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In May of last year, my friend Paul was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carsonoma. He had 2/3 of his tongue removed and had a neck dissection. The lymph nodes came back negative and he was doing well. Six weeks after his radaition ended, he noticed a lump on his neck that we all thought was aninfection. We took Paul into see the doctors and they performed a biopsy. We found out that the cancer was back again, this time inhis neck. The doctors were shocked because the lymph nodes came back neg. So they put Paul into another 36 radiation treatments which were horrible. He also got six doese of cisplatin. The huge lump on his neck went away and again we thought we had things beat or at least in check. A couple months after his second go round with radiation and chemotherapy he noticed a lump onhis chin. Again, we took him to the doctor and they told us Paul had cancer for the third time. We got a second opinion and were told the worst possible news. In order to treat the tumor they would have to remove his entire jaw bone and then do a radical neck dissection. Even though his life would be a living hell, he would only have a ten percent chance of survival. The doctor told us not to do it. He told us that out of 100 people in Paul's situation, only 80 of them would be alive in a year. We were so upset. We tried to search out more opinions but they basically tell us that our doctor in Madison Wisconsin was one of the best so stay the course. Right now, Paul is having additional radiation to spots already treated by radiaton which is rather dangerous and can cause complications. He is also having 6 rounds of taxol to help keep this situation in control. He uses a PEG tube for eating because he can't eat or drink anything. He's lost about 55 pounds and now has to wear a morphine patch and also uses other anti pain drugs but his face is so swollenon his right side that he can't even open his right eye. It's a horrible thing to see. He is so tired he can hardly do anything. We're at a loss now and I'm just sick that our time with Paul is just about at it's end. Does anyone have any suggestions or have you been in this situation. What did you do. How were you treated, what drugs, how do you cope with a terminal diagnosis. How do we keep Paul's spirits up. Any information you can send to me would be appreciated.
Brian [email protected]