#43261 05-03-2004 07:34 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 33 | Compared to many on this board, my journey has just begun (surgery Mar 18th, radiation starts May 13th). I'd love to hear from anyone about their milestone moments while going through treatment and recover. This can be anything from thinking you'd never lick an icrecream cone againt to chugging a beer ... or any beverage. Or sinking your teeth into a juicy steak. It doesn't even have to be that major.. something like the day your mouth wasn't full of thick saliva anymore. And when did it happen? I have think positive thoughts to keep me patient. Thanks all!!!  | | |
#43262 05-03-2004 08:40 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 | hi cathy,
i'm just at a milestone.. i bought a new pair of walking shoes when i started chemo/rad. they are now worn out and i'm heading to buy a new pair.
best wishes in your treatment.
cu,
larryb | | |
#43263 05-03-2004 08:48 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 | Hi Cathy,
I finished treatment October 8 ,2003. I finally ate a hot fudge sundae yesterday and the ice cream didn't get stuck and burn halfway down! I think I will have to try more often now.
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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#43264 05-03-2004 09:32 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 33 | Great stuff guys - just what I wanted to hear! | | |
#43265 05-03-2004 09:48 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Cathyl:Milestones are our friends. Of course, we're all different so some of yours may come sooner or later, but they will come. I worked through my last week of radiation which ended 2/27/04, week 7. Had peg installed because eating anything stopped week 5 (which is not a good thing). Good news, its now 8 weeks after radiation, and I had my first bag of popcorn yesterday. I have been eating chips (potato and corn)for a couple of weeks, steaks, fish, chicken, meatloaf, eggs, pork, ham, bread, etc., for 4 - 8 weeks after treatment ended. It comes back a little at a time and you just have to experiment as you go. Taste is still an issue, because while I eat things, I don't taste much. Its more an exercise in eating cause I know I should, not because it tastes so good. But that is coming back a little at a time also. Be careful of some spices though, they can really bother your throat. Good luck and remember it does get better, one day at a time, just like you live your life. Regards, Kirk Georgia
Regards, Kirk Georgia
Stage IV, T1N2aM0, right tonsil primary, Tonsilectomy 11/03, 35 rad/3cisplatin chemo, right neck dissection 1/04 - 5/04.
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#43266 05-03-2004 01:45 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 | Kirk,
I remember eating popcorn for the first time when we went to see The Passion of the Christ. It was a great experience but just a tad different than what I expected.
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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#43267 05-04-2004 11:16 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Cathy, a major milestone for me was being able to drink COFFEE again!!!!!!!!!! I simply love the stuff, it took almost a year, but WOW! Ed, funny that you mentioned popcorn...just had some delicious caramel coated "Fisher's" popcorn from Ocean City,Md. last nite......delish!!!!!!!(Had to be careful chewing it cuz of all my dental work, but I did pretty good) SMILE!!!!
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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#43268 05-04-2004 12:49 PM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 | hi Cathy,
i live 30 minutes from Fishers Popcorn in Ocean City and we send it to friends during the holidays. my wife eats popcorn frequently, however i just haven't been able to get myself to try it again. somehow those fluffy kurnels just pain frighten me. potato chips are fine (sometimes with a nice dip), but i'm under the blanket if popcorn gets too close. maybe with the caramel coating it would be ok.. i'll have to think about if for a few months... maybe next Christmas.
did you walk the board walk in OC?
cu,
larryb | | |
#43269 05-04-2004 02:22 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 | Larry/Cathy,
Do you need my address? I saw the caramel corn on the food network and I was wondering how to get out there to get some. Is there anything in Texas you want? Maybe a trade is in order!!
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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#43270 05-04-2004 03:50 PM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 316 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 316 | Hi Cathy, I'm about 7 weeks out of radio, and am enjoying eating, though I don't a great deal still. I supplement with banana smoothies or Sustagen, as I can't lose too much more weight. My first foray into eating was an Aussie Tiger prawn (shrimp to you!) and it was wonderful! Took ages though. I progressed to a couple of nibbles of rack of lamb, and things have been progressing since. Icecream? Well, it doesn't taste like it used to, but who cares, the coolness and creaminess is wonderful. Vegetables, yummo! I still have a problem with certain types of carbohydrate - corn, pasta, bread, potato wedges, some cheeses - and some meats. I get tired of chewing, so give up. You soon get used to a new lifestyle, just have to turn your head (tastebuds?) around. P.S. Ed said: "It was a great experience but just a tad different than what I expected." Which? The Passion or the popcorn?  Cheers! Tiz
End of Radiation - the "Ides of March" 2004 :-)
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