New and glad I joined

sunflower5468

I'm a new member thanks to my best friend searching websites to help give me some support. In January 2009, I was diagnosed with tongue, lympth nodes in the neck and a place on my lung. It is called small cell squamous cell cancer stage 4. Needless to say, I am a nervous wreck. My entire life has changed and I hate it. I have taken 6 weeks of radiation everyday plus 2 extra days that I never thought I would get through. I am on my second session of chemo and have 12 more weeks of that. I have been reading a lot of the stories here and realize I'm not the only one living with this hell. I do have a feeding tube because I can barely swallow. I am 50 pounds lighter and somedays I just want to give up. I watched my grandfather in 1985 suffer with the same cancer that I have and I remember how hard it was watching him waste away to nothing. I never knew the pain he was in until experiencing it for myself. My hope is to get and give support to others on good and bad days. Thank you for listening.

lolojldunn

Hi Sunflower,
Welcome.
Hi Sunflower,
Welcome. Unfortunately, you are one of us...I'm quite sure that everybody here wishes that we would never have another new member of this illustrious association. After having read several of the various posts here, I'm quite sure that you came to the conclusion that cancer has effected each and everyone of us in a different way. Our lives have been forever changed. One underlying theme that remains constant is HOPE. Don't ever lose it! I'd bet that everybody here, at one point or another in their respective treatments had thought about giving up the fight. DON'T!!! We're here to help in anyway that we can. I found this website to be my crutch to help me get through my treatments. If others could make it, I could too. Hang in there! Turn to those here "that have been there, done that". Hell, most of them have the tee shirt and hat to go with it!!!
Jim

Glenna M

You've come to the right place
Hi Sunflower, you've come to the right place for encouragement and wisdom. I don't start my treatment (larynx and lung cancer) until next week but I come to these discussion boards everyday to read the new postings. It has saved me and has made me realize that "I can do it".

It really is sad to meet such wonderful, caring people because of this monster that has invaded our bodies, but having them here to talk to makes everything that much easier. There are many who have been through much more than I am expecting to have to go through and listening to their experiences lets me know that you can survive this.

I'm hoping you won't dwell on what your grandfather went through as there have been so many advances in cancer treatment. I've been told by all of my doctors that they can't cure either of my cancers but I refuse to believe them. I just keep telling myself that they will be able to buy me enough time that they will be able to come up with even more advanced treatment and I will lead a long and happy life with my family. I'm learning to be more patient and have much more faith since finding this website, I can't say enough good things about the people who post on here.

Please stay strong and post again so we will know how you are doing.
Glenna

sunflower5468

Glenna M said:

You've come to the right place
Hi Sunflower, you've come to the right place for encouragement and wisdom. I don't start my treatment (larynx and lung cancer) until next week but I come to these discussion boards everyday to read the new postings. It has saved me and has made me realize that "I can do it".

It really is sad to meet such wonderful, caring people because of this monster that has invaded our bodies, but having them here to talk to makes everything that much easier. There are many who have been through much more than I am expecting to have to go through and listening to their experiences lets me know that you can survive this.

I'm hoping you won't dwell on what your grandfather went through as there have been so many advances in cancer treatment. I've been told by all of my doctors that they can't cure either of my cancers but I refuse to believe them. I just keep telling myself that they will be able to buy me enough time that they will be able to come up with even more advanced treatment and I will lead a long and happy life with my family. I'm learning to be more patient and have much more faith since finding this website, I can't say enough good things about the people who post on here.

Please stay strong and post again so we will know how you are doing.
Glenna

New member
Thank the 2 of you for the nice posts you left me. You're both so right. I have given a new meaning to the word HOPE. That's what we are living for. If we give up then there's nothing left. It is so nice to have a nice support group to listen and help with advice. Thanks again and I look forward to helping others.

pmfennell

sunflower5468 said:

New member
Thank the 2 of you for the nice posts you left me. You're both so right. I have given a new meaning to the word HOPE. That's what we are living for. If we give up then there's nothing left. It is so nice to have a nice support group to listen and help with advice. Thanks again and I look forward to helping others.

Hello Sunflower
Hi,
I am a 6 year survivor of Squamous Cell at the base of tongue. I had the feeding tube throughout tx and did not like it, but realized the importance of its use in providing much needed nourishment. I learned to live with it during and after tx. After tx ended, about 3 mos. I had it removed. I was able to east semi-solid food and eventually solid food. I do have my days of eating being difficult and easy. One thing you must never do is give up hope. It is as important as your medical tx if not more so. I remained positive through out tx and found it to be the most important part of getting through tx. It is not always easy, but a positive attitude can make all the difference. My cousin is going through breast cancer tx and I am amazed at her positive attitude. She is doing great. Treat each day as a gift and do those things you always wanted to. Hang in there and remain positive. It is the best medicine. Remember to, the advancements in TX over the last 20 years.

sunflower5468

pmfennell said:

Hello Sunflower
Hi,
I am a 6 year survivor of Squamous Cell at the base of tongue. I had the feeding tube throughout tx and did not like it, but realized the importance of its use in providing much needed nourishment. I learned to live with it during and after tx. After tx ended, about 3 mos. I had it removed. I was able to east semi-solid food and eventually solid food. I do have my days of eating being difficult and easy. One thing you must never do is give up hope. It is as important as your medical tx if not more so. I remained positive through out tx and found it to be the most important part of getting through tx. It is not always easy, but a positive attitude can make all the difference. My cousin is going through breast cancer tx and I am amazed at her positive attitude. She is doing great. Treat each day as a gift and do those things you always wanted to. Hang in there and remain positive. It is the best medicine. Remember to, the advancements in TX over the last 20 years.

new and glad I joined
Thank you for the wonderful advice pmfennell. Hope is the answer to all of our prayers and I will continue to hold on to hope. It is the one thing no one can take away from us, God Bless you and yours.