| Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 64 | I'm a wuss with cancer as you guys have seen from my posts. I'm really scared of it, i don't have it but you guys actually battle against it and won. What motivated you? Was it just your will to live, was it kids, family? I just have curiosity because I could only imagine the pain and suffering endured I honestly don't think i have it in me to win a battle against cancer. People going through cancer have my biggest respect and admiration and anybody who reads this and is battling cancer u have my full support and admiration for your strength.
Last edited by Brian Hill; 12-11-2014 04:54 PM. Reason: add puctuation so it was understandable
Teen with questions and willing to help and give support any way I can
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | I guess I just did what I had to do. I don't think that I'm particularly brave or strong, but I did what needed to be done, and trusted my doctors. I have supportive husband, family and a large group of supportive friends.
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I relied on my faith and God to give me the strength to get through it. It helped, also, to have a loving wife/caregiver and extended support network. I had a few "cheerleaders" from OCF that I am still close friends with to this day.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5 Member | Member Joined: Oct 2014 Posts: 5 | My wife was a wonderful caregiver. But, mostly I didn't have any choice. There were days that I wanted to give up, but my wife would have never let me.
I also set up a journal on a site called Caringbridge (it's free). I never knew I had so many caring friends. And, many of them passed along the link. I even heard from my college suite-mate from nearly 50 years ago. Reminders that a lot of people wanted me around for awhile.
| | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | Not everyone has a laundry list of horrible side effects they had to face during treatment. When it doesn't hurt, it's a lot easier to get through treatment, even by yourself with no caregiver.
If you ever do get cancer, you may be one of the lucky. You are assuming it will be horrible, and it might be, but it also might not be.
I hope you never have to find out.
Tony
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)
09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0. 11/13 start rads, no chemo 12/13 taste gone, dry mouth, 02/14 hair slowly returning 05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps. 01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter. 12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good
| | | | Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 64 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Aug 2014 Posts: 64 |
Teen with questions and willing to help and give support any way I can
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