Can't Find My Earlier Posts

Craig_Griffin
Craig_Griffin Member Posts: 52
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I am a Stage 4 throat cancer survivor from 2008. Relatives told me to forget it and go on, never wanting to hear again about my battle and treatment. But I re-discovered my username for this blog after many years. Years ago on this site I asked about an old high school friend was sold on not getting standard medical treatments due to his religion. He was persuaded instead to go on extreme diets and to use many "high purity" vitamin supplements. He convinced me to regret my chemo and radiation treatments, which DID make me cancer free for 7+ years now.

I am sorry to say that after about a year he went from Stage 2 to Stage 4 Squamous Cell, and is now deceased.

I am here to encourage everyone going through cancer treatment to be positive and that my belief in the Lord got me through from the first day that I was given my diagnosis. I did not have any time to consider anything other than what my doctors told me in 2008. I hope that this is an encouragement for anyone going theough their treatment.

-Craig

  

    

Comments

  • bebo12249
    bebo12249 Member Posts: 181 Member
    #2
    Thanks for reminding us that

    Thanks for reminding us that the treatments our physicians recommend have years of research to support thieir use. Non-standard treatments may sound like a magic bullet but they almost always lack empirical evidence to support their use. Glad you are are doing well. bill

  • Craig_Griffin
    Craig_Griffin Member Posts: 52
    #3
    bebo12249 said:

    Thanks for reminding us that

    Thanks for reminding us that the treatments our physicians recommend have years of research to support thieir use. Non-standard treatments may sound like a magic bullet but they almost always lack empirical evidence to support their use. Glad you are are doing well. bill

    Yes, doing well.

    Bill,Its great to get some replies. What encouraged me considerably at the time was when the doctors stated the higher success rates in "just recent years", which was back in spring of 2008. Just before my radiation was to begin 2 new "orbital" radiation accelerators were delivered to my facility which were the latest equipment.

    Today I am in the process of assisting where I can with other past or present cancer patients. The original team at Univ of IL Medical Center has corresponded with some questionaires and are astounded that I am doing well many years later. Although I am not forgetful of any experience or medical staff personel during that time.

    -Craig

      

     

     

     

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #4
    It's great to know

    that you are 7+ years out! It is so encouraging for those of us who are newly started on this journey. Thanks for posting Craig.

    Barbara

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #5
    poof

    Craig,

    I bumped your older post back up top.

    Matt

  • Craig_Griffin
    Craig_Griffin Member Posts: 52
    #6
    Barbaraek said:

    It's great to know

    that you are 7+ years out! It is so encouraging for those of us who are newly started on this journey. Thanks for posting Craig.

    Barbara

    Encouragement

    Barbara,
    Yes, I am about 7 1/2 years from my last day of 40 courses of radiation treatment. In 3/2008 I inquired to know my "chances" and the doctors did answer me. I found later that my Stage 4 Mass Squamas Carcinoma, Tongue Based was quite advanced. It was in my right peratid gland (salivary), all throughout my right neck lymph node, and a 3/8" tumor visible at the back of my tongue. Within a few weeks a 3" long external tumor appeared behind my right cheek, which had encircled my right Carotid Artery (going to the brain).

    One thing formost in my mind was immediately after my diagnosis at the Univ of IL Med Center I was walked to the hospital social worker; where she stated that "my attitude would have everything to do with whether I live or die". I did know of one way to find the source above and beyond myself, and that was my current and earlier faith in that person of Jesus, mostly as described in the written word.

    I had a caretaker group which included some relatives, one of which stated that I do first things first and only worry about the cancer treatment, which did help my focus. Also the clinical psychologist that led our cancer support group had us cover "living in the moment", which as very helpful. It was revealing that many persons that ultimately did well admitted that they wanted to live to see their first grandchild, or many other variuos goals.

    For today I think it best to continue to be in the moment (I did dislike the term at the time). I never previuosly enjoyed cooking or many other things since my life had always been so fast paced. Today I have almost 8 years of living differently than before and placing value on "re-learning" how to live. A lot of success (emotional, academic, or intangible) came from that weekly cancer support group of which I was a member for about 1 year during treatment. It helped to have guidance from others who were ahead of me in their treatment. Also slightly later I found this site which was yet further helpful.

    -Craig

     

       

     

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #7
    Craig_Griffin said:

    Encouragement

    Barbara,
    Yes, I am about 7 1/2 years from my last day of 40 courses of radiation treatment. In 3/2008 I inquired to know my "chances" and the doctors did answer me. I found later that my Stage 4 Mass Squamas Carcinoma, Tongue Based was quite advanced. It was in my right peratid gland (salivary), all throughout my right neck lymph node, and a 3/8" tumor visible at the back of my tongue. Within a few weeks a 3" long external tumor appeared behind my right cheek, which had encircled my right Carotid Artery (going to the brain).

    One thing formost in my mind was immediately after my diagnosis at the Univ of IL Med Center I was walked to the hospital social worker; where she stated that "my attitude would have everything to do with whether I live or die". I did know of one way to find the source above and beyond myself, and that was my current and earlier faith in that person of Jesus, mostly as described in the written word.

    I had a caretaker group which included some relatives, one of which stated that I do first things first and only worry about the cancer treatment, which did help my focus. Also the clinical psychologist that led our cancer support group had us cover "living in the moment", which as very helpful. It was revealing that many persons that ultimately did well admitted that they wanted to live to see their first grandchild, or many other variuos goals.

    For today I think it best to continue to be in the moment (I did dislike the term at the time). I never previuosly enjoyed cooking or many other things since my life had always been so fast paced. Today I have almost 8 years of living differently than before and placing value on "re-learning" how to live. A lot of success (emotional, academic, or intangible) came from that weekly cancer support group of which I was a member for about 1 year during treatment. It helped to have guidance from others who were ahead of me in their treatment. Also slightly later I found this site which was yet further helpful.

    -Craig

     

       

     

    Thank you for sharing your story.

    my husband was diagnosed with oral tongue cancer, stage 1, in October. After surgery in Nov, he started rads and chemo last week. He is being so positive and he has faith that all will be ok. I am so glad to hear how well you are doing all these years later (but I am sorry about your friend). Thank you for giving us newbies hope.

     

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #8
    Old Posts
    Craig, here are a few of your older posts...

    Craig_Griffin

    On Cancer Recovery

    Loss of full use of hands from chemo
  • Craig_Griffin
    Craig_Griffin Member Posts: 52
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Old Posts
    Craig, here are a few of your older posts...

    Craig_Griffin

    On Cancer Recovery

    Loss of full use of hands from chemo
    Old posts

    Wow,

    Thank you. I couldn't find those posts under my username or a keyword. I forgot about a lot of things that took place. I had "sub-plots" beyond the normal treatments and expectations, which even today many cancer patients have not heard of. Such as an ear drainage tube for 3 years right after radiation, among many other occurances.  

    On a positive note one major item was when my Radiation Oncologist said to eat a lot of red meat to restore platelet count and red blood cells during and after chemo. I have not heard of anyone else being told that. This baffled nearly everyone in my cancer support group who also never heard of it. The consensus was that red meat "causes cancer", although I always followed what doctors suggested since most of it made sense to me.

    When I began eating solid food, the first thing that I could eat was french toast. The next discovery was the Subway meatball marinara, since it was soft and you really didn't have to chew it. The radiation oncologist also mentioned that taste, feel, saliva, and hair may never come back. After perhaps 2 months my taste buds and the ability to feel came back in my mouth and tongue. It was french toast that I tasted first.

    That was one happy day.

    Craig   

     

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