#12312 09-27-2007 09:26 AM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 | Hi all -- Barry and I are back from almost a month in Uganda, where we saw lots of great things -- Mt. gorillas, chimps, lions, elephants (and over 500 kinds of birds) -- as well as a great deal of poverty and lack of basic essentials. It is great to be back in the USA, but a trip like this makes one realize how lucky we are to be born where basic medical help is widely available and where serious illness like oral cancer can be effectively treated. This was brought home by the news that a birding friend in New Guinea, Kris Tindige, had died in late August from nasopharyngeal cancer. Kris had battled bravely and was very hopeful, but neither bravery nor hope was enough. While he had been treated with chemoradiation in Brisbane, his post-treatment oversight was spotty back in NG, and the recurrence was not found until it had spread to lungs and bone. Barry is now exactly at the two-year mark post-treatment, one of the milestones for HPV+ cancers (almost all recurrences are in first two years). But we are still in the mid-set of "carpe diem", taking advantage of what life has to offer and not fretting about what the future may bring! Gail
CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!
| | |
#12313 09-27-2007 10:10 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Gail & Barry, Welcome back and congratulations on the great news of Barry's milestone. Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. I'm sure you had a wonderful time. Getting away for a whole month is a real blessing. I'll be waiting for the latest updates on HPV now that you're back. Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | |
#12314 09-27-2007 03:10 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | Hi, Gail, send Jerry the HPV updates, I want to see pictures of your trip  Will you have them posted somewhere? Glad y'all are home safely. Amy in Oz
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
:
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,267 Posts197,182 Members13,364 | | Most Online1,788
Jan 23rd, 2025 | | |
|
