Hi Christine,

I was so struck with your last line of your history "Very happy to be alive" - thank you for the wake-up slap. I have so much good in my life right now (especially a husband who does all the cooking and has adapted almost everything he cooks so I have an easier time eating!), but sometimes my health seems to just overshadow everything (couple of autoimmune things going on, too) ... and I lose focus on the positive stuff. THANKS from the bottom of my heart!

Your advice on the HBO therapy is well taken - although searching for a new doc is top priority at the moment, but yes, I'm coming to accept it as a "must" treatment, not an optional treatment. Ugggh.

And - you are very, very brave! This is my first contact with a real person who has gone through oral cancer - and female too! And best of all .... you "get it". Thanks for that, too!


Age 49 at time of DX. Non smoker, non drinker at time of DX.
T4aN0M0 well-differentiated adenocarcinoma
January 2009: excisional biopsy and subsequent wide excision with a rotational flap and graft reconstruction
June 2009: intensity modulated ratiation - 6600 cGy 33 fractions