#89486 02-04-2009 05:43 PM | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 | Well, it's been a long time, I will be going back to work this coming Monday!! It's going to feel real good to get back to some form of "normalcy". I'm looking forward to it.
A little nervous...it's like the first day of school......
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: 595 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 | Ray, Good luck at work. I know for me getting back to work was the best medicine for me, I went back two weeks after RAD ended. Semper=Fi Bob
Bob age 57, non smoker,non drinker, ended treatment on 11 Nov 2007 and started back to work on 29 Nov 2007. Veterans Day 2012 the Battle was lowered, folded, Taps was played and the Flag buried as I am know a 5 year survivor. Semper-FI !!!
| | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 | Good luck Ray. I'm sure that it will feel good to be productive. I have found some work that I amble to do from home and would be real happy with a bunch more of it. I would love to stay home.
Patty
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: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 | Wonderful news Ray... Enjoy your return to the workforce.
Don't over do it otherwise by the end of next week you might be wanting a holiday!!! LOL
Karen
46 yrs: Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0 Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs 30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin, 30 x HBO Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy (hip bone to reconstruct jaw) Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw Mar'09 Debulk flap Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
| | | | 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 | It's like riding a bike only not as much fun.
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: Jul 2008 Posts: 228 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 228 | Yippee! I went back about 2 months ago. I was bored out of my mind waiting around to get back - we had some things to work out first. It's nice to have something to do now during the day.
Stephanie, 23, SCC on the right side of my tongue, surgery on 5-19-08, over half my tongue removed, free flap constructed from my forearm, bilateral neck dissection, one positive node. Radiation (32) and chemo (carboplatin) started on 6-16-08. Recurrence 4/09 in lungs.
**** Stephanie passed away 12.15.09.... RIP our dear friend****
| | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 148 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 148 | Good for you. Another sign of recovery and moving forward.
Bill . . . SCC - originated in right tonsil, drifted into neck ( 28 lymph nodes removed - one positive ). Radical neck dissection in September 07, completed 34 radiation tx on January 4, 2008. Used Peg. Non smoker, 61, good shape, no previous health issues. Second year PET scan - "all clear".
| | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 681 | One giant step for Ray. Just take it easy and don't push yourself beyond your physical capacity. Malka
SCC stage II Partial mandibulectomy w. neck dissection- July 2005. Renal cancer w. partial nephrectomy-Jan 2004. Breast cancer discovered in routine mammogram. Successful lumpectomy, sentinal nodes clear, RT only-2008 Reconstruction of mandible w fibula free flap-Jan 09. TORS removal of begnin pappiloma from esophagus-2010. Masectomy,rt breast 2013. Support OCF
| | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Oh I remember my first day back at work. When you say nervous, I totally know how you feel. And to beat all, people from 3 different branches of my work came to welcome me (as if it wasn't hard enough)but that really was so kind of them ( I had been out 6 months and still had a peg tube). They then arranged a luncheon also. I could only swallow yogurt and liquids at the time. I had to come up with a very good reason not to go to lunch. I felt so bad, but they all went without me. I went home, had a can of carnation and rushed back to work.
It does get better, but looking back, it was the best thing for me, even if I did get a little tired at first. It took my mind off of my problems for a time every day. I know what you mean by normalcy.
I will be thinking of you - on your first day at school!! Take care Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO. Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw. Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo. | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Ray,
Love the good news. Take it easy for awhile. You'll probably try to do too much and pay the price.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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