Hi, all. Well, has been a while since I posted. We went to Gainesville for Rusty's second opinion. Got the the hotel the night before the appt and he started coughing blood. Three surgeries and three weeks in ICU later and he's stabilized and back home. Apparently, arteries in his throat damaged by radiation and chemo burst and caused the extreme blood loss. Long story but the short of it is he's ok. Has a trach now to allow the throat better opportunity to heal from effects of rad/chem. Will probably stay in place at least 2 months and then we'll see how the throat looks. The good news is the 2nd opinion was much more positive than the 1st. Apparently, the cancer is under control from rad/chm and he is not terminal, as the first dr stated. He will continue to be watched and treated and I and everyone else will continue to pray that the cancer stays at bay. So, as we all well know, prayers are answered! I spent many hours in Gainesville on a kneeler (think my knee prints are permanently imbedded on one) but they certainly were answered. Thanks to all who have replied. We did get the lidocaine patches and fentanyl patches and they really help his ear pain, helping him to stay off the pain medication better. Now, time will tell. Get that throat healed and put some weight back on him. This week, for the first time in months, he has been interested in leaving the house and seeing the outside world. This is a big step as it shows some of the depression is lifting. He, as all of you have, has been through so much. I just got off the phone with a close friend with esophagus (sp?) cancer and she is trudging through the weakness and sickness, too. My prayers are with each and every one of you. Millie