Kerri,
As you can see from my signature, I had a "new" and rare cancer completely unrelated to oral cancer in my gut, which was removed approximately a year later than my original surgery on my tongue. My doctors at MD Anderson all say how they do not have lots of patients with my history, in one of them said that I am at the very end of the Bell curve. Our situations are certainly not alike, but fighting another cancer after enduring the first one is a common thread.

It certainly comforted me, to put an optimistic spin on it, that it was a new cancer, even though my second one had certainly been in my body for many years. It is hard on the body to have this new fight when you aren't truly healed from the first. You are MUCH younger than I and should recover faster. I just feel young on those days when I feel good! I get a little mixed up when I am trying to decide whether or not I feel bad (when I do) from radiation after effects, hypothyroidism, or having a roux en y, thus missing a duodenum and not absorbing nutrients. So your stuff is in the same area, and it can be an advantage!

You have excellent medical care, have a fighting spirit, and it sounds to me like you are going to beat this cancer. Plus you are one of those gods/goddesses of medicine, in my opinion: a physical therapist! You know the importance of exercise and movement.

Best,
Anne