| Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1 Member | Member Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 1 | Liza,
You are right, truly inspirational people, I am so glad that you have found this wonderful community of people that are going to be able to support you through this. Of course I will be here for you too and like I told you, you had the courage and fight to do this before and you can do it again.
Claire x
Here to support a gorgeous, wonderful, caring friend who has SCC.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 63 "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 63 | OMG Claire!! You have just made me cry. The fact that you joined OCF just to support me is intense, loving and just beautiful. As you can see from all the posts I have received in my short term as a member, these people are true heroes who have given me back hope, confidence and faith in human kindness! And of course having a friend like you close by is a blessing too xxx
SCC of the Buccal Mucosa (R cheek)- T1N0M0.10 hour Surgery on 27/9/10 involving resection with freeflap from radial forearm..clear margins. Neck dissection..negative nodes.Trachy, NGT, no rad or chemo needed at the time. Neck lump positive for SCC..again! MND 14/2/11. Waiting to have chemo and rads
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | The brain is a wonderful thing and also our worst enemy at times. Is the symptom we identify "real" or is our brain just "messing with us". I have truly found it amazing how symptoms and issues I was having instantly disappear upon hearing the words "all clear". Let your doctor do the diagnosing. I have tried many times to do it myself, but turns out I'm not very good at it!!
Another way of looking at your quick recurrance is that it is good that it happened now while you are being so closely monitored. You know then that whatever the problem is has not been lurking for long - early treatment is the best.
Hugs
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,004 | Hi Liza,
I'm sorry I'm just finding this post now and I'm sorry to hear the cancer is back. My cancer was treated surgically so I'm afraid I can't help you with what to expect with your treatment. I can help you with the emotional part...which I found to be hardest. First, you joined the best group and you will get the support you need.
I respect your ways of trying to deal with the stress like meditation and prayer and I'm also happy to see you plan to allow yourself time to fall apart, you are human and that will happen. A lot of people here, myself included, took medication to help with the crazy emotions of cancer. I took Lexapro and saw a therapist and I'm happy I did. It is important to stay positive and level headed as much as possible and I feel like the Lexapro helped me do that. Along with my family and my family here of course.
When will your treatment be starting?
We are all here for you and I look forward to supporting to you during this hard time.
Suzanne *********** T1 SCC on right side of tongue Age 31...27 when diagnosed 4 partial glossectomies No chemo or radiation Biopsy on 2/2/10-Clear Surgery needed again...no later than April 2011 Loving life and just became a mother on 11/25/10 It's not what we CAN'T do..it's what we CAN do:)
| | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 63 "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP "OCF Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 63 | Hi Suzanne,
I had my CT and PET scans done yesterday and am seeing my surgeon on Monday. Treatment plan will be discussed then. For the time being I am trying to come to terms with the situation as best as I can. Sometimes I am terrified, other times I feel strong and confident...what an emotional rollercoaster this is. A few weeks ago, I was feeling healthy and on top of the world...its amazing what a difference the word cancer makes to your pschye, especially one that has come back so early.
What gets me through is my family, friends and my new family on OCF...the stories of survival give me immense hope.
I thank you all for your prayers.
Liza
SCC of the Buccal Mucosa (R cheek)- T1N0M0.10 hour Surgery on 27/9/10 involving resection with freeflap from radial forearm..clear margins. Neck dissection..negative nodes.Trachy, NGT, no rad or chemo needed at the time. Neck lump positive for SCC..again! MND 14/2/11. Waiting to have chemo and rads
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 99 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 99 | Hi Lizzy I know how hard this weekend is waiting until Monday. Just last weekend we were in the same situation with my husband and we got good news on Monday! It does happen. My husband just finished TX for a large reoccurance 12/17/10 and recently we thought he was showing several symthoms of the cancer returning. The Dr. said if it is back this soon it would not be a good thing. So with heavy hearts we were preparing for the worst and got the best news.
I remember well the shock last Sept when we got the news the cancer had returned, the extent of the cancer and the needed treatment. But if your news is not good, to live there is no choice but to go forward with the threatments and while it is not a walk in the park you can do it just like so many here have!
Praying and thinking of you this weekend that the time will fly by! PS: We took an overnight trip with friends to a casino and had a fun time - helped to think of something else and pass the time quickly!
Karen
CG 2 Emmett,7/09 DX SCC rt tongue. T2N1M0, 1 node, marg neg.4/10 PET/CT clear, 9/10 C back. 10/10 Rad hemi, 2 tmrs mod diff. resec flr of mth. Flap 4 nodes/w/ext cap. 11/10 Peg, CX3 HD, 30 rad. 1/31 & 3/21 6/11/11 - PET/CT "activity" 9/11-all Clear. 12/11 peg out. 2/15 still all clear! 9/14 Prostate cancer treated with pencil beam proton therapy, best radiation experience. Keep it in mind as a treatment option for all tumors that can be seen including head and neck.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 | Hi Liza, sorry I haven't been on to see your posts. So very glad that you found all of these wonderful people here. They have helped many of us fellow Aussies. I for one would have been lost without all of these guys when Steve was going through treatment. Steve's cancer was also in his lymph nodes. When he was diagnosed he was stage 4 and we were not given any hope. He will be 18 months clear this month. Even his doctors are inspired by him as they have told us they didn't expect this outcome. Stay positive Liza, there are many people who have beaten this disease even after it's gone to the lymph nodes. Come here as often as you need to, even if just to vent. Everyone here understands exactly how you feel and will offer the best support. Keep us updated and I will be thinking of you on Monday.
Wife to Steve 43. DX 5 May 09. T4N2MO SCC tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes & jaw bone No surgery Teeth removed 06/07/2009 radiation 13/07/2009 x 7wks chemo 15/07/2009 x 3 Cisplatin last TX 28/08/2009 25/11/2009 PET-lymph node activity. 08/01/2010 CT Scan-ALL CLEAR 03/03/2010-Peg removed 01/2013 left side of Jaw removed and replaced with pectoral flap. 23/12/2020 scan show lesion in tongue 01/2021 SCC stage 3 base of tongue diagnosed 01/03/2021 chemotherapy started.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 99 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 99 | Sorry Lizzy - somehow I missed the page where you wrote you got the bad news to your bio. So sorry to hear that and we know how you are feeling waiting for the next step. Our thoughts are with you.
CG 2 Emmett,7/09 DX SCC rt tongue. T2N1M0, 1 node, marg neg.4/10 PET/CT clear, 9/10 C back. 10/10 Rad hemi, 2 tmrs mod diff. resec flr of mth. Flap 4 nodes/w/ext cap. 11/10 Peg, CX3 HD, 30 rad. 1/31 & 3/21 6/11/11 - PET/CT "activity" 9/11-all Clear. 12/11 peg out. 2/15 still all clear! 9/14 Prostate cancer treated with pencil beam proton therapy, best radiation experience. Keep it in mind as a treatment option for all tumors that can be seen including head and neck.
| | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 453 | Hi Lizzy. Thinking of you and hoping everything is going ok.
Wife to Steve 43. DX 5 May 09. T4N2MO SCC tongue, floor of mouth, lymph nodes & jaw bone No surgery Teeth removed 06/07/2009 radiation 13/07/2009 x 7wks chemo 15/07/2009 x 3 Cisplatin last TX 28/08/2009 25/11/2009 PET-lymph node activity. 08/01/2010 CT Scan-ALL CLEAR 03/03/2010-Peg removed 01/2013 left side of Jaw removed and replaced with pectoral flap. 23/12/2020 scan show lesion in tongue 01/2021 SCC stage 3 base of tongue diagnosed 01/03/2021 chemotherapy started.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I think the prayers, from people worldwide and the church groups locally were a big morale booster to my EGO. Good Drs are what we all need. The really caring and sincere ones. I am lucky as all of mine have been good and I have 3 that keep in contact with me over the phone if I haven't seen them for a couple of weeks. To me, thinking the positive way that you were expressing in your 1st post is a big positive. Welcome aboard our " Little Train That Can"
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
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