| Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im off to the hospital now for my reconstructive surgery. Ive waited for over a year and the day is finally here. Its been the longest year of my life. People stare and make comments and whispers behind my back. Its been terrible!!!! Im hoping for a miracle that the doc can make me look like I used to. Even close would be ok with me. Although nobody is more greatful than I am to be here, I really hate looking the way I do. Only someone who has undergone severe disfigurement will be able to fully understand what Im writing here.
Oral cancer is awful!!!! Not one of us has an easy ride. The ones who get thru it easily still fair worse than people who have other types of cancer.
I will be back in a few days. Best wishes to all with all the hurdles that oral cancer brings with it. 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 2007 Posts: 1,301 "OCF Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,301 | I really hope that you have a great outcome Christine. Hope you get that miracle....you deserve it not only for what you do for others here but because you are you!! Nothing more to say other than I will wait to hear from you. Love Gabriele
History Leukoplakia bx 8/2006 SCC floor mouth T3N0M0- Verrucous Carcinoma. 14 hour 0p SCC-Right ND/excision/marginal mandibulectomy 9/2006, 4 teeth removed, flap from wrist, trach-ng 6 days- no chemo/rad. 6 ops and debulking (flap/tongue join) + bx's 2006-2012. bx Jan 2012 Hyperkeratosis-Epithelial Dysplasia 24cm GIST tumour removed 8/2013. Indefinite Oral Chemo.
1/31/16 passed away peacefully surrounded by family
| | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Christine - Hope everything turns out just the way you want it to. But whatever the outcome, you are now, and will always be one of the most beautiful people I know! Get back to us as soon as you can.
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: Jun 2009 Posts: 138 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 138 | Can't wait to hear good news from you. You've always had good words and great advice for me. You were the first person to answer me when I hadn't a clue what was in store. You've been through so much and it's time for nothing but good from now on. Will watch for your next post. Take care, Barbara
BOT-SCC Partial glossectomy 7/16/09. Stage IV, Rt ND 10/2/09. Teeth out 11/5/09. Port/peg in, 11/20/09. 7 wks rad & chemo, end 1/22/10 lung, colon biopsies 1/9/11 - both cancer colon resect surg 1/10/11 Folfox + Avastin - discontinued 6/11 lung surgery 3/13/12, 5/1/12 mets to liver and bones passed away 9/4/13
| | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | I pray that all goes well. I will second the remark about being one of the most beautiful people I know. You have an amzing spirit and drive and stayed encouraging to others even through your ordeal. Will be waiting on your post that you are back with us.
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 | Good luck and get back here ASAP.
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: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Christine
Good luck. When I read [quote]People stare and make comments and whispers behind my back. Its been terrible!!!! [/quote], I realized once again just how amazing your upbeat attitude on OCF and your constant help to newcomers really are in light of the daily torment you endure. Too bad there isn't any surgery to correct the inner deformities that those normal looking people exhibit. If the surgeon can only get 10 percent of your inner beauty to show, people will still stare and make comments but for exactly the opposite reason: they'll be stunned by your radiance
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: Sep 2009 Posts: 229 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 229 | I agree, you'll always be the most beautiful person in the world to me. You're always so thoughtful and kind.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! I'll certainly be thinking of you.
Patty 08-10-09 Partial Glossectomy w/suprahyoid neck dissection SCC T1NOMX Stage I | 46 years old
| | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 179 | Christine,
I'm only a newcomer here but i already sense your strength and beauty from your posts. Your support and encouragement over the last few weeks really did make a difference for me. I wish nothing but the best for you and will be thinking of you.
Minh
35 Yrs old 03/10 SCC T1-T2 Partial Glossectemy end March - margins not clear enough. While waiting for resection - cancer returned,2 new cancerous lumps Re-section End May & flap from cheek attatched. Margins clear. Mid June - 4 teeth out Mid July -32 Rads and 3 Cisplatin 6th Sept 10 Finished Treatment!!
| | | | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 83 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 83 | Best of luck Christine....hope all turns out well.
Stage 4b BOT and node on right of throat. did 38 trips of TOMO PEG tube,Cysplatin,Taxotere & 5fu 1st 4th and 7th week, changed to Erbitux for the last 4 weeks. 1st PETS since end of TX..CLEAR 6mos out and 2 nodes are hot. Bilateral neck dissection on 10/31/08. Clear Scan 3/31/09 & 8/02/2010
| | |
Forums23 Topics18,235 Posts197,106 Members13,293 | Most Online1,788 Jan 23rd, 2025 | | | |