| | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 147 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 147 | Hello everyone,
Hope you are all doing well. Very busy at work but here is a progress report on my hubby's recovery. He is getting more taste back each day. His menu has expanded quite well. We can go to restaurants and he finds things to eat. I am so grateful. HE still has to nap or lay down in the middle of the day but he is working around that. He sees some clients in the morning when he has some energy and then does some work at home in the afternoon. Goes to bed by 9:30 but each day is a bit better. If we get a clean PET scan in November then we are going to plan a vacation for the late spring or summer. So life begins again. We are still wondering what the "new Normal" will be.
Again I want to say how grateful I am to all of you for being so supportive during this difficult time. I only hope and pray that I will be here as a survivors wife and not as one who is talking about a recurrence. What is the percentage of that anyway.
Bless all of you.
EllenB
caregiver for husband
diagnosed with oral cancer May 2011 after 6 mo
node lft side and several in jaw involved
Base of Tongue Stage IVA
7 weeks radiation
Cisplatin-3 chemos (beginning,middle,end) IntraV administration
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | The first year is the most challenging and he will most likely continue his recovery for a good part of 2 years after which his new normal will be more defined but I'm sure it will be very similar to his pre Tx except for the mental aspect of cancer which will affect the both of you, good and bad, perhaps for the rest of your lives.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | 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 | Ellen, congrats to both you and your husband for his amazing journey. He sailed right thru and has bounced back very quickly. He is a lucky lucky man!!!! Do not bother worrying yourself about recurrence statistics. We are all afraid of the cancer coming back and everyone gets edgy around check up time. Most people do not face a recurrence. Im one that does not like to pay attention to statistics. If I would, then I should not be here! Continue to make the most of every day and try to put all this behind you. Best wishes with your husbands continued improvements!
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  | | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 | It sounds like you're husband is doing great. I am three weeks out from my last radiation and I'm kind of in awe of how fast he went back to eating. I'm still mostly on liquids. Hope the rest of his recovery is as quick and uneventful. It sounds like he has had a wonderful caregiver.
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: Jun 2011 Posts: 147 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 147 | I read all of your posts to Eddie and he is beginning to feel the strength and joys of recovery. I only wish this for all who experience this that they will get back on track as soon as they can.
Please be in touch.
EllenB
caregiver for husband
diagnosed with oral cancer May 2011 after 6 mo
node lft side and several in jaw involved
Base of Tongue Stage IVA
7 weeks radiation
Cisplatin-3 chemos (beginning,middle,end) IntraV administration
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