| Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Angelia
As David pointed out, many of us were just fine the first two weeks of radiation and chemo with no readily apparent side effects. If you can, do drop into that meeting - you will need all the goodwill you can garner later on. Likewise, if you have undone projects, chores, now is the time to finish them. I used to joke that getting cancer was the only way my "honey-do" list ever got done. 65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 | Angelia,
I agree with David and Charm. Dan took great comfort in being able to stay connected to his work and in being able to do things with our kids and with friends during his first couple of weeks of treatment. Margaret ---------- C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx) Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3) Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 60 | I had not thought of it for a while, but when I was first diagnosed, my daughter in law went off on a rant about people she knew who had died of cancer. I friend who was there (his wife had breast cancer) interupted to tell me that people often like to tell you horror stories, and to ignore them. My DIL shut up really quick.
Flip _________________________________ Age: 54 SCC Tonsil + 3 nodes Radiation and Carboplatin Treatment 4/1 - 6/7/2009 No surgery, no PEG Never smoked Drink socially (brew my own beer and love wine. A bottle of scotch lasts me a couple of years) CT 11/4/09 No sign of envolvement in Tonsil or nodes
| | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 | My grandmother (who is completly with it) just said to me the other day "suzanne, you are lucky. You have never had any serious health problems. Except for that mouth thing" gotta love it!!
Suzanne *********** T1 SCC on right side of tongue Age 31...27 when diagnosed 4 partial glossectomies No chemo or radiation Biopsy on 2/2/10-Clear Surgery needed again...no later than April 2011 Loving life and just became a mother on 11/25/10 It's not what we CAN'T do..it's what we CAN do:)
| | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | Unfortunately, my RO told me he wanted me off for three months beginning Nov. 16th. he said he did not want me near the students while I was in treatment since all the flu viruses are going around. I am okay with that, ane next weekI am having all the procedure tog et ready for the treatment. I will not be feeling like doing anything.
Angelia 31 at Dx. DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth, T1NOMO, T2N1M0 TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09 PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement PEG/PORT: 11/09 TX end: 02/01/10 PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear PEG Out: 06/21/10 Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Makes sense about not being around those germ machines. I hate tax season as I am exposed to so many different people in such a concentrated time and I am constantly shaking hands and hugging people and often they bring their own germ machines with them. Of course the concentrated cash flow makes up for a few colds. lol
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts) | "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 | Ha germs! I got the lurgy from work last week. For weeks people had been sneezing caughing, got time off ill. And i had to get a nasty cold days before my first accountancy exam. Beechams for Flu help and I am ok. But Martin seems to have avoided it all together! Despite me bringing it home! Weird. We have swine flu hand washes everywhere at work and a man comes to clean our phone and keyboard every week.
Girlfriend to Martin 49 years old at diagnosis Diagnosed with SCC unknown primary June 2008. Cancer found in single node Stage N2A (3 to 6cm). Tonsilectomy 16th june, Radical modified neck dissection left side 30th june. 30 TX radiotherapy ended 9th October First comparative study scan came back clear
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Angelia, you will be fine. Im really hoping you dont psych yourself out before things get started. You dont know yet how you will feel, please try to think positive. While going thru any kind of tx for cancer isnt easy, its easier if you think positively.
Getting a PEG tube in will be a little uncomfortable for the first day or two. Its an outpatient procedure. The fitting for the mask is no big deal, doesnt hurt.
Im concerned that you are getting worked up and scaring yourself so much that you have a difficult time of this. We will help you thru this, please be brave. Thinking positive will make this easier on you. Maybe focusing on the good things will help.
I know you have your church members to lean on. What about close family members and people in your own household? I have faith in knowing you will get thru this and be ok. It was caught early. You are being treated at a CC, right?
Please stop letting cancer steal your time. I know Donna already wrote about this somewhere on here. Now is the time to prepare. Enjoy your family and church. Do everything you wanted to do now. Take a walk with your kids, go out to dinner, even have a party. When I was first diagnosed, of course I was scared, but I went and did everything I wanted before I began my treatments. Then I did things like doing my spring cleaning and grocery chopping with easy things for the kids to make. Take pleasure in your day to day activities and give your mind a break from worrying about cancer.
I hope this helps you. Have a wonderful weekend!!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | Christine, you are amazing. Yes you guys are helping me. I am taking my kids to a nature park on Saturday. We are going to have some fun this weekend with the grandparents.
Angelia 31 at Dx. DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth, T1NOMO, T2N1M0 TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09 PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement PEG/PORT: 11/09 TX end: 02/01/10 PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear PEG Out: 06/21/10 Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Christine So glad to see you back on the board after all you have been through. Many of us here don't have much to complain about compared to what you have been put through but that doesn't stop from complaining You take everything in stride and provide a welcome and comforting presence in this and any other thread charm 65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
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