Thanks Tammy! That's a very encouraging story. I am just going to take a breath and stop getting all twisted. Happy to hear your husband is still cancer free!!

Hi Ed,

Yes, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, SCC, is a very common type of cancer cell effecting cancers in the head and neck 90% of the time, and so was mine. Back then I didn't even know who an oncologist was so no worries there.

I was going to mention watching the food channel to help with your appetite, but see you like to cook like myself. I think cooking or the idea of cooking helped me recover during my many treatments. I got a big kick when I was once "foodie of the week" on QVC's In the Kitchen with David with a picture of me on TV making a pizza pie. I have also used coffee, marinol, steroids, fat/sugar, wine in later years, exercise and others to help increase my appetite, and gain weight.

Sometimes I say the heck with it too, probably worse words lol, but dust off, and continue to carry on to the next day. It's a normal feeling, and just as long as it doesn't interfere with other aspects of life, treatment, recovery, it's not a bad thing.

It's interesting that you mentioned having had Hepatitus C. Last spring there was a report of an increased risk, 2.6 fold increase above average, for head and neck cancer with hepatitis C, so maybe now doctors can monitor this area with future patients having had this condition.

Good luck with the PET/CT. The facility should give you preperation instructions if you never had this scan before.

Thanks Paul. I have had the PET scan before. It gets a little uncomfortable at the end because you have to pee like a race horse.

That's pretty cool you were on the cooking show! My wife and I do watch a lot of cooking shows. I had to google marinol and got a real good laugh as I thought I knew every name for it.

The Hep C connection is interesting. I kind of thought I was just having a run of bad luck 😄😄.

It does get frustrating sometimes. You don't know what you have till you don't have it anymore. A little thing like saliva and swallowing a mouthful is an epic adventure. I have found that I have full taste for a toasted English muffin with a ton of melted butter on it. Seems to be the one thing that I get the same pleasure from as before. Maybe I'll try some lobster with butter this weekend. That would be glorious if I could taste that!!!

Thanks for the feedback!

Ed Kane

Got some great news today. PET scan results show no sign of cancer. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of me. These last 6 months have been a nightmare. I am so grateful to all of my doctors and medical science for the advances they have made.

I realize that it ain't over till it's over but I am elated at having a second chance.

Thanks to all of you on this site for your positive support. Hopefully I can contribute back to this community.

Ed

Oh my, this is beautiful news ! Sure made my day here and I can only imagine how relieved you are right now. Do your "happy " dance, you earned it !

Congrats Ed!!!! I bet you feel so much better!!! Please stick around our site. We love having survivors to share their experiences with others who are just starting out. We're one big extended family

Congratulations! The best news possible!

Great News, Ed! Hope you have that lobster soon too!

That is wonderful news Ed. Hope you and your wife are celebrating.
Tammy

Thanks everyone. Went out to dinner Friday night for the first time in a long time. People were looking at me like I was some kind of nut because I kept taking swigs of my pink magic right out of the prescription bottle. And yes Paul, I had my lobster! Later that night I just started crying. Out of the blue. I have a 19 month old granddaughter who means the world to me. Now I can watch her grow up. What can I say?

I will be sticking around this site. You are wonderful people.