Hi Robert,
Welcome and I hope this board helps you as much as it helped me. I was diagnosed on April 1st 2003, my grandaughters 5th birthday. Stage IV in my jaw, removed my jaw bone and replaced it with a bone from my leg. One node involved and I did radiation to both sides. 41 at time of diagnosis and I'm 42 now. I am 10 months out from treatment and one year from surgery and so far so good. I've had some scares over the past year but the fear truly does get smaller. Never goes away but learns it's place.
A baby on the way, how exciting! I have 7 children and would have more if it was meant to be. My oldest daughter, the mother of my two grandaughters, is expecting again in Oct. I just found out and am very excited about having a baby around. How old are your children?
Use this board to help you, it will become a comfort to you and a source of knowledge that will make you feel more in control. Cancer has a way of making us feel out of control, takes away that safety net we never even knew we had! But, it's in our nature to adapt and you will find yourself doing just that.
I would still be floundering without the people on this board. I talk about them to my family as if they are friends that live down the street. My daughter, Amy, asked me the other day if Mark was back from vacation, lol.
I wonder if Brian truly realizes what he has created with this board.
Take care Robert,
Love 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.