Hello all,

Thanks for the many kind comments and I do apologize for the long delay in updating about my condition. The surgery went well at Brigham & Women's hospital in Boston on December 17. I was released from the hospital on 12/24. Just in time to spend the first Christmas with my family--more than I could have dreamed for. Dana Farber said the cancer was limited to just 1 lymphnode and my tongue, they took 7 test biopsies in my mouth during surgery and all of them came back negative for signs of cancer. So we are hoping that they got it all.

I currently undergoing Radiation and assisted lower dosage Chemo treatments. This week will be my fourth and last Chemo treatment. I have completed 16 of the 30 scheduled radiation treatments, and will down to 9 after Friday of this week. My mouth has started to become fairly sore from the radiation. Lost most of my taste buds by the end of the second week of treatments, so the need to eat is pretty discouraging now. Looking forward to having my radiation over with on March 27th. So I can begin healing, doctors seem to think it will take 2-3 weeks after my last treatment for pain to go away. Then from what I gather it takes months before tastebuds can recover.

Thanks again for all the support!


Paul

Age 27: Diagnosed 11/1/07 with Oral cancer localized in the left side of my tongue & 1 lymph node. Upper Neck Disection Surgery 12/17/07, removed left side of tongue and a few lymph nodes. Post surgery treatment: 30 days Radiation, 4 Treatments of Cisplatin. Completed treatments 3/27/08.