Hi, I'm Cathy and was on here about 7 or so months ago and right before I finished my IMRT I dropped away from the site. I got scared because I kept reading about recurrence and I was just adjusting to being diagnosed and trying to be Mrs. Tough Mom, Wife, Child, Sister, Friend and I wiggled out.
instead of running I should have talked about it, no excuses, but still learning how to be a cancer fighter and survivor.
I'm scared just about every day that this will return and I think my brain got radiated..lol...and all sorts of other strange thoughts.
Thank you for letting me reintroduce myself.
woodstockga now living in Marietta Ga 💜
finished 30 rads 7/24/2014

Welcome back, Cathy. Many suffer from anxiety. This far since treatment is a bit worrisome. Please let you doctor know and you'll likely be referred for some psychology service to help you better manage the worry. no need to suffer. don't run, we are here to help.

You're welcome back anytime. How are you doing? I just finished treatments.

Hi Cathy. I always wonder if people look at my signature and go arrrrgggghhhh. I think I'm one of a relatively small percentage who get new primaries after the first oral cancer.

Apparently there can be submicroscopic changes to the tissues in the mouth after the first cancer but 80% of people get away without a new primary. I'm one of the 20% who get a new cancer in their mouth.

People who have one episode and are okay for the rest of their lives might not stick around here so this site might be skewed towards people with recurrences or long-term after effects!

And, well, I've had two recurrences and four cancer diagnoses over all and I'm still going strong, albeit a bit battered and bruised. When I went back to work after my big tongue surgery I stopped accessing OCF, in fact I thought it would be healthier for me if I stopped focussing on cancer issues. Now I both need this site and really want to help others who might need some empathy!!!!

Thank you so much for the support and understanding. I'm finally getting to a ppint in my healing to understand I really just need to to live my life as best and as loving as I can and just be aware of my body and what is happening just as I was doing when the cancer was found. I was so extremely lucky that it was found as early as it was and that I'm still able to eat, to talk, and tell my family and friends I love them.

When are you considered a survivor? Silly question from someone in the health field but coming up on a year from diagnosis in March to the year anniversary from surgery in April...
Thank you for listening!
Cathy 💜

I'm doing really well. My only issues are the lack of saliva and taste buds. Be cause of that I'm having a hard time keeping up with calories and protein. And I'm so sick of liquid everything...LOL
How are you doing? When did you finish?

Cathy

[quote]When are you considered a survivor? Silly question from someone in the health field but coming up on a year from diagnosis in March to the year anniversary from surgery in April...[/quote]Funny you should ask. I had the same question. Look at the new thread I started on just that topic

Okay I think if you get through treatment whatever it is... you are a survivor.

the rule of thumb is

18 months,
3 years,
5 years


usually they biggest chance of recurrence is in the first 18 months.

From the date of discovery or completion of treatment is up to you.

I personally I go by completion of treatment. So for example. This May 04 it will mark the day I finished rads 4 years ago. (hopeful - YAY)

Feb 4 marked 4 years post surgery.

hopefully this helps.

We all are survivors as long as we are still trucking along doing what we can do helping each other hang in there.

I am going to mark my calendar by day of completion because I'd rather celebrate getting those treatments done than discovering the cause of it all.

It does really help to hear from people who have been through things.

My husband has had the same problem. The ensure etc. drinks were too sweet for him but he does need a lot of fluid to be able to swallow his food. I found Nestles Boost VHC nutritional drink and he uses one twice a day, diluting the drink with 8oz of milk. VHC is 530 calories, add the milk and each meal is over 600 calories. This is the only way he has been able to maintain his weight and actually now he does not like to eat a meal without it. He likes the taste of it. It is not sweet tasting to him.

The only place I have been able to buy it is on line. I order at MDDirect.com as they offer free shipping as the boxes are heavy. Arrives in two to three days. They have several different nutritional drinks so be sure it is the Boost VHC at 530 calories. It also includes protein and is lactose intolerance. Hope this helps.