New guy

firedude
firedude Member Posts: 11
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hello everyone,

I'm Jason and this is my first time visiting this site. I'm a late bloomer here, seeing as I'm about 16 months post-treatment. I was diagnosed with squaumous cell tongue cancer in April of 2009 and finished my treatments (surgery, radiation, and chemo) in August of 2009. I am happy to say that I am now cancer free and healthy as can be. I didn't know of this resource while I was going through treatments, but would love to be a voice of reassurance and helpful advice for those experiencing it now. Please feel free to ask questions if you have any. Glad to meet all of you!

Jason
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Comments

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    Welcome
    This is a great place! I'm roughly six months out from surgery, rads and chemo for BOT SCC, and healthy as can be. It's good to hear about others who are thriving!

    Deb
  • dennis318
    dennis318 Member Posts: 349 Member
    Welcome
    Dennis here, be one year out as of Janurary 28th 2011, Squaumous Cell Stage 4 of The Vocal, Rough time trying to bounce back, still breathing, but fatigued alot, 1/2 a voice. you've come to a great site, ask away my friend, and Welcome.Dennis in TN.
  • firedude
    firedude Member Posts: 11
    I appreciate your welcome.
    I appreciate your welcome. a little more about me that I neglected in my first post. I'm 27 years old and from the Seattle area. not sure if anyone else is from this area, but if you are...let me know. I have a wonderful wife and a 2 1/2 year old daughter. Look forward to getting to know you guys!
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Jason
    Its never to late my friend, Welcome to CSN and glad to have you as part of the faimly.

    Hondo
  • oldcamper
    oldcamper Member Posts: 27
    D Lewis said:

    Welcome
    This is a great place! I'm roughly six months out from surgery, rads and chemo for BOT SCC, and healthy as can be. It's good to hear about others who are thriving!

    Deb

    great photo
    Deb

    That photo looks like a place up by Mount Adams. Where was it taken?
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    firedude said:

    I appreciate your welcome.
    I appreciate your welcome. a little more about me that I neglected in my first post. I'm 27 years old and from the Seattle area. not sure if anyone else is from this area, but if you are...let me know. I have a wonderful wife and a 2 1/2 year old daughter. Look forward to getting to know you guys!

    Hi Jason
    Glad you found this site. Always good to have another person to bounce stuff off of and share their personal experience and knowledge. Welcome
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Welcome & Happy New Years
    Glad to have another "Old Timer" on the forum. Many great people here....

    John
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    Skiffin16 said:

    Welcome & Happy New Years
    Glad to have another "Old Timer" on the forum. Many great people here....

    John

    we are about a month apart
    Hi Jason, our timlines are very similar. Glad you found us. Welcome.
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    Welcome and Well Met
    Jason,
    Good to hear you're doing so well, and are kind enough to come and lend support here. I'm a base of tongue scc stage four survivor - finished induction chemo Jan. 2010, chemo rads March 2010, and had modified radical neck dissection last week.

    Wish you could've found this site early in your treatment - it's been a god-send for me.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    oldcamper said:

    great photo
    Deb

    That photo looks like a place up by Mount Adams. Where was it taken?

    Eagle Pass
    In the Stanislaus National Forest, just outside the Emigrant Wilderness, in California. Our equestrian group camps in Eagle Meadow for two weeks every summer. This was a day ride out from camp and up over the pass into the Wilderness area.

    Deb
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    Pam M said:

    Welcome and Well Met
    Jason,
    Good to hear you're doing so well, and are kind enough to come and lend support here. I'm a base of tongue scc stage four survivor - finished induction chemo Jan. 2010, chemo rads March 2010, and had modified radical neck dissection last week.

    Wish you could've found this site early in your treatment - it's been a god-send for me.

    Hi Jason!
    It is great to hear that you are doing so well! On January 15 it will be one year from when I began my teatment & it seem's as though it was ages ago. Glad you found us & wellcome to our family!
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    Come on in
    Hey there Jason. Glad you could make it. NPC survivor here. Diagnosed May 20 this year. Finished treatment just in time for the New Year. Not doing too bad all things considered. Nice to have you with us.

    Bob
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557

    Come on in
    Hey there Jason. Glad you could make it. NPC survivor here. Diagnosed May 20 this year. Finished treatment just in time for the New Year. Not doing too bad all things considered. Nice to have you with us.

    Bob

    Welcome Jason
    You just stumbled onto a great site. This forum was my life line since the day Mark was diagnosed SCC left tonsil HPV+ in April 2010.
    He is 5 months post treatment and doing great. Just got back from skiing in Quebec. There was no keeping up with him. He is 54.
    Great to have your experience here to help others.
    Kim
  • delnative
    delnative Member Posts: 450 Member
    Kimba1505 said:

    Welcome Jason
    You just stumbled onto a great site. This forum was my life line since the day Mark was diagnosed SCC left tonsil HPV+ in April 2010.
    He is 5 months post treatment and doing great. Just got back from skiing in Quebec. There was no keeping up with him. He is 54.
    Great to have your experience here to help others.
    Kim

    Hi, Jason
    I too came upon this site only after I'd finished treatment (Stage III SCC right tonsil, rads and Cisplatin, 26 months out) and wish I'd encountered it sooner. But it's a good bunch of people here, and you'll have the opportunity both to help others and learn from others as well.
    Welcome.

    --Jim in Delaware
  • terryscarlett
    terryscarlett Member Posts: 143
    delnative said:

    Hi, Jason
    I too came upon this site only after I'd finished treatment (Stage III SCC right tonsil, rads and Cisplatin, 26 months out) and wish I'd encountered it sooner. But it's a good bunch of people here, and you'll have the opportunity both to help others and learn from others as well.
    Welcome.

    --Jim in Delaware

    Welcome
    Great that you found CSN. Great bunch of people,/ friends..Welcome aboard..
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    WELCOME
    Welcome to the site, this is a great pllace to get the facts from people fighting in the trenches. Look forward to hearing more from you.

    BEST!!!

    Mike
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566

    WELCOME
    Welcome to the site, this is a great pllace to get the facts from people fighting in the trenches. Look forward to hearing more from you.

    BEST!!!

    Mike

    howdy
    Jason
    You have a lot to offer the rest of us as well as asking questions. How's your saliva? Can you eat what you want yet. Sounds like, from the first post, that you are doing great. I'm so happy for you. Keep in touch with us all.
    Steve
  • josh r.
    josh r. Member Posts: 264 Member
    dennis318 said:

    Welcome
    Dennis here, be one year out as of Janurary 28th 2011, Squaumous Cell Stage 4 of The Vocal, Rough time trying to bounce back, still breathing, but fatigued alot, 1/2 a voice. you've come to a great site, ask away my friend, and Welcome.Dennis in TN.

    Sounds familiar
    Hi Dennis,
    Your cancer and treatment sounds very much like I had and received nearly 20 years ago. Type 4 vocal with chemo-radiation cycles that went on from late July 1991 until late November 1991. I was a teacher at the time and therefore my voice was vital to me being productive as an educator. When I went back to the classroom in January of 1992 I struggled both with energy and vocal strength. My voice was dry, scratchy and powerless. I tried artifical siliva, available in drug storers and coughdrops but found half a stick of gum very useful. They did help some but time was the true healier. I taught successfully for another 16 years and today in my second career I am in the service industry and talk all day to customers. While both my students from four years ago and my customers today sometimes confuse me with Marlon Brando in the "Godfather" we communicate just fine. You have great courage fighting through this battle and continueing to work Dennis,I feel that you will never quit and will work your way back. I and others are with you pal. Josh r. Oh yes, I still use gum frequently.
  • firedude
    firedude Member Posts: 11
    hawk711 said:

    howdy
    Jason
    You have a lot to offer the rest of us as well as asking questions. How's your saliva? Can you eat what you want yet. Sounds like, from the first post, that you are doing great. I'm so happy for you. Keep in touch with us all.
    Steve

    Thanks everyone!
    Wow, thank you all for such a nice welcome.

    @Steve: to answer your questions, my saliva is really quite good. not what it used to be, but I'm able to eat pretty much anything I would like although I must take a swig of whatever I'm drinking after nearly every bite. just a habit that I'm slowly getting used to now. It took a few months, but as my saliva started coming back I would introduce more foods to my diet that were simply to dry before that. Also took a while for my taste to come back as well, so eating wasn't entirely satisfying for a while after I was done with my rads. Also trying to stay on top of doing my fluoride trays every night...don't really feel like having my teeth fall out after all I've been through :)
  • BrianKrashpad
    BrianKrashpad Member Posts: 188
    Hey Jason!
    I'm new too, glad I found this while still in treatment. Great to hear about people doing well after! Thanks for your post and welcome.

    Be well!