OK, all you out there who have been on this Board for what seems like forever........lets talk about the importance of humor in our fight with this crap, case in point, never fails,I send a pic of Frank post 6 surgeries, with bunny ears, and people think I`m some kind of pervert. We have pics for all the holidays, we never stopped laughing about silly things, like me learning to duck when he coughed, of course he did manage to hit the cats on occasion. After his first surgery he weighed 118 and I was 90 lbs..........we tried to carry the kerosene heater in, and both got to laughing because it was too heavy for us. We never stopped finding something everyday to laugh about, even if it was Frank taking his own picture, truly scary ones! I remember the day after one surgery, that I pulled the drain out of his neck, looked like a snake.........kept thinking about Gone With The Wind, I don`t know nothing about birthing no baby ! And then there was the time he got obsessed with blue pepsi thru his peg tube, and I`m trying to figure out why his wound packing was blue and smelled like berries, I`m sure his docs thought I was bonkers with that story. And then the time came when we would be out someplace and he would use his sign language, and I`d use use it back, our own secret language. I know lots of us have funny stories to tell, and don`t we deserve to laugh........Hugs to All......Dee

Humor is always good, Dee. We were just about at the end of our energy trail one night and I had struggled to get down every last bite of Chinese food for the first time in six months. We both were reading the fortune and at exactly the same time we both blurted out, "This is supposed to be your fortune!" and we passed them over. When we looked down at the other fortune...it was EXACTLY the same. We laughed for 20-30 minutes hysterically. We really needed that, too!

Having been married to a blind guy for 18 years you learn to laugh... a stray teabag caught in a cleaning cloth leaves 2 million tiny tea leaves over every tiled suface in the house... took me days to eradicate them all... so yea we need the humour in our lives...
love and hugs
Helen

Getting a new jaw bone makes the mouth not work as well so I had some issues learning how to eat again after surgery. My grandaughter, Shelby, who was 3 at the time took it upon herself to be my little helper. When food would fall out of my mouth on to my numb lower lip (i was clueless) she would HOLLER out "Nana, you're leaking again!"
That was a kind of cutsie one, here is one on the far side of humor. My daughters and I share an odd sense of humor and we tend to find humor in ANY situation. Remember that my left lower jaw bone was taken out and replaced with the bone from my lower leg. My daughters will tease me that I "am putting my foot in my mouth again". Funny that humor can be found in cancer. Again, just another way to beat it.

Well Minnie.. Kids just tell it like it is.. for my part what ever scars I finish up with having a blind husband he ain't gonna worry at all...only he will if he thinks it bothers me.. take care 'don't put your foot in it to often'
love and hugs
Helen

Frank and I shared a weird sense of humor too.....one of the tee shirts I bought him last summer said "Cemetery Dance, Let the Dance Begin".......and Minnie, the foot in the mouth is great,wish you`d told it before, since Frank also had leg bone for jaw bone...........Love and Hugs, Dee

Have decided God has a warped sense of humour.. why else would he leave a blind man with a silent wife.. or maybe John's prayers were answered.. always said I talked to much.. still I can still annoy you all on this forum.. thank you god for that one...
love and Hugs
Helen

When I first got the diagnosis all I could think about is how much trouble my tongue had already gotten me into all my life. I told the doc I may finally get the chance to have friends if I just keep my mouth shut. My father came with me and I could hear him in the background whispering an AMEN.

Ed

OK, Guys, what does it mean when your shrink gives You a going away present? I saw him for the last time today before my move, knew I was going to cry and hug him.He was always there for Frank and I during the bad PTSD times and was a great comfort to me after Frank`s death....he said "you know he`s with you" Anyhow, last time I was in, I commented on a beautiful Indian statue he had, told him Frank would have wanted it, doc said he would have given it to him. I took one of Frank`s crystals that Frank`s always carried with him in a little pouch that always went to hospitals with him, I knew Frank would have wanted him to have it, so long story short, I got the Indian, and bless his heart, my shrink`s email address too.I think I`m going to miss him more than anyone in Maine, he has truly gone the extra mile for both of us. I tried to convince him to come along, but we`ll be staying in touch.........so, was that a sorry to see you go gift or glad you`re going gift?.................Hugs to All........Dee

Well Dee
Don't know what to tell you lady.. only you would have a shrink that gives you presents.. could be worse could have been a new broomstick..
love and hugs
W W of the E..

Dee, great story.

Ok, here's one more example of my sense of humor and how things work here. Doc is telling me about how they are goign to do the surgery, and about taking skin from my shoulder and using it for graft for tongue. My co-worker who was with me at the time for moral support asked if I would have to shave my tongue. Doc's reply (and this is Hong Kong so you have to get accent right) "Oh yes, will have to shave tongue"

At that point, I came up with a question. Doc, could you draw exactly where you are going to take the graft from? He asked why, and I told him because I wanted to have something really rude tatooed there so when I stuck my tongue out...

Luckily that didn't happen, my wife would have killed me.
Bob

Bob-
I just stumbled upon this post and have never laughed so hard!!! What a grand idea to start tatooing body parts that might end up a tongue! I think the idea should be added to the OCF list of things to do before surgery! I'd add a smiley face here but I haven't figured out how to do that yet :-) Toooo funny! - Kris

Bob
just got time to have my arm tatooed before sugery.. any suggestions for subject matter..
:rolleyes:
Helen

Ok guys....my warped humor

How about:

"Too much coffee!" (at least my Dad always told me this would happen to my tongue, if I did)

"Kiss This!"

"Hmmmm....Rogaine... where?

"NO...THAT'S NOT MY MUSTACHE!"

"I'm a Madonna fan"

Much Love ,
Mandi

Kris,

When you type your reply look to the left and there is a link "Instant Graemlins" that lets you pick one. You move your cursor over one and it tells you what it is. :p

Ed

Helen,

It's a bit long but how about:

My heart's not on my sleeve but my arm's in my mouth!

Ed

Thanks Ed
Need to ask how much of my tongue they are going to remove before anyone comes up with something longer than that... How did you know I had a big mouth?.. :p
Helen

This one would look good on a tongue! - Kris

Well that was a great laff for me, some I have also used. I due to surgery and almost all my tongue removed, I can't talk. So I use little note books, wel every now and then I tear out the pages that I have written on. I was doing this standing over the trash can when my sister called, my husband said to her that he wasn't doing anything but I was talking trash again..I lost it, lol, we both laffed as well as my sis.. About having mouth cancer, I tell everyone, moma always said my mouth would get me into trouble..Humor is some powerful medicine..I use it as much as I can. Thank you all for sharing your laffs with us. always, Vicki

I cannot believe I am sharing this dream with you all, but since I shared it with my office prayer group yesterday, I hope no one is offended by it.

I work in a hospital, but received my treatment from another facility that has an ENT department specializing in Head and Neck Surgery, Head and Neck Oncology, etc. For insurance purposes, my Dr has kindly allowed me to have my testing done where I work and have it covered 100% versus the $300 deductable then 90% at his facility. My last visit with him was in May for him to view my CT scan, chest xray and lab results, and everything came out great.

I have a 5-6 inch scar from my lymph node removal on the right side of my neck. All but two inches of it has virtually disappeared, the noticeable two inches hides in a natural fold in my neck but is pink and visible if I move a certain way. This spot is right where my adam's apple would be if I were a guy. My doctor offered to revise it if it bothered me, but I consider it my badge of courage.

I dreamt the other night that I was told to go to the lab for some more tests. The lab tech took a sterile swab, ran it along the pink part of my scar and placed it in a test tube. When the results were complete, they were posted on the lab door with everyone else's test results - kind of like posting if you made cheerleading on the gym door or test results in college on the professor's office door. By my name it said "Make an appt with Dr. G IMMEDIATELY." I frantically called his office and was told to come in. When I got there, he was livid... very angry with me and yelled "Are you going to trust me, your doctor, or the hospital where you got your testing done?" Of course, I said I trust him completely, and what was my test result? He said the lab was recommending I have radiation therapy because I now had cancer of the penis on my neck!

I have absolutely no idea where this came from other than my college daughter just completed her finals, and high school daughter is taking hers now.

Anyone else having weird dreams?

Sincerely,
Lisa :rolleyes:

Hi Lisa
Thanks for sharing... I personally needed the laugh.. I thought I was having some wierd dreams... But lady.. that takes some beating...
prayers... love and hugs
Helen

Freud would love to spend a few hours with you, Lisa! :p

I have had some wierd but not so funny dreams with people that have passed away coming to me in my dreams. In one case, I asked someone for a picture of a person that passed away that I have never met and it was him. I knew it was when I woke up and emailed them. It made the hair stand up on the back of my neck.

It sounds like you have a classic case of penis cancer envy! Good thing it wasn't testicular cancer. That would be double trouble!

Ed

Lisa
Thank the lord for a sense of humour...I laughed out loud.I hope your dream didn`t scare you, maybe you should share it with your Doc!
keep your chin up.
Cheers Marica

Dang, Lisa! That was quite a dream. I loved the cheerleader comparison, haha.
Take care and let us know if this dream has a sequel!
Minnie

Ok, while were at weird stories, just to show again that you can't fully trust medical technology.

My wife and I have been trying to "get pregnant" for the past several months, without much success. So, this month started with the ovulation predictors a few days early. Sure enough started with the 2 lines earlier than what we though was normal.

5 days later, she's still getting 2 lines on the test, which we though was not normal, so just for fun, I did one of the ovulation tests.

According to the tests, I was ovulating also!!

NO wire hangers,, ever.
Bob

Bob,

Just keep practicing...

Ed

ok all
Now I'm getting a tan.. yep I know i could get skin cancer but I figure what the hell.. but question.. if my arm is brown when they take the graft.. do I have to stick my tongue out every time the sun shines...
sunshine love and hugs..(don't take me me to serious)
Helen

Only if you want it tanned, silly. I hope you are doing well...been thinking about you.

Ed

After my first surgery, I had 7 weeks of radiation. Not funny. After a few weeks, I started having problems... a wound that wouldn't heal, bumps where there shouldn't be bumps. Apparently, I had a few loose screws (on the titanium splint they used to hold the fibular graft in place where they removed part of my mandible). My twisted friends thought this was hilarious. So did I. We all needed a laugh.

I was just bummed that they had to remove the titanium. Until then, my nephew thought I's become some kind of secret super hero. "Titanium Man!" Oh, well.

I figure we can laugh, or we can cry. I choose to laugh.

Ken

Ok All
this is me the bloody English idiot on the forum, now as most of you know humour is MY biggest defence, so need good vibes and prayers for the 10th of Feb, when I go to the ENT to see if they can open up my Trachea which the trachie has narrowed, I can't laugh, or talk for long, carry heavy bags, everthing is an effort, NO-ONE said anything about this as a side effect of surgery. OH well have another red wine all look fine tomorrow!!!
Sunshine.. love and Hugs (no laughing)
Helen

Helen, you got it girl, plenty of good vibes and prayers headed your way..Love, Carol

Helen...I won`t be behind the door this time!
Many Many good vibes coming your way. Hope you are not freezing to death over there, we know how you love the sun.

Take Care
Marica

Awww Sweetie I just returned & I am sorry to see that you are facing an additional surgery. Yours is the voice of reason, silly English humour or not, I have always appreciated your fine humour & know it will carry you through back to your Sunshine, Love & Hugs! As for me:I found out my Mom (my angel) is from Luthborough(sp?) in Leicester when telling her about you from the Forum, she sends prayers along with mine for your speedy recovery
Take care
Love Maria

R Kenneth,

Hi, I also had a screw loose. (titanium plate)
and speaking of finding weird humor in cancer...
I was a little disappointed that it doesn't set off the metal detectors at the airport.

we've got to have something to smile or laugh about!

Hi Helen,

Hoping it's just a minor setback. You are a special person who brings joy to all who read your posting's. I'll be thinking about you on Feb 10th. Sending good vibes across the way.
Sunshine, Love & Hugs, (no laughing)

Danny Boy

Helen,

I just seem to be full of jokes and humor except when someone as near and dear as you needs it most . I am sending you warm thoughts, good vibes and trying hard to think of a good joke just for you!

I have a Japanese gentleman that I worked with at two major US corporations and he is now CEO for a bottled water company that extracts mineral water from deep in the ocean. He does not deal with Americans now days and he wants to keep in practice so periodically he sends me lists of jokes and asks me what they mean. I look at them and try to tell him in non-English (American version) terms why they are funny. We sometimes exchange the same one back and forth a few times until he gtes it. I will have to copy you on some of them just for kicks.

I am hoping for the absolute best for you and I have been studying your current challenges so I can understand what you are going through and dealing with.

Lots of love,

Ed

Hi Helen,

I have read quite a few of your posts, and it's obvious what a special lady you are! I will be saying my prayers and wishing you good vibes on Feb. 10th too. Since humor is so important, I heard something that I thought was funny on the radio the other day. They were interviewing a 104 year old woman and they asked her what she thought was the best part of being 104....she said "no peer pressure"....

Hugs,

Shelley

I'll send vibes your way on the 10th and you send me some back on the 11th. I have surgery that day. Let's hope that they find a "fix" for the issues you're having.
Love,
Minnie

Michelle,

Screw loose? Been there, done that. Hell... sometimes I look at a photo and wonder if I've got my head on straight.

The weird thing is that I don't see the same guy in the mirror as I do in photos. The guy in my mirror is healthy and happy, ready to take on the day. The guy in the photos is all beat up. I wonder if anybody else ever feels that way...

Ken

Hi
Locally I'm known as the woman that YOU DO NOT MAKE LAUGH..
ALSO half-headless Helen, (as from Harry Potter)
and when I breath in, Darth Vadar (SP)
Great that people laugh with me, NOT at me...
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen

Haven't been around much, trying to prepare house and self for eventual move to Florida, but was surprised today to see this thread revived. My doctor finally talked me into revising my scar and did it yesterday. I look Frankensteinish, but no, he didn't send the piece he removed to pathology for cancer of the penis check!

Helen, much love to you and same to you Minnie. What surgery do you have coming up? Teeth?

Sincerely,
Lisa almost 2 years survivor!

Hi Lisa,
I'm having scar revision and also having some tissue re-arranged under my jaw and chin and having the part of my bottom lip that has no feeling built up as it has sunk a bit since surgery. Implants begin after I heal from all this. My neck disection scar has caused alot of tethering in my neck, it's visable to anyone who looks. I am excited that this will loosen up my neck some.
How are you feeling? I do not have to stay overnight and the surgery is estimated to last about 4 hours.
Glad to hear from you!
Minnie

Minnie, that is awesome you are having the scar revision done. I have to get some reconstructive surgery done on my flap soon, it is lifting a bit, no big deal, they will sew it back down. Definitely gonna ask about the scar revision, too. My neck sounds a lot like yours. God Bless, Love, Carol

Hi all, I love humor as much as any one. Helps the hot flashes that I have too. Yes, I'm going through the change too UGH!!!!! Have a good one.
Cathy

This is such a wonderful post. I have always believed that humor is the best medicine.

But my husband is not one who will take the humor for what it is. He was dehydrated this weekend and I took him to the hospital to get juiced up. They also loaded him with nausea meds that make him a bit loofy. He was in the middle of telling me some story about some lady and her cats, which I did not understand, and suddenly fell asleep. I wanted to laugh because I thought it was cute but if I had he would have hit the roof.

So I laughed quietly inside as I walked out of the room to let him sleep.

I so wish that he could laugh the way you all do. Every little thing from drooling to suppositories, from which I could find an enormous amount of humor, only makes him angry.

Thanks for sharing your humor. It certainly helps to see that there are others who are riding the wave without forgetting how to smile.

Oh how I wish that humor lived here in my house.

Ironically, my husband has an incredibly beautiful smile. I just wish I could see it more.

Cindy

HI Cindy, I'm sorry for you at least you have us
to laugh with.
Cathy

Hi All
have just been back through all the posts here, I wonder what the newcomers make of it all, to me that fact that I can look back almost a year and still laugh is fantastic. I have to say that there are many who cannot, so I hope they are watching from heaven..
may all our gods watch over us all..
Sunshine...love and hugs
Helen

They say that laughing releases some sort of endorphines that help relieve pain. At least it helps keep us sane.

New definition of irony. There's a website in the town I live in in China that's geared toward letting the expatriate community know what's going on, where to go, where to eat, etc.

They've asked me, the guy who's had a chunk of tongue cut out then had the remainder nuked, to write the restaurant reviews.

Think about it....
Bob

Bob, after reading many manuals translated maybe it is your writing skills they are after. Even if your review is wrong at least I could understand it.