Hi Curt,
Glad you posted. It's good to hear you are doing well.
Kevin got his feeding tube out early too. It creeped him out!!
I don't know about the HPV+ recurrence. We have a much better chance of not having recurrence than HPV-, so try to relax a little.
Both Kevin and I were very depressed after tx. I think a lot of it is that you fight like a dog for months and then poof, you are back to work. The c weighs heavily on your mind in the beginning. We are just getting to the point that we aren't obsessing about it, so don't be too hard on yourself. We are exactly one year out. Just had a clear PET.
If they do the PET at 3 months, try not to freak out if it shows activity. That happened to us and it was just inflammation. Remember that it's not a recurrence until you have a biopsy to prove it.
You don't have your signature at the bottom of your posts yet. If you go under the "my stuff" you can add a signature that will show us exactly what you have been through. It makes it easier to understand without having to go back to your original post. I'm saying this because I am wondering if you had Cistplatin for your first chemo? Is that where the hearing loss came in? Kevin has lost quite a bit too, and I know Davidcpa has mentioned it as well.
Don't be afraid to ask your doc for something for your depression. It's a very natural thing at this point and you might struggle for this first year post tx. Many patients and caregivers find we need something to help lighten the load.
Please keep in touch. If you can help it, don't push too hard at work. Remember you will be healing for quite awhile and need all the strength you have for that!!
Best of luck,
Kathy


Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14