From the beginning - 03-19-2002 05:01 PM
My name is Larry. I am a 53 year-old male in Madison, Wisconsin. On Monday I got the biopsy results, they found sqamous cells in my tongue. I will see the oncologist at University of Wisconsin Hospitals Cancer Center on February 5. As long as I can, I will continue to update this journal so others know what to expect from their own experiences. Perhaps some more experienced than I can offer me advice or support.
Always my own worst enemy, I have been a heavy smoker and drinker for 30+ years. I had expected that when/if this behvior caught up to me, it would be the heart, lungs or liver. They still have time to be heard from too, I suppose, but it seems they'll need to hurry.
Not wanting to start me on any medications, the oral surgeon refused to give me a prescription for Zyban, so I still smoke. I have weened myself from 3 packs a day to one or slightly more. I hope Zyban can take it the rest of the way. As to the drinking, well, I am not sure I can give that up just now. This new layer of stress makes me crave my Markers Mark and water after a long day at the office. Is there a pill for that?
Stress...yes, I know it well. In addition to being a sales professional, the past 11 months have seen too much stress in my life. In March my father died suddenly, in April I lost my job, in July I lost another, after five months of unemployment I took a factory job and filed bankruptcy. In January I took a new job, thinking things were looking up, only to have the dentist tell me he did not like the looks of the "sore" on the bottom of my tongue, which closes the circle on my story to date.
I worry most about losing my speach (pretty important in my line of work) and disfigurement. I am man enough to admit I am terrified of what is to come. My next posting will be after the Doc tells me what's next and we have CT results of my lymph scan.
Always my own worst enemy, I have been a heavy smoker and drinker for 30+ years. I had expected that when/if this behvior caught up to me, it would be the heart, lungs or liver. They still have time to be heard from too, I suppose, but it seems they'll need to hurry.
Not wanting to start me on any medications, the oral surgeon refused to give me a prescription for Zyban, so I still smoke. I have weened myself from 3 packs a day to one or slightly more. I hope Zyban can take it the rest of the way. As to the drinking, well, I am not sure I can give that up just now. This new layer of stress makes me crave my Markers Mark and water after a long day at the office. Is there a pill for that?
Stress...yes, I know it well. In addition to being a sales professional, the past 11 months have seen too much stress in my life. In March my father died suddenly, in April I lost my job, in July I lost another, after five months of unemployment I took a factory job and filed bankruptcy. In January I took a new job, thinking things were looking up, only to have the dentist tell me he did not like the looks of the "sore" on the bottom of my tongue, which closes the circle on my story to date.
I worry most about losing my speach (pretty important in my line of work) and disfigurement. I am man enough to admit I am terrified of what is to come. My next posting will be after the Doc tells me what's next and we have CT results of my lymph scan.