June, 2007...we had moved to Florida from Texas the previous fall. Around Christmas, Bill started complaining about his throat being sore....really sore. We had not established our family doctor yet and the change in insurance with our move required a Primary Care Physician. I delayed calling with all the craziness of a move and the holidays. In January, I called to get both of us seen and established...Uh..Mrs. Harris, the first bloodwork and physical will have to be in May..is there anything wrong?? Yes, husband is complaining of a sore throat and drainage. Oh, OK, we will call in a prescription for you and see you in May. Uh, OK. So, he took the antibiotic and Zyrtec and got slightly better but still had a sore throat. We waited till our early June appt. after our May bloodwork to get seen..both at the same time. I was in one room and Bill in another. After seeing Bill, the Doc came in to see me with a rather concerned look on his face..."Why didn't you call back when his throat didn't get better?? I said, I guess we aren't complainers and didn't want to be a bother. Doc says, his throat does not look good (deep frown)...never said the C word to me but he had said enough to Bill to get the message across that he thought that is what it was. Bill's tumor was very large..very visible on his tonsil but he had not looked and neither had I. We were both so in shock that neither one of us said anything to each other for over an hour. We checked out of the PCP's office like nothing had happened but deep inside we were both reeling.

The rest is history....off to an ENT for screening and biopsy. Then to Moffitt Cancer Center for second opinion and treatment plan. In between all the craziness of scans, dentists, MO's, RO's, hearing tests, PEG and port surgery...etc. I get that panicky feeling just reliving the months of June and July.

Yes, I could kick myself for blowing off Bill's complaint...we had just moved to a new area and I really thought he was experiencing allergies. The thing that makes me feel so guilty is that Bill has a very high pain threshold so, for him to complain, I should have known it was something sinister. But really, he is a big boy and should have made the appointment himself if I was too distracted to do so. What a giant mess, but so far, it looks like we have slain the beast. I hope so anyway.

Deb