Nicki (Tom, too),

I was smiling, sobbing and cheering as I read your post. Tom is surely the type of person I would like to work for based on the wonderful celebration at the finish line! It was so much fun to travel this journey with you and I am honored that you kept us all informed along the way.

I had the "wait and see" treatment, too. The scans have shown no signs of cancer for over a year but for some silly reason, I am still second guessing the decision to not have surgery. If I knew what I know now about this dreaded disease, I believe I would have opted for the surgery after radiation. Just my two cents worth.

I trusted my otolaryngologist since he had the experience and mine was already stage IV with 2 lymph node involvement.

I know today was in important milestone and you should stop and enjoy the moment. All I really remember from this period of treatment was running to the toilet because when I looked in the bathroom mirror, the image I saw scared me a little. My wife nicknamed me Jarjar Binks because I just darted across the mirror.

May God continue to shower His blessings on you and Tom.

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