| | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 446 "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 446 | When I was diagnosed in 2006, I was given a very frank and candid assessment of my chances of beating the beast....poor. Very poor.
Nothing so dramatic as "go home and prepare your family"...I was told that I had roughly a 15% chance of surviving this disease. Being rather pragmatic, one of the first things that I did was assess those important, life changing moments to come in both my life, and those of my family that I would likely miss.
One of the saddest realizations I came to was the likelyhood that I would not see my children have children of their own.
Certainly, there was a sense of loss of continuity...I think everyone on some level wants to see a small part of themselves continue on through children, grandchildren, even great grandchildren.
I remember so clearly how excited, humbled and passionately loving my own Father was when my daughter, his first Grandchild, was born. When he passed away three years ago, he was holding her hand...she, a young woman by then, who loved her Papa as deeply as he loved her.
I truly did not believe I would experience that joy, and the mere thought of that would bring tears to my eyes.
That was then; this is now...past my 5 year anniversary. When I saw my ENT this past June, the same one who'd given me that candid assessment all those years ago said " you did it!"
And, I did " do it"...I beat the Beast, and since 2006 have enjoyed so many of those important moments with my family, save one; welcoming a Grandchild into the world.
That too changed for me this past Tuesday. At 10:00 in the morning, Evelyn Kelli Morgan came into this world; the most beautiful child I've seen since the day 25 years ago that her Mother was born.
I am a Grandpa! That title is one some people cringe at; it implies we're old...for me, it's a title I wear proudly, and proclaim it often in the week that's just past.
Life, and the day to day "new normal" that many of us face and few of us enjoy nearly as much and before cancer, has become so much more; the sun shines a bit more brightly, and the flowers smell even sweeter than ever before; all due to the arrival of one little girl.
My goodness....life is SO good!
SCC left mandible TIVN0M0 40% of jaw removed, rebuilt using fibula, titanium and tissue from forearm.June 06. 30 IMRT Aug.-Oct. 06
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 | Congratulations on being a grandpa and being a five year survivor! Life is sweet! Thank you for sharing the beauty of hope and life!
Ex-spouse MISDIAGNOSED with SCC-HN IVa 12/10. Tonsils out 1/11. 4 teeth out 2/11. TX Erbitux x2, IMRT x2 2/11. 2nd opinion-benign BCC-NOT CANCER 3/11. TX stopped 3/11. New doctors 4/11. ENT agrees with 2nd opinion 5/11. ENT scoped him-all clear 7/11. Ordered MRI anyway. MRI 8/22/11 Result-all clear.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 79 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 79 | And Emily Kelli Morgan is about the prettiest baby girl I have ever seen!! I know I won't get any arguments out of you on that one, will I GRANDPA?? I love all that hair she has!!
Cathi
57 when diagnosed. Heavy smoker. Social drinker. Diagnosed 7/9/09 with tonsil, tongue & neck cancer. Chemo induction (Cisplatin, 5FU & Taxotere) & 35 radiation tx + 7 Carboplatin.
Head and neck CAT scan on 1/15/10 shows no cancer.
1/27/12 First PET/CAT scans in 2 years - All clear!!
recurrence mid-2015
OCF supporter and avid OCF CO and NJ walk attendee with worldwide friends
*** 1-7-16 passed away unexpectedly ***
| | | | | 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 | That is beautiful. I am so happy for you on all counts. You beat the odds - and that is inspiration to everyone here. Take care - enjoy your grand baby and he many more to come.
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
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Congratulations on so many counts, Dragan!
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 | Congratulations, Grandpa!
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: 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 | Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful granddaughter Wayne and it goes without saying......the 5 years  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) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Sunshine, flowers and a new granddaughter, life IS good.
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 2008 Posts: 357 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 | Life *is* good.
Congratulations!
Marlene
Marginal mandibulectomy 6/17/08 resulted in DX of Stage I SCC - gingiva (3 mm) right mandible, buccal side. Clear margins. Occasional social drinker. Smoked last cigarette in 1979. Clear pet: 12/08; 7/20/09. Yay!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Congratulations on becoming a grandfather and reaching your 5 year anniversary! Life is good � enjoy and celebrate each day!
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0
Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV-
Surgery: June 2005
RT: Feb-Apr 2006
HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105!
Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010
Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia
Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia
Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
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