Hi GPK,

Ahhh... Johns Hopkins... what can I say? It's a two hour drive for me and worth every minute. After what I went through locally, it's a God send. Locally, it seemed as if the Dr's could care less and one hand didn't know what the other was doing. Both Marcia (my partner) and I felt the same thing and didn't feel confident in them. I called Johns Hopkins and was guided through the process by a wonderful lady named Salihah that got me all the forms I needed to fill out and was there for me with any questions. After that I was contacted by the head of the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center and my appointment was made. They acquired all the pathology slides and test results that I couldn't provide. When I arrived. it was like a well oiled machine. Within minutes of being placed in an exam room a "Team" walked in. An ENT/Surgical Oncologist, a RO, a MO, a speech/language pathologist, an oncology nurse practitioner/manager and the head of the center. Everyone there was knowledgeable of my case history and as up on everything. I was poked, prodded and examined more in 25 minutes than I was the entire time at Winchester. Needless to say it was a no brainer. Since then, with two surgeries and overnight stays, they have been nothing less than stellar in their care. I even got a thank you/get well card from the staff that cared for me during my visits... personally signed no less! Before my first surgery, the young lady (Salihah) who guided me in the beginning, called just to wish me well

What you call "electric shock" type pain I call "ice pick" pain. It's like a sharp, very painful stabbing feeling in my neck where the incision was made and adjacent areas including my scalp, ear, and left collarbone area (where the tube came out of my neck) and shoulder. So you have that along with the general constant pain. I'll speak more with my Dr's this week about it.

Paul B...

I plan on speaking with my team about several concerns. I'm just turning the corner from the surgeries and I'm starting treatment. It's like I'm finally putting one fire out and I'm being sent off to fight another one while the first one is still smoldering.

Regardless... the time is here and now and I have to step up to the plate and at the very least get on base.

"T"