Thanks, Colleen. Having watched my brother go thru so much in the past 3 yrs (colon removed and multiple surgeries due to complications) and scrambling to find help and relief for him when in the midst of the storm, as we were clueless in Seattle for many things he faced, I decided I did not want to go into this uninformed.

I am freaking out anyway, so I may as well know what I am up against and be as prepared as possible both mentally and with things like having a recliner to sleep in for the first while, and getting that mouthwash you rave about etc.

I so appreciate your time and effort in helping us going thru what you have been thru. I so help I can be such a blessing to others.

I lost my dad to colon cancer, my grandma to stomach cancer, my cousin to breast cancer that went to the brain and just lost a cousin this past Saturday to what started as melanoma and then went to the bones ... I am determined to beat this! I have a 3 yr old daughter and a baby granddaughter to stick around for!



I have another question though smile

My CT scan with contrast was what they based the entire diagnosis on, other than the biopsy results. The CT was taken back in May, when my troubles were really just starting to show up , when I realized something was wrong because extraction site was getting very infected and sore instead of healing and I went to ER scared ... anyways ... after that they removed a lot of bone and tissue to debrade the site to get it to heal ... etc and it wasn't found to be cancer until the last week of June and it was July I was seen at the UW for confirmation diagnosis and to discuss treatment plans ... It is now August that I am having surgery
and I feel they should do another CT scan to see if everything is as it was or how it has changed - is this unreasonable or is it unnecessary and I should just leave it alone? I really would like one done before they cut into me so we are all on the same page before they knock me out - I don't want to wake up with surprises ... Do I have a right to ask for another scan?

Thanks again - I best get my little one to bed. Catch u tomorrow.

Rita - Age 44
wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1
(R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.

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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."