Hi Randy,

New Hampshire is one of my favorite states, I spent my first 28 years in Maine and many great vacations in the White Mountains.

You have a houseful of kids, as did I, when I was diagnosed. My youngest was 9 and I have seven children total. Keep in mind that, surprisingly, the older ones take it the hardest and spend the most amount of time worrying on it as they are more mature and know how dangerous a position we are in. Just be simple and honest with the younger ones, keep life as much the same as possible, and they will get through just fine. I spent FAR to much time worrying about my kids during my treatment. If I had it to do over again, I would have put a little more attention on myself I think!
The biggest piece of advice I can give you right now, that I didn't have the benefit of because I found this board after my treatment, is that you are going to feel very sick and very weak for awhile, this isn't a fleeting type of thing. This will alter your life forever. Begin accepting the fact that your life has changed and will never be the same again. With that said...........you are on a path to getting well AND finding a new life that will have an edge to it that your old life didn't have and you'll learn to appreciate that and be happy for it.

Are you going to Boston for treatment? They have some of the best facilities there. Let us know your actual diagnosis, staging, treatment proposed, etc.

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.