about a recurrance. It doesnt happen that often. I unfortunately have had cancer 3 times in 3 years. I refuse to even consider that I am one of the people who die within 5 years of their first diagnosis. You were lucky to have had the cancer found so quickly after your first time.
With every recurrance, I have the same attitude as I did the first time. Just fix me. This time I was more insistant with my ENT, I told him I cant continue this every year, do what is necessary to remove the cancer. After each time I have had clear margins and clear PET scans showing no cancer. Now, to me the PET scan isnt something that I believe in anymore. Charm, Jim and I are definitely the minority. Just look at some of the other frequent posters like David and Jerry. They endured having oral cancer once and now are leading healthy, productive lives.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
