 Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | Hi, Lori,
Welcome. I am so glad that you found this site while Phil is still going through treatments. You will find a wealth of information here, from some amazing people. My path was similar to Phil's. I had a spot on my tongue which was diagnosed stage IV and lymph node involvement. I had 38 radiation treatments 5 days a week, and three "big bag" cisplatin treatments. Eating is still a challenge even after 3 1/2 years. Now, the fact that my teeth are really a mess really contribute to the challenge. I haven't lost any of them...but I see the dentist frequently (every 3 months) and he continues to "patch". I also use the fluoride gel every night. Good luck on your journey. It is a rough one, but the two of you will get through it, and Phil will eventually find his " new normal".
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
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