#55960 12-21-2004 11:43 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 217 | Hello, dear friends!
Tom had his stitches removed today - - very neat sewing job on a very long incision.
The Good News is that of the 55 lymph nodes removed, NONE showed any viable signs of disease!
We are so incredibly happy today and so looking forward to a truly joyous Christmas. The scope showed considerable swelling which is the reason his voice is still 'harsh' and eating is still difficult, but we can be patient. The swelling of his neck is not attractive, but we can wait that out, too!
Thank you all on this board. Brian, as soon as the year-end bonus hits my paycheck, I'll be sending the Foundation a well-deserved gift.
The support and prayers found here amaze and humble us and we shall be ever grateful to all of you.
God is good.
Love,
Nicki and Tom
Next check up Feb 1....wow, over a month with NO doctor visits!!!!!
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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#55961 12-21-2004 02:29 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 | Nicki,
That is absolutely fabulous news!!!
Congratulations to both of you.
A joyous Christmas, and many more!
Chuck
SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun.
It's always something
"Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it."
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#55962 12-21-2004 03:01 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Nicki,
I'm so happy for you and Tom. I know sometimes it seems like a never-ending wait for good news, but I'm glad you finally got some. The swelling tends to stick around for awhile, but it sounds like he's on the road to healing.
Merry Christmas to you both!
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#55963 12-21-2004 04:23 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | Nicki and Tom,
Praise God for such great news. I know it makes your Christmas so special. I was just sitting here thinking how much better this Christmas is as Dan was having a radical neck dissection last Christmas eve. May your holidays be quite special and God bless you and your family!
Love,
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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#55964 12-21-2004 07:25 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 | That's wonderful! Merry Merry, Happy Happy!!!
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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#55965 12-22-2004 01:00 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 482 | Nicki, this is very excellent good news. Aren't "cancer free" a couple of the nicest words in the language? I am so pleased for you all. I never noticed swelling after surgery, mainly because the swelling kind of filled in the area from which the tissue was removed and made it look normal. After the swelling recedes, the area the tissue was removed will look a little thin, but that's a small price to pay for the no cancer report. What a fine Christmas present for your family. Give Tom my best.
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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#55966 12-22-2004 03:46 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Nicki, Great news to hear for you and Tom! Such a milestone to hit! Enjoy some well deserved peace over the holidays. As soon as Tom's neck heals get a referral to physical therapy. They can help with message techniques to keep the swelling down and redirect the fluids to the other side of Toms neck. Plus excercises to strengthen his neck and give him more mobility. It's been 2 1/2 years for me and I still go in every 6 months for a tune up! Love, 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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#55967 12-22-2004 03:52 AM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 104 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 104 | Nicki,
Fantastico!!!!!!! Here's to You and Tom and your family having a MERRY Christmas and HAPPY New Year.
Peace
Jack
..........
Dx 1/15/97 SCC rt. tonsil met to rt lymph node Stg IV,
Srgry 1/23/97 tonsillectomy & mod radical neck dissection,
Radiation 35 trtmnts both sides | | |
#55968 12-22-2004 04:02 AM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 102 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 102 | Nicki,
I am SO happy to hear things are going so well with Tom. Happy Holidays!!
Love
Julie
Julie
Wife to Kelly
SSC tonsil Stage IV
July 2000
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#55969 12-22-2004 04:34 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Awesome news Nicki, God Bless!! Great Christmas present!!! Love, Carol
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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