Celebrating one year

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Today I have been one year cancer free, yay! I was wondering if anyone else in their early 20's has suffered from laryngeal cancer and losing a vocal cord? Trying to find a supoort system, thank you!

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  • HobbsDoggy
    HobbsDoggy Member Posts: 276
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    Local Cancer Group and On Here

    No exactly in your shoes and shall we say a little older than you, well in all honestly very much older than you.  You will find support on here I am sure.  Please check out local cancer support groups, they were and are a major help for me.  Even if there is not someone your aga or who has the exact condition in the group they can stil be of great help.  If there is a phychologist where you got treatment use them also, the one here was fantastic.

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
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    Local Cancer Group and On Here

    No exactly in your shoes and shall we say a little older than you, well in all honestly very much older than you.  You will find support on here I am sure.  Please check out local cancer support groups, they were and are a major help for me.  Even if there is not someone your aga or who has the exact condition in the group they can stil be of great help.  If there is a phychologist where you got treatment use them also, the one here was fantastic.

    Congrats!

    Congratulations on the one year mark! Even though ages and circumstances differ for each of us, we will support you in anyway we can.

  • kmcrae77
    kmcrae77 Member Posts: 17
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    Local Cancer Group and On Here

    No exactly in your shoes and shall we say a little older than you, well in all honestly very much older than you.  You will find support on here I am sure.  Please check out local cancer support groups, they were and are a major help for me.  Even if there is not someone your aga or who has the exact condition in the group they can stil be of great help.  If there is a phychologist where you got treatment use them also, the one here was fantastic.

    Thank you, it is hard I am

    Thank you, it is hard I am not with family on this day either, I have had a rough day but thank you so much for the support!

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
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    Welcome to the H&N Group

    Sorry you need to be here but this is the best support group you will ever find. I can still remember my 20's, but I am so glad you got to keep one vocal cord. Not being able to sing will be rough, but it could have been so much worse. My tumor was laying on my left vocal cord but my lungs were too bad so they had to remove my larynx and I now breath through my neck. I can still talk but I never could sing, at least where anyone would want to hear me. My wonderful children asked me to stop Dad, but we still love you. They got all of mine and 18 months free of it. It is very sad that anyone has this but even more so when they are so young. The thing to alwasy remember is it could have been so much worse. You just take one day at a time and you can get through anything. If you have a bad or sad day just come here and write it down, it helps to beable to talk with ones that have been through this and do know how you feel. My doctor cane in and said, you can't survive surgery or radiation! I thought it was over, then he said If we give you a trach and you breath through your neck forever and we remove your larynx we can do the surgery. It was right then I knew I would beat this and did. Thank you for letting us know it is your one year mark, Congrats..........

    Bill

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
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    NEDKmcrae77

    Kmcrae77,

    Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary, it’s a big deal to most of us.

    I’ve found comfort and friendship at this site.  I sure hope you find what you are looking for.

    Matt

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member
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    Hi KM

    Sorry you find yourself in this position at such a young age. I can't be of much help with losing a vocal cord and with Bill mentioning your a singer I can imagine your feeling life is pretty rough right now. My voice went through a major change after my battle. I went from Barry White to Tiny Tim and although I will never get back to Barry White people tell me even after 5 years my voice is getting back to what it was. In my line of work I had to use my old stern voice to get points across to people I now use a different approach.

    There are two points I want to make. 1. Never give up hope that things will get better and 2. You found the best support group on the web. The fine folks on here will not only get you through treatmernt but help you through life.

    Enjoy the day...................I do every one of them

          Jeff

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
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    One year down

     

    Glad to hear the new news and hope you have 60 more of the same

     

    Tim Hondo

  • kmcrae77
    kmcrae77 Member Posts: 17
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    wmc said:

    Welcome to the H&N Group

    Sorry you need to be here but this is the best support group you will ever find. I can still remember my 20's, but I am so glad you got to keep one vocal cord. Not being able to sing will be rough, but it could have been so much worse. My tumor was laying on my left vocal cord but my lungs were too bad so they had to remove my larynx and I now breath through my neck. I can still talk but I never could sing, at least where anyone would want to hear me. My wonderful children asked me to stop Dad, but we still love you. They got all of mine and 18 months free of it. It is very sad that anyone has this but even more so when they are so young. The thing to alwasy remember is it could have been so much worse. You just take one day at a time and you can get through anything. If you have a bad or sad day just come here and write it down, it helps to beable to talk with ones that have been through this and do know how you feel. My doctor cane in and said, you can't survive surgery or radiation! I thought it was over, then he said If we give you a trach and you breath through your neck forever and we remove your larynx we can do the surgery. It was right then I knew I would beat this and did. Thank you for letting us know it is your one year mark, Congrats..........

    Bill

    Thank you :)

    Thank you so much for such a heartfelt message, I am thankful it was not as bad as it could be, and I have my days where I just feel miserable and days where I am fine. My one year mark was an emotional one for sure! Thank you all for such amazing support, it really means a lot to me!

  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
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    Hondo said:

    One year down

     

    Glad to hear the new news and hope you have 60 more of the same

     

    Tim Hondo

    Hello KM

    First year is the toughest I think.  It will get better, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and stay positive.  Live each day with vigor.  You can do it and your deserve it.  Younger folks stop by once in a while, so keep posting and you'll connect with them, but it may take a few posts.  Welcome to the best support group on the web.

    All the best,

    Steve

  • kmcrae77
    kmcrae77 Member Posts: 17
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    hawk711 said:

    Hello KM

    First year is the toughest I think.  It will get better, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and stay positive.  Live each day with vigor.  You can do it and your deserve it.  Younger folks stop by once in a while, so keep posting and you'll connect with them, but it may take a few posts.  Welcome to the best support group on the web.

    All the best,

    Steve

    Hey There

    Thank you, I know as time goes on it will get easier. I never thought it was even a possibility to have to deal with cancer at a young age. It's crazy how one minute my life is normal and the next it is not. I have a hard time connecting with people my age now. I used to be really social and have a lot of friends and after all of this happened, I dont really have a lot to connect with people my age. Everyone is all about going out and partying and drinking right now around me and honestly I just don't want to do that stuff anymore. I have just grown up a lot and it makes it difficult. Especially when people will pity me and it is almost too much for my friends to handle, so instead they push themselves away. I am glad to have found a support group here on this site. 

    Thanks for the good wishes,

    Kylee

  • avisemi
    avisemi Member Posts: 172
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    CONGRATS!

    CONGRATS! Laughing

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
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    kmcrae77 said:

    Hey There

    Thank you, I know as time goes on it will get easier. I never thought it was even a possibility to have to deal with cancer at a young age. It's crazy how one minute my life is normal and the next it is not. I have a hard time connecting with people my age now. I used to be really social and have a lot of friends and after all of this happened, I dont really have a lot to connect with people my age. Everyone is all about going out and partying and drinking right now around me and honestly I just don't want to do that stuff anymore. I have just grown up a lot and it makes it difficult. Especially when people will pity me and it is almost too much for my friends to handle, so instead they push themselves away. I am glad to have found a support group here on this site. 

    Thanks for the good wishes,

    Kylee

    Kylee, i'm sorry for all

    Kylee, i'm sorry for all you've been through and all the changes this damn disease has brought in your life and that you've had to really grow up overnight.  i also lost friends when dx.  some people just don't know how to deal with such a serious illness.  i also had cancer of the larynx.  I had 35 rad tx in 10/09.  then recurrence in 2012 and total laryngectomy 2/28/12.  today, i am 3 years cancer free.  are you still able to talk?  i talk with a prosthesis.  btw, I am 58 and was 53 when originally dx.  i pray you will find yourself again and start to enjoy life and your friends again.  you're interests may have changed but that doesn't mean you have to give up every part of your life before cancer.  find the "new" you and go from there.  also, adding new friends to the ones you already have could be a great experience too.  they wouldn't have to know what all you've been through.  i truly hope and pray you are able to get back to being socil again.  you are too young to let life pass you by!  Congratulations on one year and here's to 95 more!  Please, get out there and enjoy your life.  There is still a lot out there to see and do besides partying and drinking!  find what makes you happy and then live it up!

    God bless you,

    dj

  • kmcrae77
    kmcrae77 Member Posts: 17
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    Kylee, i'm sorry for all

    Kylee, i'm sorry for all you've been through and all the changes this damn disease has brought in your life and that you've had to really grow up overnight.  i also lost friends when dx.  some people just don't know how to deal with such a serious illness.  i also had cancer of the larynx.  I had 35 rad tx in 10/09.  then recurrence in 2012 and total laryngectomy 2/28/12.  today, i am 3 years cancer free.  are you still able to talk?  i talk with a prosthesis.  btw, I am 58 and was 53 when originally dx.  i pray you will find yourself again and start to enjoy life and your friends again.  you're interests may have changed but that doesn't mean you have to give up every part of your life before cancer.  find the "new" you and go from there.  also, adding new friends to the ones you already have could be a great experience too.  they wouldn't have to know what all you've been through.  i truly hope and pray you are able to get back to being socil again.  you are too young to let life pass you by!  Congratulations on one year and here's to 95 more!  Please, get out there and enjoy your life.  There is still a lot out there to see and do besides partying and drinking!  find what makes you happy and then live it up!

    God bless you,

    dj

    Dj

    Thank you so very much, it is so encouraging to have such nice people to talk to and it really helps me! I can talk decently. I lose my voice easily and my tone fluctuates without control but I am thankful I can still talk. I've had a hard time finding who I am without my voice but I am working on it everyday! 

    I wish the best to you, and i am so happy to hear you are three years cancer free' you are also in my prayers !!

    best wishes,

    kylee

  • kmcrae77
    kmcrae77 Member Posts: 17
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    avisemi said:

    CONGRATS!

    CONGRATS! Laughing

    Thank you :)

    Thank you :)

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
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    Loosing your friends.

    There will be a lot of "friends" that will drift away because of a serious illness. They just don't know what to say and really don't even want to think about it. There is something about illness that seams to drive people away. They will aks "How are you doing" as a courtesy but don't really want you to answer with how you are really doing. It is just something people say and don't mean. You will have a few friends that will be there for you. You now have a "New Normal" life and it has changes so fast. You grew up so much faster than you needed to, and just don't do the same things that they do. With what you went through the club seen just is not you now. 

    It does get much easyer to live with and it gets better every week. It will always be in the back of your mind and anything like a lump will bring up so many thoughts only a survivor knows and goes through. Remember if you have a bad day just come here and write it down how you are feeling, it does help. We all have done it and we all understand what you are feeling. We're open 24/7     We'll keep you in our prayers.

    Bill

  • kmcrae77
    kmcrae77 Member Posts: 17
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    wmc said:

    Loosing your friends.

    There will be a lot of "friends" that will drift away because of a serious illness. They just don't know what to say and really don't even want to think about it. There is something about illness that seams to drive people away. They will aks "How are you doing" as a courtesy but don't really want you to answer with how you are really doing. It is just something people say and don't mean. You will have a few friends that will be there for you. You now have a "New Normal" life and it has changes so fast. You grew up so much faster than you needed to, and just don't do the same things that they do. With what you went through the club seen just is not you now. 

    It does get much easyer to live with and it gets better every week. It will always be in the back of your mind and anything like a lump will bring up so many thoughts only a survivor knows and goes through. Remember if you have a bad day just come here and write it down how you are feeling, it does help. We all have done it and we all understand what you are feeling. We're open 24/7     We'll keep you in our prayers.

    Bill

    Bill

    Thank you for your message, I have learned that friends come and go. I am lucky to have a strong husband who has stuck by my side and been there through every melt down and surgery and appointment. For that I am truly blessed. I am so glad to have found this site because I have a hard time relating with people and here I feel like I have people who understand. I am greatful for this. 

    While what I had was not as severe as many it took away something irreplaceable and I am learning how to cope with that.

    I am glad to have found such a great community of amazing people :)

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
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    kmcrae77 said:

    Bill

    Thank you for your message, I have learned that friends come and go. I am lucky to have a strong husband who has stuck by my side and been there through every melt down and surgery and appointment. For that I am truly blessed. I am so glad to have found this site because I have a hard time relating with people and here I feel like I have people who understand. I am greatful for this. 

    While what I had was not as severe as many it took away something irreplaceable and I am learning how to cope with that.

    I am glad to have found such a great community of amazing people :)

    Congratulations on the first

    Congratulations on the first of many milestones. No matter what one's age, cancer is a game changer. I think that those of us who are older do have a different view because of our life experiences. My daughter was 23 when she began her journey with rheumatoid arthritis. It bothered me when people said her life was ruined. Not ruined. Just different. A plot twist. A new normal, as some on this site have said. There is so much more to you than your voice. There is a saying that when God closes a door, he opens a window. I have found it to be true since my diagnosis with SCC as well. I had to quit a teaching job I loved, but God found other ways for me to impact the lives of young people. You and your wonderful husband are in my prayers.