Hello all-
My name is Laurie and my husband Ace was diagnosed Thursday 3/5/09 with oral cancer. It has not yet even been a week, but that day feels like a year ago. He is 37 years old, never smoked.
I cannot find the appropriate words to express the gratitude I feel for the existence of all of the people on this board- especially Brian Hill. I downloaded the draft he put up and read it voraciously yesterday. I can say that our initial shock and disbelief is quickly morphing into an aggressive attack plan that was directly spurred by all the wisdom attained from this board. I got him an appointment with a specialist at Duke for next week, a step I probably would not have initially taken if only armed w/ the info from our local Doctor. I feel it answered many of the questions Ace had and was too scared to ask, as well as suggested questions to ask that we were not even aware of.
Today is his birthday and he is lying in bed scared and exhausted.
We have a 3 year old son. He is the same age that Ace was when his own dad died. Not related, but I know it has to be weighing heavily in his mind.
I am in nursing school, and I feel my instructors will be a great source of support and knowledge for us as we travel down this bitterly undesired road.
Thanks again to all who have shared their stories here.
Laurie