| Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | I hope and trust that all has gone well and that Clark is now resting comfortably. Be kind to yourself too. Tammy
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT. PET 6/11 clear. R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in. March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Clark had his surgery and all went well. The only thing now is that he will have to be on pureed food for 6 months. NO MORE CHEWING. I saw the xray and he has a plate keeping everything aligned. Chewing provided enough tork on the fibular graft that it eventually broke. Also, no more stretching exercises either. Too much pressure on those fibular grafts.
He has very little pain and the fistula is gone. Some swelling but the incision looks good.
I am looking ahead and will be ordering a Vita-Mix. I have a few cookbooks to help me create tasty pureed meals. I remember Charm loved his Vita-Mix. He had all his meals prepared in one.
I want to make a lasagne with the ingredients pureed and layered. My son told me to make one in a large pan so we could all eat with Clark. That made me feel so good. Instead of making a special one for Clark and a different one for everyone else. That was a beautiful example of empathy, I almost cried.
Thank you all for your support. No one gets it like you do. I am so lucky to have my OCF buddies to lift me up when things get tough. Going to take a nap. I am beat.
Anita (68) CG to husband, Clark, 79, DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08, HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft. Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear, PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14 Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22 PEG 7/21 Botox injections
| | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Great news, Anita! I am so glad the pain is much improved new that things are re-aligned. Remember to take care of yourself, too! Maria
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: 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 | Anita, I was hoping to see an update today. Im so glad everything went smoothly. Hope Clark is able to bounce back quickly. Best wishes to you both. Im sure it is a huge relief having this over with. 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: Feb 2005 Posts: 118 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 118 Likes: 1 | Marvelous news, Anita. You and Clark will love your Vita-Mix.
Be well. Zenda 12/04 SCC Tonsil, Stage IV T3N2BM0. Mod RND, resect right oropharynx, free-flap, resect right tongue base. Erbitux,Docetaxel,RT X 33. 6/08 Mets lung, hilar lymph node:Carboplatin, Docetaxel. 2010 2nd clinical trial:lung clear, node stable. ORN,trismus,dysphagia. 8-10/2012 cryoablation,brachytherapy,cyberknife to lymph node. 12/12 NED. 6/13 Mets RLL lung: 8/13 cyberknife. 11/13 NED.
| | | | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 247 Likes: 1 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 247 Likes: 1 | It's a great relief to hear from you that the surgery went well. Hoping for a smooth recovery.
CG to husband, dx @ age 65, nonsmoker/social drinker. Dx 5/08 SCC Stage IV, BOT T1N2aM0. 33 IMRT - completed 9/12/08. Induction Chemo (Cisplatin, Taxotere & 5FU), plus concurrent Cisplatin. 1/09 PEG removed; 5/09 neg PET/CT; 5/10 PET/CT NED Dental extraction & HBOT 2013; ORN 2014; Debridement/Tissue Transfer & HBOT 2016
| | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 | [quote=AnitaFrances]Clark had his surgery and all went well. The only thing now is that he will have to be on pureed food for 6 months. NO MORE CHEWING. I saw the xray and he has a plate keeping everything aligned. Chewing provided enough tork on the fibular graft that it eventually broke. Also, no more stretching exercises either. Too much pressure on those fibular grafts.
He has very little pain and the fistula is gone. Some swelling but the incision looks good.
I am looking ahead and will be ordering a Vita-Mix. I have a few cookbooks to help me create tasty pureed meals. I remember Charm loved his Vita-Mix. He had all his meals prepared in one.
I want to make a lasagne with the ingredients pureed and layered. My son told me to make one in a large pan so we could all eat with Clark. That made me feel so good. Instead of making a special one for Clark and a different one for everyone else. That was a beautiful example of empathy, I almost cried.
Thank you all for your support. No one gets it like you do. I am so lucky to have my OCF buddies to lift me up when things get tough. Going to take a nap. I am beat.
[/quote]
Hi Anita. So happy to hear the surgery went well. Hopefully Clark heals well and has no complications. Costco sells the Vitamix. I'm a member if you would want me to get one for you. Hugs - Wanda
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: 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 |
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: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Hi Anita,
I'm really glad that Clark had his surgery and that all went well. Now onto the healing process, but with you in his corner I know he is well taken care of.
After my blender broke once again, I bought a Vita-Mix a few months ago. I ordered thru the Vita-Mix website, but you can also get them thru Amazon and the TV home shopping networks. The ones offered on the TV show are a different model and I'm not really sure which is best. I mainly use it to make protein shakes. I recall that Charm used his everyday and loved it. They are expensive, but worth it.
Keeping you both in my thoughts and prayers!
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)
| | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Great news Anita! Don't forget the discount Vita Mix offers for health reasons.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0 Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03 Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08. Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11 Cervical Myelitis 09/12 Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12 Dysautonomia 11/12 Hospice care 09/12-01/13. COPD 01/14 Intermittent CHF 6/15 Feeding tube NPO 03/16 VFI 12/2016 ORN 12/2017 Cardiac Event 06/2018 Bilateral VFI 01/2021 Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022 Bilateral VFI 05/2022 Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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