How long have you survived

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  • dogsrule
    dogsrule Member Posts: 96
    fisrpotpe said:

    More Help
    Does this help more. As of Jan. 18th Tuesday will be my 15 years.

    Congrats to any survivor!

    So everyone knows Survivorship starts the day you are told "you have cancer"

    John

    1 year
    What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time I was going thru radiation and hibernating in my house. I am now 15 months past my initial diagnoses of SCC unknown primary. I am feeling great. I have my energy back. Working, playing and loving life.
    I pray every day for all of us to be healthy and survive the dark days and look forward to the sunrise and the light of a new day.

    Jo
  • Pat in SC
    Pat in SC Member Posts: 5
    16 years this Christmas
    Cancer of the left tonsil - 39 radiation treatments/modified neck disection
    /no chemo back then. I recently had 30 HBO sessions for removal of seven bottom teeth. So far no problems. Please listen to your dentist and take care of your teeth.
    Pat
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Pat in SC said:

    16 years this Christmas
    Cancer of the left tonsil - 39 radiation treatments/modified neck disection
    /no chemo back then. I recently had 30 HBO sessions for removal of seven bottom teeth. So far no problems. Please listen to your dentist and take care of your teeth.
    Pat

    Hi Pat
    That is some great news 16 years and still going, glad to have you here with us on Heat & Neck.

    I do hope you plan to stay as I know with 16 years of back ground you have a lot of good information.

    Take care
    Hondo
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
    Hondo said:

    Hi Pat
    That is some great news 16 years and still going, glad to have you here with us on Heat & Neck.

    I do hope you plan to stay as I know with 16 years of back ground you have a lot of good information.

    Take care
    Hondo

    3 months and counting
    David has stade 4 A tonsil cancer with 2 lymph nodes, 39 rads & 3 chemo " cisplatin" . Trucking right along. God bless us all with good health this year...
  • npcsurvivor
    npcsurvivor Member Posts: 27
    1.5 years
    Finished treatment for Stage II NPC (without nodal involvement) on July 1 2009. I am consdering celebrating the date as my second birthday (doosra janam or second birth according to Hindu mythology).
  • rotecdave
    rotecdave Member Posts: 2
    Three years this February
    I was told I had tongue cancer stage IV on February 12,2008 and after seeing two doctors I was operated
    on February 14. I had a trak for 6 months and a feeding tube for 9 months and was glad to have it. I did
    32 rads and 6 chemo at the same time right after the operation. They removed part of my tongue and
    lymph nodes from both sides of my neck. I just finished 60 HB Treatments for rad damage in order to
    get my teeth removed because of damage in my mouth. My wife has been the rock I lean on and don't
    know what I would have done without her. I was 63 when I got sick and was out of work total for a year but
    I'm back to work now and feeling great. I read the discussion board almost everyday. BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE.


    rotecdaves
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    Still Kicking
    Well, it was May of 2009 when I was diagnosed with early prostate cancer and it was May of 2010 when I was diagnosed with Parotid cancer. How's that for a one-two punch? Then, I got right side facial paralysis in June of 2010 and it is still with me. So, I guess the answer is about a year and a half for any type of cancer and about 8 months for the Parotid cancer. I sure hope to be posting here as a survivor five years from now. Oh, heck, let's be optimistic and shoot for 15 years from now. It never hurts to set your goals high.

    Roger
  • HAWVET
    HAWVET Member Posts: 318
    mixleader said:

    Still Kicking
    Well, it was May of 2009 when I was diagnosed with early prostate cancer and it was May of 2010 when I was diagnosed with Parotid cancer. How's that for a one-two punch? Then, I got right side facial paralysis in June of 2010 and it is still with me. So, I guess the answer is about a year and a half for any type of cancer and about 8 months for the Parotid cancer. I sure hope to be posting here as a survivor five years from now. Oh, heck, let's be optimistic and shoot for 15 years from now. It never hurts to set your goals high.

    Roger

    Almost 13 years later
    I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in January 1998 and completed treatment in June 1998. My dry mouth condition has gotten worse and probably aided by the aging process. My taste buds did not completely return.... probably about 60 percent.

    Throughout the years, I have tried to maintain a very positive attitude. After reading some of the postings in this forum, I feel bad on your sufferings and makes me appreciate the ailments that I have. I do wish that no matter what your condition, there will be better days.

    I confess that I like going to Las Vegas and continue to go there. I eat most of my meals at the buffets. I bring instant cream of mushroom soup mix and dip my sandwich in the soup. I did not curtail the things I liked to do.

    I wish the very best in year 2011 and God Bless you all.
  • josh r.
    josh r. Member Posts: 264 Member
    HAWVET said:

    Almost 13 years later
    I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in January 1998 and completed treatment in June 1998. My dry mouth condition has gotten worse and probably aided by the aging process. My taste buds did not completely return.... probably about 60 percent.

    Throughout the years, I have tried to maintain a very positive attitude. After reading some of the postings in this forum, I feel bad on your sufferings and makes me appreciate the ailments that I have. I do wish that no matter what your condition, there will be better days.

    I confess that I like going to Las Vegas and continue to go there. I eat most of my meals at the buffets. I bring instant cream of mushroom soup mix and dip my sandwich in the soup. I did not curtail the things I liked to do.

    I wish the very best in year 2011 and God Bless you all.

    Approaching 20 years
    Hello sister and brother survivors,
    I feel so blessed to be stll going strong nearly twenty years after treatment for type iv throat cancer. I have written about my being diagnosed back on July 11, 1991 and fininshing treatment on November 22nd 1991. I was just past the half way point of my thirty plus years as a public school teacher, married one year and a recreational tournament tennis player. As I have written on a couple post at this incredible web sight I went thru concurrent chemo-radiation treatments from July 28 thru November 22nd 1991. I retired from teaching 16 years later and play tennis three times a week with the same intensity as I did back then but without the need to "win". I win just being out there. I also work three days a week in the food and wine industry so I have another career that I enjoy as much as I enjoyed teaching. The best part? Besides being alive it's being alive and sharing life with that wonderful lady who stood by me during those very difficult times. We find helping others through delivering Meals on Wheeles and helping other organizations whose goals are to help those that need aid probably help us more than we help others. So dear sister and brother survivors while my "good fortune" keeps running I pray that all of you enjoy a healthy if not healthier and longer run that I am "half way" through. All of you at CSN are amazing. Josh r.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    josh r. said:

    Approaching 20 years
    Hello sister and brother survivors,
    I feel so blessed to be stll going strong nearly twenty years after treatment for type iv throat cancer. I have written about my being diagnosed back on July 11, 1991 and fininshing treatment on November 22nd 1991. I was just past the half way point of my thirty plus years as a public school teacher, married one year and a recreational tournament tennis player. As I have written on a couple post at this incredible web sight I went thru concurrent chemo-radiation treatments from July 28 thru November 22nd 1991. I retired from teaching 16 years later and play tennis three times a week with the same intensity as I did back then but without the need to "win". I win just being out there. I also work three days a week in the food and wine industry so I have another career that I enjoy as much as I enjoyed teaching. The best part? Besides being alive it's being alive and sharing life with that wonderful lady who stood by me during those very difficult times. We find helping others through delivering Meals on Wheeles and helping other organizations whose goals are to help those that need aid probably help us more than we help others. So dear sister and brother survivors while my "good fortune" keeps running I pray that all of you enjoy a healthy if not healthier and longer run that I am "half way" through. All of you at CSN are amazing. Josh r.

    Today is 15 years
    Today is my 15th year anny. I have been blessed by Grace.

    Congrats to All who have survived one day or more.

    John
  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    fisrpotpe said:

    Today is 15 years
    Today is my 15th year anny. I have been blessed by Grace.

    Congrats to All who have survived one day or more.

    John

    6 Years
    Hi John and Everyone,

    I recently passed my 6 year mark for the completion of my radiation treatments. It is nice to see the numbers being posted. As WE all know, we try our best to move on after treatments and enjoy our lives to the fullest that we are able too.

    We have some real trail blazers here.

    My Best to Everyone Here
  • mwellsg
    mwellsg Member Posts: 66
    Nervous
    So cool to see this post today. I am 3 hours from my first doc visit after a lymph node biopsy and PET yesterday and then on to exploratory surgery Wednesday. I don't know what I'm against yet or what it's going to take to fix it. Seeing these posts today took about half of the flutter out of my stomach. Thanks
  • MarkN_CT
    MarkN_CT Member Posts: 11 Member
    Five Months...
    post treatment for SCC BOT, stage IV A. Removed about a third of my tongue, rebuilt with tissue from my forearm, removal of 18 lymph nodes (two positive). 30 rads, 5 shots of chemo. Taste is about 75% back, and I can eat almost everything, with little or no irritation.

    Five months ago, I didn't think I'd be typing the above. Getting used to the "new normal" was a pain, but I'm doing it. Here's to the survivors and their caretakers!
  • Fire34
    Fire34 Member Posts: 365
    MarkN_CT said:

    Five Months...
    post treatment for SCC BOT, stage IV A. Removed about a third of my tongue, rebuilt with tissue from my forearm, removal of 18 lymph nodes (two positive). 30 rads, 5 shots of chemo. Taste is about 75% back, and I can eat almost everything, with little or no irritation.

    Five months ago, I didn't think I'd be typing the above. Getting used to the "new normal" was a pain, but I'm doing it. Here's to the survivors and their caretakers!

    14 months Now
    Last scan Dec 10 NED Still dry mouth and swallowing trouble here and there. Docs keep asking aobut taste which is so hard to compare, I guess it is ok as far as I can tell, everything just tastes different than before. Wishes & Prayers on everyone's recovery
    Dave
  • Dragons7-7-2010
    Dragons7-7-2010 Member Posts: 79
    Survivorship starts the day you are told "you have cancer."
    Someone posted this and I'm quoting:
    "So everyone knows Survivorship starts the day you are told "you have cancer."

    if this is true then I was disgnosed 7-7-2010 and have been a survivor 6 months.

    SCC right tonsil which metastasized to neck right lymph nodes. Stage 3 HPV+

    Completed treatment December 3, 2010 - treatment consisted of Chemotherapy 3 rounds: Cisplatin, Doxetaxel & FFU followed by 6 weeks of Radiation (30 rads) 55 grys to left side / 70 grys to right side with concurrent chemotherapy of Cetuximab.

    Side effects: mouth sores, mucosititus, stomatitis, thrush, acne like rash caused by Cetuximab on my tongue, head, back and face. Cisplatin caused hearing loss to right ear along with hair loss. Thank you God that hair is growing back, acne like rash is gone. I do still have mouth sores, issues swallowing and cannot eat the spicy food I used to enjoy but it cured me of my addiction to caffeine and sugar. Positive I lost 50_ lbs and I am not at a healthy weight for a 5'6" female. I do have peripherial neuropathy in my left arm which the doctor thinks is temporary. Anyone else experience peripheral neuropathy in your arms? This is the feeling that your arm has falled asleep like when you sleep in a position which cuts off circulation but I have not its a chemo side affect according to my medical oncologist. But I wondered did anyone else have this issue with your arm or hand falling asleep?

    here's to all the survivors out there!
  • connieprice1
    connieprice1 Member Posts: 300 Member
    buzz99 said:

    We feel some hope
    We are facing the exact same treatment you endured. Husband has stage IV SCC BOT cancer with 1 positive node. Your survival is an inspiration to us. Buzz had his first chemo on Monday and now is starting to feel awful.

    Make sure to give him Zofran
    Make sure to give him Zofran as directed every 6-8 hrs. It is the best medicine for nausea.
  • ktjt
    ktjt Member Posts: 5

    Survivorship starts the day you are told "you have cancer."
    Someone posted this and I'm quoting:
    "So everyone knows Survivorship starts the day you are told "you have cancer."

    if this is true then I was disgnosed 7-7-2010 and have been a survivor 6 months.

    SCC right tonsil which metastasized to neck right lymph nodes. Stage 3 HPV+

    Completed treatment December 3, 2010 - treatment consisted of Chemotherapy 3 rounds: Cisplatin, Doxetaxel & FFU followed by 6 weeks of Radiation (30 rads) 55 grys to left side / 70 grys to right side with concurrent chemotherapy of Cetuximab.

    Side effects: mouth sores, mucosititus, stomatitis, thrush, acne like rash caused by Cetuximab on my tongue, head, back and face. Cisplatin caused hearing loss to right ear along with hair loss. Thank you God that hair is growing back, acne like rash is gone. I do still have mouth sores, issues swallowing and cannot eat the spicy food I used to enjoy but it cured me of my addiction to caffeine and sugar. Positive I lost 50_ lbs and I am not at a healthy weight for a 5'6" female. I do have peripherial neuropathy in my left arm which the doctor thinks is temporary. Anyone else experience peripheral neuropathy in your arms? This is the feeling that your arm has falled asleep like when you sleep in a position which cuts off circulation but I have not its a chemo side affect according to my medical oncologist. But I wondered did anyone else have this issue with your arm or hand falling asleep?

    here's to all the survivors out there!

    I'm not sure how to do this
    I'm not sure how to do this I'm trying to post to the whole thread...
    My husband had scc in nasopharynx met to one side of his neck 6 months later met to the other side. He's had a bi-lateral radical neck dissection and rad. That was 31 years ago. Since, we've had two sons and we now have a grandson. He does have really dry mouth due to rad to the salivary glands. He has also had a scc removed from his check growing in from the skin, that was 10 years ago, and just last week had a bcc removed from his neck. The thing about his neck is that it has been radiated and was tight so they couldn't pull the skin together to stitch it, so they had to graft it with pig cells, a sense of humor is essential to get through. Oh the jokes that came out of that... My hubs is now 55 yo. He does still have pain and tingling numbness referral of pain to strange areas.
    Keep on fighting the good fight!
  • par
    par Member Posts: 23
    abbimom said:

    still here
    I am 10 years post treatment. I had squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue and it metastisized to the lymphnodes in my neck.

    20 months SCC-BOT 2
    20 months SCC-BOT 2 lymphnodes in neck
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    ktjt said:

    I'm not sure how to do this
    I'm not sure how to do this I'm trying to post to the whole thread...
    My husband had scc in nasopharynx met to one side of his neck 6 months later met to the other side. He's had a bi-lateral radical neck dissection and rad. That was 31 years ago. Since, we've had two sons and we now have a grandson. He does have really dry mouth due to rad to the salivary glands. He has also had a scc removed from his check growing in from the skin, that was 10 years ago, and just last week had a bcc removed from his neck. The thing about his neck is that it has been radiated and was tight so they couldn't pull the skin together to stitch it, so they had to graft it with pig cells, a sense of humor is essential to get through. Oh the jokes that came out of that... My hubs is now 55 yo. He does still have pain and tingling numbness referral of pain to strange areas.
    Keep on fighting the good fight!

    WOW
    Great to see you on the board - Welcome, and even better seeing such a read on the history of and survivorship for your husband.

    Best,
    John
  • josh r.
    josh r. Member Posts: 264 Member
    ktjt said:

    I'm not sure how to do this
    I'm not sure how to do this I'm trying to post to the whole thread...
    My husband had scc in nasopharynx met to one side of his neck 6 months later met to the other side. He's had a bi-lateral radical neck dissection and rad. That was 31 years ago. Since, we've had two sons and we now have a grandson. He does have really dry mouth due to rad to the salivary glands. He has also had a scc removed from his check growing in from the skin, that was 10 years ago, and just last week had a bcc removed from his neck. The thing about his neck is that it has been radiated and was tight so they couldn't pull the skin together to stitch it, so they had to graft it with pig cells, a sense of humor is essential to get through. Oh the jokes that came out of that... My hubs is now 55 yo. He does still have pain and tingling numbness referral of pain to strange areas.
    Keep on fighting the good fight!

    Giving hope
    Ktjt,
    Thank you for your uplifting on going story. As I, and my wife, march on toward my 20th your post is so encouraging. We wish you another 31! josh r.