dear Mickael i'm sylvain from France, i think about you and hope have you on line soon!! big kisses!!!

Michael,

First of all, you should find an ENT out there that you trust. We all have stories of misdiagnosis, but you already had cancer and visits will be a little different. Secondly, I had an annoying node it the same area and mine was a fried salivary gland or something, it was not cancer. As a matter of fact it is one of the places I still do not have cancer. It is unlikely that you have cancer so soon after such an aggressive treatment plan. Can it happen, yes. I just doubt it. Let them know at MSKCC and find a local ENT if it really bothers you. You are in Laguna Beach for gods sake, there has to be some good doctors there. Where did you have the surgery? They must have some scans on file, go there.

I have said this to you before, you need to calm down. If you do not take some steps to address your emotional condition you might as well give up now. I mean, what's the point. Is this how you want to live?

Glenn

Hi Glenn! I wish I were in Laguna Beach, I am back up in Mendocino (which is paradise!!) along the Northern California Coast, but very isolated and remote.

The closest "city" is 2.5 hours away.

There are no ENT's locally. My surgery was at Stanford, and I can certainly return there (4 hours each way).

I see a Dr here next week to get meds to help with the "emotional condition".

I think the "node" or whatever is a little smaller today, so I am not as freaked out.

Michael,
I haven't been on this thread yet, but couldn't help but jump in with encouragement and a promise of our prayers for your recovery - and that your current worries fade quickly.
My husband, Tom, also had what seemed to be a 'new problem' shortly after he finished his treatment and we were, as you well know, scared.
Funny, I can't recall now what the lump turned out to be, but it was 'nothing.'
He's beginning to really improve on the eating side of things....some things he avoids like the plague (rice, white meat of chicken, most meats to name a few) but every day seems to bring a new victory. He gets excited when he sleeps for more than 2 hours without needing water or a squirt of Salivart
Things WILL get better - - it was the best thing we kept hearing from everyone here - and it has been proven true.
We don't stop praying for our friends' health and well-being. Consider yourself 'on the list.'
All the best
Nicki

Hi all!!!

I'm doing Okay....thank you to each of you who have written to me to check on things.

Basically, I just needed to take a brief "Cancer Holiday" for a few days and try not to dwell on the cancer so much...I figured it might help get me out of my funk, and I think it worked.

Today, I feel much better and continue to SLOWLY!!!! improve.

I am back to working more or less a full day again, and I am slowly regaining my eating abilities...Last night I had almost an entire turkey burger (all I could think about was bird flu! and a couple of fries...

Not the healthiest meal, but hey, I've been dreaming about a burger for months!

In the mornings I usually have some cereal, and green tea, and I think I may be able to have the tube out in a few weeks.

I return for a check up to NY around the 10th of Nov, and am worried they will "find" something, but am trying to take things day-by-day.

The M&M sized node along my left jaw line went down and then popped up again a few days later, and I've been noticing a sore throat over night lately...I think it's just a reactive node, so I'm not fixated on it.

Other than that the radiation burns are all 100% healed, my voice is 99% normal, and I'm not spitting 10,000 times a day like I was.

The tissues still feel "wierd" at the site, and along the neck, but I figure that will continue to improve in time.

During the worst of the treatment, I didn't brush my teeth as often as I should have and I regret that a little since they kinda hurt.

The tube is starting to annoy me but I use it for hydration once in a while, so I don't want to pull it just yet.

I still have ear ringing occasssionally, but nothing too captivating...in other words, I can live with it.

Well...I think that's it...SORRY for neglecting the board for a few days...

Hugs to all!!!

- Michael

Michael,

It's good to hear from you bu6t I'm glad you had a vacation. You deserved it! You sound like you're doing wonderfully. I'm so jealous about the eating but I hope I will get there in time. You have recovered really quickly to be back to an almost full time work-day already. Sounds like the vacation did you some good.

Nelie

Hi Michael,
Happy to hear of your progress. Word of warning -John tempted the gods and ordered a BMT with everything (including jalopenos and hot peppers). He jumped through the roof with the burning it caused in his throat! Scared himself but no harm done and lesson learned. He wants to go back to work after Thanksgiving (teaching) but he is sooo tired in the mornings and soooo tired after doing one or two hours of anything. I hope he doesn't tempt the gods again by going back too soon. Isn't it good to be on this side of the treatments? Keep taking those cancer holidays - so many moments in a day - why give cancer any more than necessary.
Peace,
Janet

Michael
Have you been to the dentist for a clean? My dentist was very gentle but keep my teeth clean after my surgery.
Glad you are doing well
Sunshine... love and Hugs
Helen

Hi Michael we are glad you are improving. Yes you have been a bad boy for not keeping the site up to date! Sounds like you are back to work Full Time well not 12 hrs a day I hope at the Inn. How did it survive? Hope to see you soon.

Ken and Keith

Michael, it's great to take a "holiday" from whatever ails us.Bravo! We do hope you will remember, as you progressively improve, that you now have a wealth of information to share about getting well. I don't know what cereals you are eating, but John has been eating old fashioned Cream of Wheat for 2 mo. now[and has our 18 mo. old hooked on it] and lots of ham[diced very small] and cheese omlets. Glad to hear you are doing well. Amy