Donna,

Welcome to the "Club Nobody Wants to Join". I am truly sorry for your recent diagnosis. If you can find the time, go to the main portion of this website and learn all you can so you can make the best possible decisions regarding the options that will be presented. Encourage your daughter and your son to do the same. Many questions you have can be answered.

Many of the flights of military personnel returning from Iraq come through Dallas. I would be honored to meet your son if he comes through here and especially speak with him regarding this disease, if you like.

I know it is difficult to hear the C word and then the world just spins, seemingly uncontrollably, for a while until treatment is over. Many have traveled the road ahead of you and all of us welcome you here and will help you find the answer to any and all questions you may have.

It is a good practice to write down your questions before you go to the doctor, take some along to help take notes and make sure all your questions are addressed before you leave. The doctors will assume you already know if you don't ask.

It is also good to seek a second opinion at a major comprehensive cancer center. You can find all the members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network at www.nccn.org if you wish to see the major centers. Probably the closest for you would be MD Anderson in Houston. Take the time to research and make the best decision as if it is your only chance at beating this.

I wish you the best and please let us know if you need anything.

Ed

SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023