#3170 08-02-2004 05:20 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 71 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 71 | Hi all-
I know I haven't posted an update in quite some time but I just couldn't pass up sharing some good news. Don, my husband, finally went back to work today after being gone for 1 year. I was worried...will he over-do on the first day...will this set him back...etc, etc. ...you know how wife's can be. But I must tell you that the look on his face and his entire body demeanor when he walked in the door at the end of the day will last me a life time...he looked GREAT! I could have never imagined how much this would make a difference. He says it feels good to get out there and contribute to society and to our household. Though he is tired and had to take all his meds with him to work...we are glad that life is getting back to a little bit more "normal" than this past year has been.
No, he is not 100%. Life with the ringing/crackling/popping in his ear; difficulties eating; and the saliva issues will probably be around for a long time to come...but I am just glad he is around to "have" all these issues. When his oncologist released him back to work he told us that without the treatments would definitely not be here today...that was scary to hear, but it made us realize how very blessed we are. So, side-effects and all, he is still cancer-free as of his 6 month post-treatment CT scan and they say they believe "unofficially" that he is "cured".
I know we often times just talk about the 'bad' stuff on this site, so I wanted to share our GREAT DAY with all of you and thank you for all your wonderful posts.
Lorie
Lorie/wife of Don, DX:8-7-03, Tonsil cancer left side stage III, IMRT x 35, 6 chemo (Cisplatin/Taxol), clear CT Scan 12-26-2003. Mets to both lungs & AML 11-6-05, mets to brain Jan 2006, mets to liver & bones April 2006, passed away July 20, 2006.
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#3171 08-02-2004 05:27 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Lorie,
I read your post twice it made me so darn happy! I don't know what I would have done or how I would have handled it if my husband had been diagnosed with cancer rather then me. It would have just broken my heart to watch him go through what I went through. I remember my first day back in the gym working with the kids..........I called my husband on break from my cell phone, out back of the gym, crying because I felt so normal again. I'm glad your day was wonderful and that there are many more in your future.
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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#3172 08-02-2004 05:35 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Congratulations Lorie & Don! We have a lot in common. I'm almost six months ahead of you and I can tell you it gets a little better all the time. I can even whistle and lick envelopes (thank you IMRT).
Gary Allsebrook
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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)
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#3173 08-02-2004 05:47 PM | 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 | Lorie,
I am so happy for Don (and you, too, of course)! Before all this happened, could you imagine such a little thing like a day on the job would be such a joyous event! May your lives be blessed with many more joyous events!
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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#3174 08-03-2004 11:09 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 156 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 156 | Congrats - that is SOOO wonderful to hear. It gave me goosebumps. Thanks for sharing!!
Sabrina | | |
#3175 08-03-2004 01:16 PM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 | Lorie and Don
Congratulations.
Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
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#3176 08-03-2004 01:42 PM | Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 136 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2003 Posts: 136 | hey Lorie,
glad to hear that Don's back to work.
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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#3177 08-03-2004 02:37 PM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 139 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 139 | Thank you, Lorie, for sharing that milestone with us! Great news!
Judy U
Judy U
Stage I SCC floor of mouth, left radical neck dissection 8/03
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#3178 08-03-2004 03:57 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Hey Lorie,
Thank God for great news such as yours...it really helps to hear positive notes on the board also! Thanks for sharing and God bless,
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#3179 08-03-2004 04:57 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 | Great news, Lorie and Don!!!! Congrats...
Tongue cancer (SCC), diagnosed Oct. 2003 (T2 N0 M0). Surgery to remove tumor. IMRT Radiation 30x in Dec 2003 - Jan. 2004. Recurrence lymph node - radical neck dissection June 2004. Second round of rad/chemo treatments ended Sept. 2004.
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