| Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 | That is wonderful news David. Give Linda a big hug from all of us here OK!
Shelley
Caregiver to husband Ron. Throat Cancer. Finished 35 radiation treatments on 11/21/04. 8/2/11 small lesion on lower gum, laser Procedure to remove. 3/6/12 Doc. removed another lesion on outside of his neck. Did a skin graft from his chest to replace the skin on his neck. Went to Heaven on 6/24/12.
| | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Thanks Malka, I'll pass ypir advice on to her. And I'll have to be careful but will be glad to give her a big hug. My mother and my youngest sister are both bc survivors (Mom had a mascectomy 22 years ago and Sheryl had a double mascectomy with chemo 15 years ago) and were at the hospital with us yesterday. Knowing how much good it does to have people to talk to who have been there and done that, I'm really glad they both live here in Chico. Sheryl brought us some wonderful home made chicken chimichangas and a salad for dinner yesterday eve. Yum.
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: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Glad the surgery went well. Tell Linda we're all thinking about her. Let's hope for clean margins.
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: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | We saw Linda's surgeon this morning. Turns out that the margins weren't all that clear after all. There are what the surgeon called "speckles" of disease in the surrounding tissue. So now, it's a decision whether to try just removing more of the tissue and hope to get it all or to go ahead and do a masectomy and be sure. Not a great day. At least the nodes were confirmed to be clear. I'm leaning towards the "just get it all out" option but there are a few more tests before the final decision.
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: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Linda's breast got infected and one incision won't heal. Going in on tues and if the infection has stopped draining then Dr. will stitch it up. Meanwhile, Linda is just totally depressed and I really don't know how to bring her out of it. I understand, of course, but wish I could get her spirits up. She's a strong person, has to be to be a RN (not to mention living with me) so I know she has it in her to fight this and have told her so but every time I try to say something comforting or ask if she feels any bettter or any such thing she just starts crying. She's also covinced herself that if she has a masectomy that I'll no longer love her. I knew that care givers have a hard job but didn't know how hard. Cancer just plain bloody out and out sucks!
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: 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 am so sorry to read the latest. I did not have a carer but I guess there are some days when you just can't get it right no matter what you do. It does seem to me that Linda is going through normal female type emotions with her cancer. Hope by Tuesday that things are a little better. Love to you both 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: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | An "oncotype dx" test was run on the tissue that was removed during surgery. This test is supposed to tell how likely recurrence is and how well the cancer will respond to chemo. Linda's score was 13 on a 0-100 scale, meaning recurence is unlikely (about 8%) but also that chemo wouldn't have much success against her cancer. We'll see both the surgeon and the oncologist, who we have not yet seen, during the coming week and then they will put there heads together and figure out the tx plan. More waiting.
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: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 | David
I'm so sorry to hear Linda is having to deal with so much. My thoughts are with you, Linda and your family.
Karen
46 yrs: Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0 Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs 30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin, 30 x HBO Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy (hip bone to reconstruct jaw) Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw Mar'09 Debulk flap Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 706 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 706 | This is just so unfair to you both. Sending out warm thoughts your way.
cg to husband, 48 Stage 1V head and neck SCC. First surgery 9/07. Radiation and several rounds of chemo followed. Mets to chest and lungs. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Went home to God on February 22, 2009.
| | | | 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 | Thinking of you both and wishing you well. 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 | | |
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