#66459 12-30-2007 03:54 PM | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 | Hello,
I am new to the site. I found out that I had cancer July 07. I have completed treatments. I am still having trouble eating, and I still have a feeding tube. It is so hard for me. I thought that I would have this all behind me before christmas. Yet, tommorow is the last day of the year and I am still dealing with eating issues. I am blessed to be alive, and scared at the same time. It seems that I will never be the same again. I am still loosing hair and I have hair growing back at the same time. I wonder will I ever be me again. I want to eat, and others think I can just make myself eat.
cherish
Age 30 nonsmoker nondrinker HPV+tumor on tonsils stage2 1node peg chemo2 rad8wks TX over 10/29/07
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 510 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 510 | Hi Cherish, and welcome to OCF from a fellow North Carolinian...we are in Troy (Montgomery County) in Central NC. As you will read in our 'signature', Buzz is recovering slowly, but is doing really well.
Keep posting, ask questions that you may have...there are MANY caring folks here who will be happy to help you in any way possible.
Lois & Buzz
CG to 77 y/o hubby;SCC Alveolar Ridge; Wake Forest Baptist Hosp surgery: 07/19/07; bi mod radical resection/jaw replacement;
T2 N2-B M0 Stage IV-A
28 IMRT +
6 Paclitaxel/Carboplatin
Getting stronger every day!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 98 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 98 | Hi Cherish,
I finished up my treatment August 23rd. Something I did to start eating again was starting out slow with cream soups and puddings. I tried to eat this for 1 meal a day for about a month. What I had to do was retrain myself on how to swallow, which was something I hadn't done for a couple of months. I was told that if I didn't use my swallowing muscles I would lose them. I was very difficult starting out, but I worked my way up to more solid foods with gravey.
Keep posting your questions and concerns. There are a lot of people on this forum that directly and indiretly that will help us all through this journey.
Tom
Tom
SCC T4N1M0 left side tongue & 1 node
Dx 05/21/07 42 yrs old
40 Tx IMRT @ 70 Gy started 06/25/07
Cysplatin & 5fu 1st & 4th wks
treatment ended 08/23/07
| | | | | 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 | Cherish,
Everyone responds to Tx differently and everyone recovers differently but a very large % of us treated recover just about to what their normal was.
Of course my comments are without the benefit of knowing exactly what happened to you. Like most of us, we post out particulars under our signature which really helps all responders to any of your posts.
You must give your body time to heal itself. I am 16 months post Tx and I'm still recovering. My taste and my saliva are still improving ever so slightly and I am as strong or stronger mentally and physically as I was pre Tx but it doesn't happen overnight and it doesn't happen in leaps and bounds. It's not like recovering from the flu or a cold. You don't feel better every day. In fact I seldom even was able to tell I was getting better except to compare what I was like say 4 months ago or 6 months ago, etc.
What I did find that help me recover was giving my body tons of fuel and rest. I started ingesting 3000 cals a day in my 3rd week post Tx and I think it really helped my body heal itself. I used a lot of Carnation VHC.
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.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 | Thanks for the advice. I changed my signature with my info. i hope it helps you.
Age 30 nonsmoker nondrinker HPV+tumor on tonsils stage2 1node peg chemo2 rad8wks TX over 10/29/07
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Cherish,
Another NC native here (hubby is a NC State grad) dx'd around the same time as you and finished treatments 10/1/07. Just take one day at a time but push to swallow and if you need help...consult a therapist to advise...they have all kinds of tricks to get you over the hump. Good luck, Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 10 | Deb,
Thanks for the encouragement. My fiancee is my caregiver. We could not go on without great god given caregivers. It is hard for them as well. I am a student at UNC@Pembroke. I plan to go back in Aug. 08. I have to get over one hump a day. It is getting better.
Age 30 nonsmoker nondrinker HPV+tumor on tonsils stage2 1node peg chemo2 rad8wks TX over 10/29/07
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