| | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 113 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 113 | Good Morning! No I havent forgotten about you guys! Its been 3.5 months since my last treatment and I have to say that I am very happy with my recovery so far! I for the most part eat and drink what I want, work 50-60 hours a week with no problems, pretty much all my hair has grown back except on my neck but it is starting to! I still wake up every morning very sore and after I eat something that all the doctors said "you wont be able to eat that anymore" my throat gets a little sore but not enough to keep me from eating it! I finally had a "good" ENT visit a couple weeks ago where he was very happy with the way everything looked and felt to the tune that he even pushed back my PET scan until April since I had a CT a month after treatment ended and it looked good. He told me he would put the order in for a PET if I wanted to do it for myself but said that he doesnt feel it is necessary. I am sure that my age, health and determination was the key for the quick recovery. My RO was shocked how well I bounced right back saying that it was the best he has ever seen in 25 years on the other hand said he hasnt seen too many 31 yr olds go thru it! So hopefully some people are reading this that are about to go thru treatment or are in the process of treatment and this gives them light that it will and can get better! I know everybody is different but with the right attitude and determination it can be done! Reading a lot of posts on here helped me and also scared me, I know I havent been on in awhile but that is do to me working so much and really trying to keep my mind of everything! It kind of funny how so many people that havent seen me for 4-5 months are absolutely shocked when they do and say how great I look since I lost so much weight and of course that is followed up with "you have to tell me how you did it" lol.....then I tell them "you really dont want to know that answer" lol! Well guys I wish you all very happy holidays and I know for myself and my family I am praying for a much much much better 2010!!!! Talk to you all soon!
30 yr old M non-smoker (stuborn ass italian)
SCC left side Tongue 2/17/09, Partial Gloss. 2/25/09
Left ND 5/20/09 10 nodes, 1 pos (1.7cm w/xtra cap spread)
Finished Rads IMRT X 33 8/18/09 (70gy)No PEG, No Chemo
"On the long road to recovery 1 step at a time"
| | | | | 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 | Good to hear from you Jim and with your recovery going so well hopefully you can spend some time on the site giving encouragement to the newbies.
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: Nov 2009 Posts: 212 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 212 | Hi Jim, Great news! Sounds like you are kicking A! keep it up!
Steve
70 male, athlete...again
SSC of undetermined orgin , early july 09
40 tx radiation, 8 chemo cisplatin and ebuterx
finished TX in mid Sept 09
Clear at the 6 year mark!
Back to swimming, biking and running! just a tad slower
never regained my weight, even when I eat lots and lots, just a skinny guy now
Just way glad to be seeing the green side up!
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | WOW! Things really seem to be going well for you. Remember, after an experience like this, we are supposed to take time to smell the roses. Hopefully you are at least getting out on the golf course again. Good hearing from you.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | 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 | Wonderful news Jim!!! Its always so encouraging to hear success stories like yours. Keep up the good work. Happy Holidays to you!!!!
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: Aug 2008 Posts: 238 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 238 | I'm so happy for you! Your recovery and attitude make for wonderful reading for everyone on the forum. Keep up the good work and I hope you and your family enjoy the holidays and truly do have a wonderful 2010.
Nancy T.
CG/Mom: 5 1/2 years SCC upper palate,4 recurrences, surgeries, chemo & radiation. Mom went to Heaven 1/21/11.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 147 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 147 | So glad to hear how well you are doing. I was beginning to feel a bit guilty and shy about how good I am feeling - so it was good to hear that someone else is feeling great. My RO told me that he has seen only one other person bounce back from treatment as quickly as I did - my response was that he probably hasn't met many people as tenacious as I am. My hair has started to come back in on my neck - and to my surprise and joy it isn't grey like the rest of it.
DX 2/10/09; Stage 1 SCC side of tongue; Partial Gloss; PEG in 3/3/09; 3 Cisplatin; 35 IMRT; PEG out 7/17/09; Eating via mouth and walking 3 miles/day 4 wks after treatment end. 50 pound weight loss; Clear PET 09/09 and 09/10
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 | Congrats on a jog well done and for giving it the good fight!! Watch your 6 and keep this enemy in retreat!!Semper-Fi Bob
Bob age 57, non smoker,non drinker, ended treatment on 11 Nov 2007 and started back to work on 29 Nov 2007. Veterans Day 2012 the Battle was lowered, folded, Taps was played and the Flag buried as I am know a 5 year survivor. Semper-FI !!!
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | congratulations Jim. I am always saddened though by the thought of how unfair it is to young guys like you to get a classic old man's disease. More power to you for bouncing back. Keep on confounding the doctor's with the pace of your recovery.
For what it is worth, I think you and your doctor made the right decision on foregoing a PETscan for now and just relying on the CT. Too many false positives as well as false negatives for oral cancer with PETscans in my personal experience. At this rate, 2010 will be a much better year for you and your family.
Every day will find you stronger and better at this point
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
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 | Great news, Jim. I love your answer to your weight loss - I never though of something so clever to say!
Marlene
Marginal mandibulectomy 6/17/08 resulted in DX of Stage I SCC - gingiva (3 mm) right mandible, buccal side. Clear margins. Occasional social drinker. Smoked last cigarette in 1979. Clear pet: 12/08; 7/20/09. Yay!
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