One year ago

davidgskinner
davidgskinner Member Posts: 81
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Last year on December 18 I got the news that I was now part of the "you have cancer" club. As clubs go, you all are a pretty nice bunch...and extremely helpful. I am lucky to have found this board, if unlucky to have joined the club.
Well, last Saturday I marked my new birthday by going to Disneyland with the extended family. It rained the whole time, but was truly a wonderful day. My grandaughter got to meet Tinkerbell, and I splashed in a few puddles just for the heck of it.
One year,
3 rounds of chemo,
35 radiation blasts,
a partial neck dissection,
complete loss of taste,
major difficulties swallowing,
Pain meds galore (I am no hero)
gallons of magic mouthwash,
a PEG in,
then a peg out (youch!),
a thousand needle sticks
a million trips to doctors of all shapes, sizes and specialities,
a couple trips to the ER
tingling feet,
ringing in my ears (accompanied by a strange chiming sound that comes randomly)
and on and on...
That is just the physical stuff...don't get me started on the emotional/mental "fun and games."

BUT, things are slowly getting better
day by day
NED is my new friend,
And
I got to walk around Disneyland in the rain and to see a two year old meet Tinkerbell.

Take that, cancer!

Comments

  • JUDYV5
    JUDYV5 Member Posts: 392
    Sounds like a Fantastic day
    in a Fantastic life. Thank you for sharing. - Judy
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    JUDYV5 said:

    Sounds like a Fantastic day
    in a Fantastic life. Thank you for sharing. - Judy

    Thank you for sharing that
    Thank you for sharing that wonderful post.
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    Twins
    Hi Dave, thanks for that post. From what you list, we've been on the same hike for about the same period. I tip my hat to you, and celebrate with you.

    Hal
  • Bigfuzzydoug
    Bigfuzzydoug Member Posts: 154
    AWESOME! Happy 2nd Birthday!
    A friend of mine here at work celebrates his "second birthday". He was 9 last Monday. That's the day of his car accident (t-boned in the driver's side of his Corvette by a drunk driver doing 70+). He "died" in the ambulance for 2 minutes and came back. Then he "died" again in the operating room for 6 minutes, to which they called it, packed up, left and the last nurse remaining noticed him come back again. Yes, they told his wife he was gone and then had to race back in and tell her that he had come back.

    I think it's a great idea and will be celebrating December 6th as my second birthday. The day I got official word from my Oncologist that I was NED.

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi David
    Just goes to show you that there is life after Cancer.

    Take care and keep posting
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    Hondo said:

    Hi David
    Just goes to show you that there is life after Cancer.

    Take care and keep posting

    Great Post
    David,

    What a great attitude!! Loved this post and glad to see you back posting, it's been a awhile.

    Happy Holidays!

    Greg
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450
    Greg53 said:

    Great Post
    David,

    What a great attitude!! Loved this post and glad to see you back posting, it's been a awhile.

    Happy Holidays!

    Greg

    Hey, David
    Your post sounds just like where I was a year ago. I had pretty much the same treatment as you, but now I'm 26 months out.
    For me, one year out was a vast improvement but two years out is even better. I'm looking forward to years three, and four, and five ...
    Congratulations, brother. May it just keep getting better for you, too.

    --Jim in Delaware