| | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 |
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Excellent article Brian. Although this one excerpt from it is equally true of my experience here at the OCF Forum
[quote]But my response was hardly unique. To my amazement, every single fellow cancer patient I met at the clinic where I endured my weekly intravenous chemo infusions was just as brave, friendly, and upbeat as I.[/quote]
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: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | What a great article by Gary S. Chafetz! As a CG to my son I can say that my perspective has also changed about life in general and I find that I do appreciate things so much more than BC. The small aggravations, waiting line, getting cut off in traffic, the cat dragging in a dead bird or a live chipmunk, are just that - small stuff. Chafetz mentions getting pneumonia and the subject was discussed on a forum here not long ago. My son also had pneumonia and I was wondering if this is somethng that happens to many OC survivors? Is it something to be expected or prepared for in some way?
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 71 | I have had it a couple of times. It is because I have silent aspiration, or that some of what it drink ends up in my lungs. Usually not a big deal ( though it is getting worse as the years out from treatment accumulate) unless I am down ill for a week or so. Then my lungs do not clear since I am on my back too much, and bang -into the hospital with full blown pneumonia. Some silent aspiration is common after treatments, depending on where the tumor and radiation targeting were.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 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: 8 | Nice article Brian. I like encouraging things like this. Its really hard sometimes to put on a brave face and continue to appear like everything is ok. I like how the article talked about being Stage IV. We are both living proof that statistics can be wrong.
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 2010 Posts: 72 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2010 Posts: 72 | I just read this. Thanks for sharing, Brian. The comment that follows from someone whose cancer has come back three times is also worth reading.
There is a link on this site to an essay by Dr. Oz about his colonoscopy and how it reminded him that we are all mortal. It got me thinking about myself. I�m 50 and should have one of these. I have no excuse; my company�s wellness benefit pays 100% and I get the day off with pay. But, instead, I�ve used Tim�s cancer as an excuse to postpone the exam. Now that the post treatment CAT scan shows no cancer, I should get off my butt and go do it!
Susan, CG to husband, diagnosed April 2010, age 56, non-smoker, no HPV
Mandibulectomy on left side May 2010 followed by 30 radiation, 3 cisplatin treatments.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Susan - Yes! you should. I had one a few years ago and it was really no big deal and a whole lot easier than I had imagined. Much easier now in fact because you can take pills with lots of water instead of the stuff we had to drink before the procedure. Do it, Do it, Do it!
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
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