Anne,

I am so, so sorry you've had to come to this site and even more sorry that you are despairing. I think my first question for you though, is why hasn't your treatment started? And second question, have you mentioned the PEG pain to the doctor that put it in? My PEG was also painful and it turned out it wasn't in my stomach anymore, but was lodged in my abdominal wall and it had to be removed. Please, do have it checked out!

Also, please do find out if your hospital or treatment center has a social worker or coordinator who can help arrange for home care if you need it, or find a volunteer network who can help you with some of your needs.

And mostly, I am so sorry you had to give up your animals. I don't know what I would do if I were faced with that choice.

Please know that you are not alone. There are many oral cancer patients here, and many survivors, who can help you get through this.

All my good thoughts are with you, Anne.

- Margaret

Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018