Hello to ALL..
I am a new member and a nearly 8 year survivor of SCC. WOW, do I wish that I had known about this wonderful network of loving and sharing, caring people earlier (ESPECIALLY nearly 8 years ago)
I was diagnosed Jan 15, 1997 with SCC unknown primary, metastasis to right side neck lymph node, Stage IV. CAT scan on Jan 16 showed probability of right tonsil primary, later confirmed by lab during surgery. Surgery on Jan 23, 1997, tonsilectomy right side and right side modified radical neck dissectomy. (Never could figure out what modified was supposed to mean ) This followed by 7 weeks (35 treatments) with the rad beam (both sides of course).
I discovered lump in my neck while shaving just before Christmas of '86. While not usually one to worry about this type of thing, I somehow KNEW that I had to have this checked out immediately. Luckily for me, after visiting two Dr.s ??? who thought that at 47 years of age I had come down with mononucleosis, I immediately changed primary care and the new Dr. sent me to an ENT the next day. This God sent Dr. took a needle biopsy and had the results in less than a week. Even though on the day of diagnosis, I knew by the looks on the faces of his staff that the news was not something that I wanted to hear, he and his nurse could not have been any more caring, concerned and helpful and informative. I still talk to him once a year (guess which date) even though I no longer live anywhere near his practice.

Sorry for the long winded narrative, just want all of you to know how VERY important it is for ALL of you to be here for each other. There was a time when it had to toughed out nearly alone.

Jack

Hey Jack! We're almost neighbors! I grew up in T-town. Moved To Silverdale 10 yrs ago. Most of family, my side & my wifes, live in Tacoma, Puyallup, etc. Anyway, glad to meet you & Happy Turkey Day! It's quite a disease. I'm glad you're here! Erik

Hey Jack, God Bless You!! Awesome that you are an eight year survivor!!! Have a great Turkey Day!! Carol

Awesome story Jack. We are really grateful to have you here. Be sure you tell more about your story in my "survivor check in" thread. We can use all of the hope we can get around here.

Did you mean Christmas of '96?

Welcome Jack,

Thanks for sharing your story with us. Your one of the longest survivor's I've heard about. Eight years is a long time. Do you have any restrictions or are you 100% ok?

Danny Boy

Thanks Erik, Carol, Gary, Danny Boy for the welcome.

Had a very nice T Day and hope everyone here did also.

Yes, Gary I meant '96 not '86 and I will go to the survivor's thread.

Danny, I have absolutely no restrictions except the ones that I place on myself. That's not to say that I didn't and don't have some long term issues mostly resulting from the side effects of the radiation treatments. I must say that the BIGGEST have been psychological (major depression, etc,), but I can guarantee you that if either this forum had been around then or I had known about it, most of it would have been comparatively minor compared to what it was. I got into some chat rooms and other cancer forums but if you weren't dealing with the type of cancer that these forums were about, it was like "fugget about it" Never could understand that. I really hope that everyone here realizes how very important this sharing and caring from others really is.

Thanks Again
Jack

++++++++++
Dx 1/15/97 SCC Rt tonsil and lymph Stg IV, Surgery 1/23/97 tonsillectomy & mod. rad neck dissect right side, Radiation both sides 35 trtments

Jack, glad to have you on the forum. You have quite a good story to tell and can contribute a lot to this forum for new folks as they join in our family. God bless you for helping others. Looks like I was just 7 years after you with the same type experience. I found mine while shaving also and normally ignore that type of thing but didn't this time. Thank God.

Hi Jack,
so it was the lymph node that gave it away. My right tonsil cancer never got into the lymph nodes - it was just one humongous polypoid tumor that choked me in my sleep at night. Other than a little hoarseness and the sensation of something caught in my throat, basically asymptomatic.

I have one restriction now - to consciously not let unimportant things control my life, especially to interfere with my relationships. I was pretty good at choosing my battles before but the big c thing has fine tuned my priorities even more.

I have to agree that the forum is a unique thing. A lot of us met in Las Vegas a few months ago which changed everything for me - I now see peoples faces when I post - it's much more personal now. Seeing the member profile and photo book that Danny Boy put together was very moving, especially the persons who have passed this year. Everyday I wake up now is one of intense gratitude.

Welcome Jack
Nice to meet you, yes we are very lucky, that Brian Hill started this web site for us. I tell everyone who will listen ..if it had not been for these great folks I could not have made it through and, Pete, my husband`s journey would have been much tougher. The information they shared was a hundred times more valuable than any I could get from the medical professionals . Hang with us we need you!
Cheers
Marica

Very nice to meet you Jack! 8 years is great

We had the same DX.