| | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 5 | Hi all,
I've been reading and learning for about a month now. I've read some amazing stories and gotten many ideas for coping.
I'm a caregiver and my significant-other (Glenn) is starting treatment this week. His attitude is amazing and I know that's going to be important in the weeks ahead. I'm planning on borrowing some of his positive attitude.
I think we are finally past the awestruck and overwhelmed stage. We've been through the information mill for the last 10 weeks so we're not really craving any more Dr. appointments. Glenn is looking forward to his Radiation treatment being the only appointment he has once a day for awhile.
Now it's just forward, one day at a time.
Lisa - CG to Glenn 58yr. smoker (quit after dx.) SCC TxN2bM0
Radical Neck Dissection 4/26/10, Carbo/Taxol and IMRT/Tomo starting on 6/10/10
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 229 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 229 |
Patty
08-10-09 Partial Glossectomy w/suprahyoid neck dissection
SCC T1NOMX Stage I | 46 years old
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Welcome and best of luck to both of you in this fight.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 45 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 45 | Hi Lisa and welcome. It sounds like you're on the right track to get this process going and over with and Glenn is lucky to have you and he sounds like he's ready too.
Please make sure that he doesn't beat himself up too much over the smoking. My oral cancer was a result of smoking and I had fooled myself into thinking that 1mg tar cigarettes were safe! The important thing is that he doesn't pick them up again. My knowledge on treatment is limited - did not have chemo or radiation but I'm feeling confident that this is moving into the rearview mirror of my life. You will both be vigilant but life will get back to normal and it isn't necessarily a different or a "bad" kind of normal. Please ask any and all questions - there are so many knowledgeable people who are or have been both patients and caregivers. Good luck and let us know how you're both doing.
2002 - SCC - T1N0M0 - ever vigilant
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | If he has the positive attitude, he will win and make things easy for you. Wecome to our home.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 135 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 135 | Welcome Lisa.
You and hubby are in my thoughts and prayers.
Aunt diag. 2/4/10 with SCC Stage I/II on left side of tongue. Surgery 2/19/10 part. gloss./neck diss. on left side/free flap from chest muscle. TI/II,NO,MO. Clear margins with perineural invasion. Started rads 4/8/10 - 35 treatments, finished 5/26/10.
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 5 | Thanks everyone for the prayers and well wishes.
It's a blessing to have all you folks to talk to. I'm grateful.
Lisa - CG to Glenn 58yr. smoker (quit after dx.) SCC TxN2bM0
Radical Neck Dissection 4/26/10, Carbo/Taxol and IMRT/Tomo starting on 6/10/10
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Likes: 1 | Welcome Lisa and Glenn: sounds to me that you both have the right attitude. I hope I'm not reading between the lines too obsessively and leading myself to a conclusion that you're not overly happy with your docs... I had exactly the reverse situation and hope you do too.
Glenn is lucky to have you! It's a tough road, but together you're going to get through it beautifully, I'm sure.
Ask any questions here at any time. I did, even though some seemed stupid at the time. But I quickly learned that there ARE no stupid questions. Everyone at OCF is amazing.
Please keep us posted.
David 2
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 27 "OCF Down Under" Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2010 Posts: 27 | Not sure how this all works (cancer included!) but Hi. I am 45 and just had tongue cancer removed with reconstruction of my tongue from a forarm flap/ graft. Non smoker light drinker and fit as for my whole life Operation 9 weeks ago so head still spinning and going to try and go back to work in a week or so. Scared is an understatement as I am sure you all have been. I dont know if I will live 3 years or 15. Messing with my head big time. Metastisised to some lymph nones -taken out and radiation. no other spread at present. Just learned to talk and can only eat very soft food. Cant get a partial prognosis from anyone! any clues??? wont hold anyone to anything just want real life expectancy with this disease. Sorry ....hello again!
Top
lyph node positive 10/08
Parotodectomy 4/09
Rad six wks 65 grey
Pet scan clear 03/10 no primary
Pet 01/10 base tonge primary
CT 3.5 Tumor 01/2010
radical tongue reconstruction
with forearm flap 2/10
severe Trismus 06/10
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | Tony,
First: you might want to start a new thread (topic) so we can reply just to your questions.
Second, we have many members who have had the exact procedures you have had and a good deal of them have been around for a number of years, so plan on sticking around.
Having said that, you can ask us anything here, we have all had some varient of this disease and its treatments. Some, like I, have had earlier stage cancer with less treatment, others have had much more extensive surguries and treatments then you. We are all here for each other though, so you are in good company
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
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