#59388 11-01-2006 01:58 AM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 23 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 23 | Here we are back at MD Anderson for follow up. Through this whole experience my husband never discussed fear of recurrance, tx failure, etc... All of a sudden this week it hit him full force. He was terrified of coming back here ("What if the treatment didn't work?" What if it comes back?") All natural fears I've been processing myself since the day tx started, but for him they're new feelings.
We're seeing all the docs today and tomorrow and getting our first post tx CAT scan. We'll post follow up as we know anything.
Deb | | |
#59389 11-01-2006 02:21 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Deb
I just went through this. I had my 1st Cat last week and I rec'd the results yesterday. Complete remission. I know talk is cheap but there is nothing he can do but wait and hope. The odds are definitely in his favor that he will be cancer free.
We all have to live with the 20-30% chance that it will come back but that is far better than the 100% we just dealt with.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#59390 11-01-2006 03:05 AM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Deb, I have my fingers crossed for you. As David says, the odds are in your favor. I know how those fears are and I hope soon you'll be able to put them to rest (at least as much as any of us can).
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
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#59391 11-01-2006 03:31 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 | Deb,
I hope and pray all goes well with your follow-up. Sometimes I think the fear of recurrence is the worst part of all this.
Tim Stoj
63 yr old. Dx Jun 06 with BOT Stage IV. Neck dissesction on 19 Jun 06. Started Tx on 21 Aug 06/completed 33 IMRTs and 3 CT (2 Cisplat & 1 Carboplat) on 5 Oct 06.
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#59392 11-05-2006 08:49 AM | Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 23 | Thanks for the good wishes everyone.
The exam went well. Initial (office) read on CAT scan shows "no cancer" - that's reassuring. It shows that the internal tissue is still swollen, (though the visible tissue appears healed to the naked eye). This swelling probably accounts for the continued nausea and morning vomiting. He's got some lymphedema as well under the neck - and we'll look for a PT to help with that.
His anxiety now is mostly about recovery being so slow. We heard over and over again the adage, "allow at least one month for each week of radiation." So at least he knows his recovery pace is perfectly normal. And he's luckier than some -already back to work, eating a few foods by mouth - but I know it doesn't seem like nearly enough to him.
But today, for this moment, we're cancer free - YAY! | | | 
#59393 11-05-2006 01:37 PM | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 160 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 160 | Great news!! Like I said in one other post. "Good news for one us, is good news for all of us". Thanks for sharing.
Dx3/20/06 SCC,BOT,1N Tx:5cycles Carbo/Taxol, Rad:35x, brachytherapy:6x, completed 7/24/06
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#59394 11-06-2006 01:13 PM | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 209 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 209 | That is great news Deb, I am happy for you both. It is unsettling to not be "doing something". The fight during treatment keeps you so busy just going back and forth and dealing with it all for so many weeks and then, Boom! nothing to do.
I am glad to hear your husband is back at work. Mike is going to go back to work next week. I think it will help. I suppose we'll all need to remember that the fight now consists of healing, and getting adjusted to our new normal. Best wishes to you.
Ginny, spouse of MikeG. SSC BOT T2N1M0 Stage III, Dx 06/27/06 at age 52, Tx 07/31/06 through 09/28/06 Chemo Cisplatin & 5FU x2, Radiation x42. Cancer free and doing well.
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