Dave and Karen..... It's really good to see you guys back here. When we don't here from you regularly people start to worry. More than one person has emailed me to ask if I had heard anything from you two. By the way folks, take a look at stefon's member number.... one of the originals, and as fast as that first 500 posters came to OCF, Karen wasn't far behind. Good to see you both again.

Brian, thank you for your concern. Actually I have always been a frequent visitor here but I wasn't as active as before. On the one hand I was very busy with my job; on the other most of the posts were responded quickly by more knowledgeable members and I enjoyed being silent for a while. I am doing very well.Don't worry.

Karen

I would like to say "thank you" to Karen.(I hope you see this!) She was sooo helpful through personal emails when I first found out Rod had cancer.Everytime I wasn't sure about a side effect or something that was going on with him, she would let me know that it was normal...also warned me of the depression that could come afterwards(and it did).Karen, I can't thank you enough for the support!Continued good health to you!!!!Hugs~Maureen

Maureen,
I blushed when reading your post. Compared with other members who are so knowledgeable and generous in offering support, my help is really minimal.Rod is really very lucky to have you as his friend. I have sent you a private message. Take care,
Karen

Spent the day at the University of MN making our rounds--Thank you Karen for telling me not to worry. Minnesota Mark and Stefon-thanks for sharing your stories!!! I am overly guilty of not living in the present. My dad has one week of radiation and I dose of Cisplatin under his belt. No nausea-his blood work looked perfectly normal today. The Radiologist said "it's getting smaller". We do know that the worst is yet to come-funny how I am getting my strength from the cancer patient! He is golfing today-has lost 5 lbs-I just need some encouragement-my medical background fills my head with "stuff".
It looks like his tumor is already shrinking-is that normal??
Smiles to you all--Minnesota Shawna

Shawna- can't answer the above- but I can tell you that you are one heck of a daughter . My husband[the patient] is also from Minnesota. Amy

Shawna,

There is a support group that meets the first Monday of every month at the U of M. I have not gone to the meetings but have met some of the people involved during my many visits to the University. You and your dad may benefit from meeting with some of the long time survivors that regularly attend. There are so many great people out there to support us all, I'm sure they may have similar experiences and could put your mind at ease with some issues.

Brian,
Thanks for the concern, all is well with me. I read often but post infrequently, I should contribute more. Our family is loading up the mini-van and on our way on a Chevy Chase like "vacation" this weekend to the L.A. and San Fran areas. Hope your Orange county weather forecast is good!

Shawna,

I agree with Dave on the Support Group issue. I wish Rod would have been able to find one with people close to his own age (38).He found one in his area but he was pretty young compared to everyone else there. Was looking for people in his age group who was dealt the same crappy hand as him.Anyway I would suggest it to Dad & see what he thinks. Also the shrinkage, I believe that can happen, Rod was 1 week into rad. & one dose of chemo and his nodes that were visibily swollen went down about 75%. So I would guess thats a good thing! I was the same as you, read everything I could get my hands on concerning SCC and I think I was more afraid than Rod who kept his eyes & ears closed. He just did what the doctors said & everything else scared him so he didn't want to hear it, sometimes I think thats the way to go..lol!Also when I was having a bad day,I would just visit the forum & read the "survivor stories" only...it helped! Take care of you too! God bless~Hugs~Maureen