#18762 10-03-2005 01:10 PM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Hi All,
Just wanted to pop in and tell you that two years ago today was a very bad day for me.
And today is a wonderful day for me. Two years free of the beast.
I went for my checkup with a cold and a sore throat.
A year ago that was enough to send me off the deep end. Today, it's just a cold.
For all you still in treatment, yes, life does get back to normal. A cold is just a cold.
A sore neck is just a sore neck. A dry mouth is just a dry mouth etc. Funny how you adjust. You just do.
My radiation oncol who is a very subtle jokester scoped me, felt me, poked me prodded me without saying a word. Then reached in his pocket, pulled out a Halls Mentholated lozenge, handed it to me and said "see you in 6 months". What a guy.
Now for the props (as the kids call it).
I am still here thanks to GOD, My Wife, Kids, Family, Everybody out here at OCF, and the fine staff at the University Of Chicago.
God I am glad I found you guys.
Peace and love to all of you.
Talk to you soon,
Robert, Christine, Alison, Robby, Tommy, Billy, & Scott Hamilton
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#18763 10-03-2005 01:30 PM | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 129 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 129 | Congrats Robert! Thanks for sharing the inspiring news of your health. Best wishes for many more happy years!
Tami
Tami
Mom has Bot scc stage T1/N1= stage 3 dx 6/27/05 treatment IMRT & chemo (docetaxel, cisplatin, 5FU) ended treatment 8/22/05 Cancer free as of Feb 2006
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#18764 10-04-2005 04:37 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Robert, I'm so happy for you and your family. It's tough dealing with cancer when we're young and have a family with young children. When we finally find ourselves back to being "normal" we look at our families in a different way!
Congrats,
Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#18765 10-04-2005 07:34 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Awesome news Robert! Thank you so much for sharing it with us. It is amazing what the new "normal" can mean, but hey, I will take it!
Take Care, Carol
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#18766 10-04-2005 08:56 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Dear Robert and family
What a wonderful day for all of you!
I just love this kind of post, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy....lol
Congratulations.
Marica
Caregiver to husband Pete, Dx 4/03 SCC Base of Tongue Stage IV. Chemo /Rad no surgery. Treatment finished 8/03. Doing great!
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#18767 10-04-2005 09:25 AM | 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 | Congratulations Robert! What great news to hear on any day. I am counting the hours to Oct 8 (two years POST-TREATMENT).  Take Care, Ed
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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#18768 10-04-2005 10:34 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 50 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 50 | Congratulations Robert!! Wonderful news. Best wishes to you and your family.
regards,
John | | |
#18769 10-04-2005 11:31 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 | Great news, Rob. I agree, the folks at UCH are a fine group of people. Best wishes,
Dave
Mom's caregvr. DDS failed to dx 01/03. Dx Stg IV SCC 05/03. Induct. chemo, IMRT, 5FU, H, Iressa, Neck disect, radiation. Dad's caregvr. Dx 01/04 Ext. Stg SCLC. Mets to liver/bone 08/04. Died 11/12/04. Mom tongue CA dx 06/13, hemiglossectomy (80% removed) 08/13. Clean margins and nodes, but PNI. 6/15/15: Tongue CA at base of remnant tongue. Declined further tx; hospice.
Died 10/13/15. What a long and difficult journey.
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#18770 10-04-2005 11:59 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Congradulations Robert,
Enjoy that lovely family of yours and keep the good news coming.
Best Wishes, Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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#18771 10-04-2005 12:22 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 136 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 136 | that's Great Robert,
have fun,
cu,
larryb
'01 diagnosis.. jaw hing and base of tongue. surgery not possible. JHU used radiation and chemo to seemingly rid me of the beast. peg for about 19 months. 100 cases of 24 cans of liquid food. 9 months eating therapy. 3x esophagus stretches. non-smoker. previously a social drinker.
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