#86836 12-28-2008 07:22 PM | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1 | Hello Everyone, Last Year I felt a lump on the side of my neck and like a fool I ignored it. My wife noticed it and immediately sent me to a doctor. I had not seen a doctor in 15 years so he was new to me. He had me scanned then he sent to me to a specialist who performed a biopsy. I was diagnosed with stage 4 Squemous Cell Carcinoma Tonsil Cancer. The specialist sent me to Mayo Clinic in Rochester and advised me to have everything done there, I took his advice. I was in surgery for 9 hours and underwent 7 weeks of chemo/radiation. The chemo was cisplatin and Erbitux. The sores that developed in my mouth were painful beyond anything I could have ever comprehended. They had me on Oxycodone then Fetenyl. I am now recovered (mostly) from the treatment and have had 2 follow up scans, they have cleared me of cancer so far. Some of the things I learned is first off, the caregiver's role is so important. I would not have made it through without my wife. Also there is no reason to be in pain Mayo was on top of it, you just have to let them know. Finally appreciate life and live it to the fullest, I am not taking this for granted, this can come back anytime. I am eating and back to work hopefully I can keep the 86 pounds I lost off. We shall see. Best Wishes to all of you. Dave | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Hi Dave. Welcome to the board. Many of us can relate to your experiences and will welcome your input. Glad to hear you are recovering well and have learned the most important lesson that a serious illness can teach us - that each day is precious and should not be taken for granted. I tell my former co-workers that even Mondays are important and need to be appreciated but they haven't bought that one yet!
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 | Hi Dave. Welcome to OCF. Congrats on the successful treatments and your clear scans. Its always so nice to have survivors join OCF. When you are able, please update your signature to reflect very breifly what you put in your post. How long ago did you finish treatment? You must be doing very well with recovery to be back at work again.
The oral cancer diet can give some pretty big weight loss results without much effort. I lost 65 pounds and have surprisingly kept it off, at least so far. I finished my first round of oral cancer treatments on Sept 27, 2007 and had a recurrance which was treated by only surgery April of this year.
Its nice to see your positive attitude. Oral cancer also taught me a few lessons on life. Dont take anything for granted, find something positive in every circumstance, and having more patience are a few ways it changed me. Im sure your wife knows how important her role was, its very nice of you to acknowledge her.
Wishing you continued good health.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 | Welcome Dave. You will find a lot of caring and helpful people here. So happy that your scans are clear and that you are able to go back to work. I have just finished radiation with Erbitux and I am looking forward to going back to work this spring or summer after I heal. Happy holidays and welcome aboard.
48
SCC Floor of Mouth 7/06
9/06 Surgery, bilateral neck dissection, 58 nodes clear PT2pN0pMx
35 rad 2006
Recurred 6/08, 1 Carboplatin, 1 Cisplatin
Surgery 9/08 - Total glossectomy, free flap from pectoral muscle, left mandible replaced using fibula
35 IMRT & Erbitux 11/08
4/15/09 recurrence
6/1/09 passed away, rest in peace
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Dave,
welcome, and you are living proof of the wisdom of going to a comprehensive cancer center for treatment. I would never have made it without my wife either. We were so blessed to have perfect caregivers!
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)
| | | | | 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 | DaveH, Other than sharing names (my last name also starts with an H) you might find this article written about me shows some other similarities as well. http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/17/Floridian/Clues_to_the_cancer.shtml
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 $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 | DaveH--Welcome to OCF and glad to hear about the great outcome.
David--That was a good article.
Last edited by Ray1971; 12-29-2008 04:50 PM.
7-16-08 age 37@Dx, T3N0M0 SCC 4.778cm tumor, left side of oral tongue, non smoker, casual drinker, I am the 4th in my family to have H&N cancer
8-13-08 left neck dissection and 40% of tongue removed, submandibular salivary gland & 14 nodes clean, no chemo, IMRTx35
11-4-08 Recovering & feeling better
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Congrats on beating this lil devil. I hope to see you post with updates. goos luck.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Ray,
Thanks but the author had good stuff to work with! lol
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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