| | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 | When people on this site told me three months ago to have patience, that I would improve and heal in time, I couldn't believe it, but it was true. I want to send along a message of hope to everyone, but especially to those people just finishing treatment: things get better, the body wants to heal, it just takes time. I didn't believe it then, and I still have my hard days, but right now I am sitting in my favorite coffee shop, eating a fritata and drinking a hot chai tea. My PEG is coming out in two weeks. My first pet-scan is on 6/20. My family and I made vacation plans: one week in Maine and New Hampshire. My recovery was really tough but I learned to have patience and let my body heal. It's still healing but at least I can talk, eat, drive, and have interest in things again. Bless all of you and thank you to those whose wisdom and advice helped enormously. I'll keep you all posted on the results of my first pet-scan. Best, Michelle
Last edited by Michelle Ann; 06-14-2011 09:41 AM.
SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 | So happy to hear that things are going better. It takes a long, long time to heal from all you have been through. Continued good health!
Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Michelle: Congratulations on your successful recovery. It sounds like you're doing great, so keep it up  . Prayers headed your way for good results on your upcoming PET scan and we'll be looking for "good" results!! julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer  | | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 45 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 45 | Michelle, I am following your progress. I am right behind you 4 weeks post rad Scc of Larynx. I tell people that always ask I am 1% better today (total is 53 1/2%) Not much but still progress. When does the mucous begin to clear....I have more than my bull mastiff....and I did not think that possible. Keep posting as you improve to give me hope and confidence. steve Hurlock
SCC of larynx,2/1/2011 surgery 16 times to remove papilloma on vocal cords,started TOMO rad treatment 4/11.2011 T2N0M0 possible invasion onto cartilage tissue Cancer back 6/2012. Polyp removed Came back spindle cell carcenoma 6/22/12
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 168 | Mucus... let me tell you about mucus. Everyone kept saying "dry mouth" while I was drooling like... well like your bull mastiff! I think it took a good 8 weeks for my mouth to stop secreting "gunk," as I like to call it. But now it's all about dry mouth, which (to me) is not as bad as mucus and gunk. Hope you are doing well. This journey we are on is sure a tough one! Do you have a Water Pik water flosser? A few people from this site recommended it and I found it a great way to feel fresh in the mouth. Plus, now that I am eating it is a good way to clean the mouth of food debris, which my weak tongue still can't manage to take care of. -Michelle
SCC left tonsil, stage IV, HPV+, metastatic to one lymph node. Biopsy 12/23/10; tonsillectomy 1/13/11; DX 1/25/11; Peg in 1/28/11. Peg out 6/29. TX 1/31/11-3/21/11: 35 IMRT plus 3 Cisplatin. Pet-Scan 6/20/11 = CLEAR! Three years out, learning to live with the long-term side effects of radiation while reminding myself to feel blessed.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 | What a wonderful post! I'm so glad to hear you are feeling better. I hope you have a great vacation.
Tracy - 33 at diagnosis
SCC right ventral tongue Dx 4/11.
T1N2M0
1st resection 5/11.
Bilateral neck dissection: 2 pos nodes
2nd resection w/graft 6/11.
Erbitux x 11 completed 9/11. IMRT x 30 completed 8/11.
3 month MRI and PET/CT all clear.
6, 9, 12 and 24 month post treatment MRIs all clear.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | I am so glad you are feeling better!!! Im two months behind you ! Thankfully my gunk has eased - and I have to agree dry beats niagara falls any day... Hugs- you made it through!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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