#38238 02-23-2005 09:58 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Hi all,
I just finished my 1 year follow up visit. I can proudly say that they kicked me out for 6 months.
All clear after one year.
To my family out here, thank you so much for your kind words, prayers, smart ass comments, tears, hope, joy. I love you all.
To all newbies, no matter what happens, every second of every day, is a gift. Yes, you will feel normal again. And most of all PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do your homework and get the best care out there. You owe it to your family if not yourself.
Thanks you all.
Robert, Christine, Alison, Robby, Tommy, Billy, and Scotty 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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#38239 02-23-2005 10:05 AM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Senior Member (75+ posts) | Senior Member (75+ posts) Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 | Dear Robert and Family,
CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is fantastic news, all clear for one year! I love hearing this kind of news, it gives the rest of us a lot of hope. I'm sure you are walking on air right now. Hope you and your family go out and celebrate tonight, you deserve it.
Thank you,
Shelley
Caregiver to husband, Ron. Throat cancer, Stage II. No Chemo or Surgery. Completed 35 Radiation Treatments in November 2004.
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#38240 02-23-2005 11:08 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 | Rob, Great news! Best Regards, 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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#38241 02-23-2005 11:17 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 | Wonderful news, Robert.
These posts are the best ones for me to bring to Tom. - - Although I think he's turned a psychological corner, he is often depressed with the slow rate of recovery - esp. weight gain. He hates the sound of his voice, which used to be very strong and a great tenor. He is hoping once his throat allows more solid food down that the voice will return a bit (??) What say you out there?
Nicki
Nicki, wife of Thomas dx July 2004, SCC, Stage 4 Tonsil. Tx begun 8/4/04. Cisplatin/Xeloda x 4; IMRT 7 wks, 8/7 - 10/25/04 Modified Radical Dissection (right), Selective Dissection (Left) 12/10/04.
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#38242 02-23-2005 12:08 PM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | Rob Yeahhhh congratulations to you and your family. I just love good news. Nicki It will get better , eventually. Like the rest of the guys patience is probably not his strong suit!
Take care 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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#38243 02-23-2005 01:18 PM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 | Marica - you are right-on when you say patience is not his strong suit. He's a stubborn fellow - very strong-willed - and he refuses to stand in line for a movie or restaurant or museum or ANYTHING now that I think about it! He is one of the hardest working men I know, and this has realllllly put the brakes on that aspect of his life. He's coping OK with that part because he has such a strong team at work and the business is thriving. He is NOT coping well with not being able to do things around the house like he always has. I told him that would get better because it HAS to! He is exercising his arms, shoulders and neck and that at least makes him feel productive. (Boy, I just realized how much I missed talking to everyone here! I can't stay away so long...!) Nicki
Nicki, wife of Thomas dx July 2004, SCC, Stage 4 Tonsil. Tx begun 8/4/04. Cisplatin/Xeloda x 4; IMRT 7 wks, 8/7 - 10/25/04 Modified Radical Dissection (right), Selective Dissection (Left) 12/10/04.
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#38244 02-23-2005 02:30 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 541 | Robert, good news to cheer us up. Your doctor is really confident about your health as he won't be seeing you until 6 months later. I am still on a 14 week interval although I am approaching my 4 year mark. Maybe your cancer is of an earlier stage than mine. My advice is in between your next appointment, always be on the alert to your body. Nicki, me too! The first thing I turned on the computer every morning is to get to OCF to read members' messages and I look forward to reading good news.
Karen
Karen stage 4B (T3N3M0)tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001.Concurrent chemo-radiation treatment ( XRT x 48 /Cisplatin x 4) ended in 12/01. Have been in remission ever since.
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#38245 02-23-2005 02:57 PM | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 94 Senior Member (75+ posts) | Senior Member (75+ posts) Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 94 | Robert,
Congratulations! I got good news from my doc last Thursday. That's 2 years, 2 months, 2 weeks and 6 days after my initial surgery... but who's counting? Live strong!
Ken
SCCA T2N1M0 diagnosed 11/02, radical neck dissection, 7 weeks radiation, 6 surgeries to deal with osteonecrosis, 10 weeks hyperbaric oxygen. "Live strong. Laugh often."
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#38246 02-23-2005 03:18 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Robert, I was so excited with my one year check up.........I'm glad you get to feel the same way! You have a beautiful family and this news must make their day also. I'm with Karen on keeping a close watch on your body during the 6 months until you go to the doctor again. I am 7 months ahead of you and still see my doctor every other month. Take care, 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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#38247 02-24-2005 08:30 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Hi Thanks everyone. I agree and do keep quite a good tab on things that are going on. While I was treated and diagnosed stage IV, my metastasis was 2.8 to 3.0 depending on the measurement. I personally believe that I am stage III and two of my three doctors (Surgeon, Oncologist) agree.
However, my Radiation Oncologist (who in my opinion holds the key) said stage IV and he wont hear any arguments to the contrary.
So catagorigly and historically speaking I had a small primary (1.6cm) border line (III,IV) met. I was considered a very curable case. Of course we all know what that information is worth. Remember Lynn?
Once again, thanks for your concern. I check my neck nodes at least two hundred times a day and try to feel inside my mouth in the morning and at night (you all know the drill).
Also, since I wrote my first post my Surgeon
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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