#55499 09-12-2004 05:05 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 | Hi everyone! I had 90 day post rad/chemo follow up appts. last week & all clear! All doctors are amazed at my quick recovery, relatively clear speech and good all around condition! I feel guilty for doing so well & posting about it. I am eating just about anything I want with enough liquid to wash it down. My 8 yr old daughter said at dinner last night in a restaurant that she hasn't heard me cough or choke while eating in a while. I guess I've learned how to manage it. Last night a buddy of mine gave me some silver salmon he smoked yesterday, delicious, but couldn't swallow it! It was kinda dry & just balled up in back of throat, had to hack it out! What a waste! Physical therapy is going well & have progressed from just shoulder work to chest & now also legs. I'm getting a lot of muscle back. Man that feels good! Still not much weight gain, but maybe that's a good thing! My heart goes out to those not doing well. I wish I could change it. Accepting our mortality sucks. There is beauty in life, but I'm not sure about the death and despair part. It's hard to stay focused on the life part sometimes.
dx 2/11/04 scca bot T3 IU 2B MO poorly differentiated, margins ok, 3/16 modest, jaw split, over half of tongue removed, free flap from left forearm - finished chemo & rad treatment 5/20/04
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#55500 09-12-2004 06:38 AM | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 85 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 85 | Superb news. You've discovered a new diet craze. Smell,taste,chew, but don't swallow. Not a waste at all. Crude yet oddly effective. Glad to hear things are going well!
David
T1N0M0 Partial Glossectomy 2/04, Recurrance w/ another P.G. 5/04. IMRTx33 7/04-9/04. T2N2M0 recurrance in throat, 11/04.
2nd tumor 1/06/05, Chemo 1/11-05 Died 02-16-05 Wife: Brenda
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#55501 09-12-2004 06:41 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 41 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 41 | Hi Erik, glad to hear you're doing so well.
I have a tough time with lean meat now. Chicken
breasts are hard to swallow, thighs are a little
easier. I never ate ribs before, but they go down easy.
I eat fish with lots of sauce. I use
extra protein supplement to make up for it.
I'm the last one done at dinner 'cuz it
takes so long for me to eat now.
But I can slam down a protein shake easily!
Muscle tissue is heavier than fat, but harder to
put on. I've put 50+ pounds back on, but it takes
work, and lots of protein.
Go with combination exercises at first which target the large muscle groups.
If you're trying to bulk up, go easy on the cardio.
0-0 0-0
Head and neck SCC
TXN2bM0 stage IV
Finished treatment 6/02
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#55502 09-12-2004 06:48 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Hey Erik,
Do not feel guilty about posting some good news for a change - We need it! It keeps things in balance. It is all too easy to head over to the doom and gloom aspect of it.
I can see why some depart here in search of happier experiences and not wishing to confront the dark side.
I think that we had all better accept our mortality because life is a terminal illness -no one gets out of here alive. I can remember calling my dad in the end times and having him say "...well I'm still breathing". Now he's got me saying that. Life is not perfect (but was it ever?) and this sure beats being on the other side of the marble orchard. Once you accept it it won't suck anymore. In the "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous, Paul O. stated "Acceptance is the answer to all of my problems today" (of course no one said that this would be easy). (Danny I hope that you are reading this post)
Congratulations on doing so well and keep those positive reports coming! Remember that this is also called a "survivor" forum. For those of you future survivors out there - please check in every now and then and let us know how you are doing - even if you can't bear to relive the stuff here on the forum. We appreciate hearing some good news...
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
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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#55503 09-12-2004 07:01 AM | Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2003 Posts: 928 | WAY TO GO ERIK !
Good news is sooo important to all of us.
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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#55504 09-12-2004 07:46 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Erik, Congrats on the good news! Aren't the words "all clear" the nicest two words you hear in months? I pray all of your future scans will show the same.
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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#55505 09-12-2004 11:08 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 528 | Congratulations Erik Fantastic news which will give a boost to others still in treatment. I'm sure your positive attitude helped. Love from Helen 
RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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#55506 09-12-2004 12:39 PM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 | Erik, Your good news is wonderful to hear  I called Tom in immediately - - - he's had a good weekend, but is dreading this coming week. Your post had a positive effect - - - he was smiling as he set out for a nice motorcycle ride with the comment, "This s..t is finite, and we are kicking its a.s!" Happy day here - Redskins Won - Joe Gibbs for President! Love to all of you, 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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#55507 09-13-2004 04:07 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Erik!
Great news! Enjoy every day as it comes and go for sauces on that meat!! I have a 9 year old daughter who keeps me running too! It is hard to give up when you have so much to fight for! - Kris
SCC Stage IV left tonsil neck disection 3/02 radiation finished 6/02 chemo finished 9/02
Stage 2A left breast cancer 3/09, chemo and radiation, finished treatment 2/7/10 -Stage 2 right beast cancer 10/14 chemo and radiation
Every day is still a gift :-)
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#55508 09-13-2004 05:39 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hello Erik,
I am so happy you are doing so well! Good news is always welcome here. Congratulations!!!
Yes, Gary I read your post. Believe me when I say I'm trying.
Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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