January 2, 2009
I was Dx on Janaury 2, 2009....the first time that I heard the words, "you have throat cancer"....
Happy to say that I'm still here and doing well.
I have developed many great friendships while on this forum. It has given me a lot, and hopefully I have given back to many here going through this adventure themselves.
At times I question if I am of still of value here, do I still have anything to offer or do I make a difference.
I hope that I do, if nothing else to re-enforce that while treatment can be brutal, it is doable and survivorable.
Happy New Year...Thoughts an Prayers,
John
Comments
-
yeah
Since my original diagnosis was at the end of August, 2005, my feelings of that sort are probably even stronger than yours, John. I sometimes fear that any advice I might give is out-dated now, besides which, and this is true, the advice of people like yourself convince me that the forum is covered by competent folks, which didn't seem so, so much, back in 2006. The board is a lot more active, and the people like yourself who hang in there to provide advice seem not only more knowledgeable but reasonable about alternatives and new ideas without buying into BS.
That is, I do not feel like I need to repeat what others are saying quite well, and I do not need to simply agree with people for the sake of being noticed.
If you have the time, John, I would suggest that you hang in there, continuing to provide sound advice, a rational sounding board, and the virtual friendship that you have offered to so many.
If you feel the need to hang up your Cancer Cowboy spurs, I can understand that, too. I have often encouraged people to leave when they no longer 'need' the site so that they can get back to their normal lives, as normal as they can be. I understand that completely. I also understand that this may not be the best place to make long-term commitments to folks (:)) and that it can become depressing in its own right to lose folks along the way, or to have, simply, no answers for them, none that they will like.
Been there, done that, surfed it. Left here for a spell for that very reason.
Whichever way you decide to go, and I, again, for what it's worth, encourage you to remain here as the strong contributor you are, please be advised that you are an important member of this community, well respected and apparently well (virtually
) loved.
Take care, my friend,
Joe
PS How could I forget? Congrats on the three years!0 -
Your posts are valuable
there are always the new people who show up, almost every day, who need the help and example. Seniority is kind of a funny concept, on a board like this, but I guess it does have an application:) Happy New Year.
Pat0 -
No Two Ways About It
John:
You are more than valuable and don't ever forget it! You have been and are and will be such an inspiration for me and so comforting. Like right now I've had it kinda of rough this holiday season without Charlie. For some reason it's been harder than last year which was the first one. So, please don't think you're not valuable and I'm sure everybody agrees with me. (I hope!) Congratulations on your 3 years, Happy New Year and God Bless!
Jan (Basketcase)0 -
Congrats Skiff!osmotar said:Thank you
Thank you for being you, you have brought great comfort , because looking in the mirror I could be you ( well not quite
) ..hmmm ) as our dx and tx have followed a very similar path.
Linda
John,
First time on the site this New Year and what do I see but one of my favorite smiling faces (that is you on the left isn't it??).
Congrats on the 3 years! I think you officially qualify as an old-timer here - which is awesome. Hope you keep doleing out your sage advice and knowledge. I admire the fact that you are still always one of the first to welcome newbies with good, sound info.
Here's to a great 2012! Positive thoughts!!
Greg0 -
Glad to have met you JohnGreg53 said:Congrats Skiff!
John,
First time on the site this New Year and what do I see but one of my favorite smiling faces (that is you on the left isn't it??).
Congrats on the 3 years! I think you officially qualify as an old-timer here - which is awesome. Hope you keep doleing out your sage advice and knowledge. I admire the fact that you are still always one of the first to welcome newbies with good, sound info.
Here's to a great 2012! Positive thoughts!!
Greg
"First time on the site this New Year and what do I see but one of my favorite smiling faces (that is you on the left isn't it??)."
Quoting the above from Greg since it gave me a smile for the morning. Like you, my scare date occurred in the month of January. Am just happy to be here and see all the great people on this board who share many of the same type of disabilities. My wishes for not only you, but to all for the very best in the years to follow. Aloha and again, Happy New Year.0 -
Thank You All....
Yes Greg, that's me, ole grouper lips, holding up that guy on the right.....
Thank you everyone for the kind compliments....
We all make the forum what it is....
Like Joe, at times with technology changing do fast, at times I wonder the value that I can still offer.
But we all do share a common bond, not so much unlike my bond with fellow Marines. Until you live it, you can't fully appreciate it.
That goes for caregivers as well...you guys/gals go through it every bit as much, if not more.
We (survivors) only have to deal with getting ourselves whole again. Caregivers deal with us, themselves and everyone else.
My best to all of you, looking forward to bringing in many more New Years with you.
Best,
John0 -
Joe says it best...soccerfreaks said:yeah
Since my original diagnosis was at the end of August, 2005, my feelings of that sort are probably even stronger than yours, John. I sometimes fear that any advice I might give is out-dated now, besides which, and this is true, the advice of people like yourself convince me that the forum is covered by competent folks, which didn't seem so, so much, back in 2006. The board is a lot more active, and the people like yourself who hang in there to provide advice seem not only more knowledgeable but reasonable about alternatives and new ideas without buying into BS.
That is, I do not feel like I need to repeat what others are saying quite well, and I do not need to simply agree with people for the sake of being noticed.
If you have the time, John, I would suggest that you hang in there, continuing to provide sound advice, a rational sounding board, and the virtual friendship that you have offered to so many.
If you feel the need to hang up your Cancer Cowboy spurs, I can understand that, too. I have often encouraged people to leave when they no longer 'need' the site so that they can get back to their normal lives, as normal as they can be. I understand that completely. I also understand that this may not be the best place to make long-term commitments to folks (:)) and that it can become depressing in its own right to lose folks along the way, or to have, simply, no answers for them, none that they will like.
Been there, done that, surfed it. Left here for a spell for that very reason.
Whichever way you decide to go, and I, again, for what it's worth, encourage you to remain here as the strong contributor you are, please be advised that you are an important member of this community, well respected and apparently well (virtually) loved.
Take care, my friend,
Joe
PS How could I forget? Congrats on the three years!
As usual, Joe said it perfectly! You are loved and respected here John, as are you Joe. You have both been here for me since I was diagnosed in May '09 and I would not have made it through treatment as well as I did if not for people like you.
I still browse the H&N Forum each day but don't post too often because I feel the same way Joe does. There are so many others who have already posted the best answers/advice and I don't feel they need one more person saying the same thing.
I post occasionally on the lung forum because I am fighting the lung cancer again but I have always felt the H&N was my home and all my friends are here.
You need to stay John, you are a rock to many and your sense of humor has helped many of us. As Joe always says, "hope and humor".
Hugs from your abbi sister,
Glenna0 -
My ShoesRogerRN43 said:John
You have optimally recovered and you bring hope to others.
I dream to be in your shoes 3 years from now.
I hope you continue to provide invaluable support here.
Roger
LOL, you don't really wanna be in my shoes three years from now.... My comfy shoes (Sperry Canvas Slip-Ons) are pretty well worn. Usually by the time I give them up from fishing, they have holes in the toes, and the heels are worn through....not to mention the smell of salt water and old feet, LOL....
And, don't think I'm done with them then...they get moved to my yard shoes at that point, LOL...mowing, weed eating, shrub trim-ming, grass blowing....
Let's just say, I get my moneys worth on my shoes....
Bawahahaha,
John0 -
Congrats!!!Skiffin16 said:My Shoes
LOL, you don't really wanna be in my shoes three years from now.... My comfy shoes (Sperry Canvas Slip-Ons) are pretty well worn. Usually by the time I give them up from fishing, they have holes in the toes, and the heels are worn through....not to mention the smell of salt water and old feet, LOL....
And, don't think I'm done with them then...they get moved to my yard shoes at that point, LOL...mowing, weed eating, shrub trim-ming, grass blowing....
Let's just say, I get my moneys worth on my shoes....
Bawahahaha,
John
John, You were much help to me my friend! Here's wishing you and everyone else on the boards a quiet, Healthy Happy new Year!!!
Charles0 -
"At times I question if I am
"At times I question if I am of still of value here, do I still have anything to offer or do I make a difference."
Yes, and yes. Dude, you are like my wing man.
You and I are pretty much about the same time frame. I heard my words in December, though. Its the anniversary of my neck dissection next week. I cannot even believe it will be three years.
Glad you are still here after three years. And glad you stick around on CSN, too. Though, you would think I'd get enough of you on FB. Apparently, I'm a sucker for punishment.
JK, JK. I need to pay you guys back for all the duck jokes.
.
.
.
QUACK!0 -
Jan of 2009Irishgypsie said:Congrats!!!
John, You were much help to me my friend! Here's wishing you and everyone else on the boards a quiet, Healthy Happy new Year!!!
Charles
My friend, your post took me back, some- back to 1/09. I noticed my two neck growths in 11/08, and had my needle biopsy early in the 2nd week of December- which did not come back as Positive. When was I told I have C? I was at work in the AM, checking parts in the CMM "pit" you can see me at in my Expression page, when I got a call from the ENT office with a Nurse on the line. I contested whatever she said, and told her they still don't know what's what with the growths, and she told me- no, Doctor Dvorak says you have C-----!I told her that's the first I heard that, and she got kinda polite, but that was somewhat of a shock. Worked all 8-hours that day, and over the course of the day let several of the people I was on the best terms with know what I had been told. Still remember it well.
Surgical biopsy followed on in the third week of December, first PS/CT on 12/31, and YES- got my Port and paradise-like/euphoriatic/dreamlike PEG (!?) installed in Jan 09, and the rest is history. Yes, our chemo regiment/treatment was different, as WAS our Cs, but we're both H&N Survivors, and I'm danged-glad you are here helping people all you truly are, John. Same goes for Sweet, and all the others in our 2012 family.
kcass0 -
Even for a daughterSkiffin16 said:My Shoes
LOL, you don't really wanna be in my shoes three years from now.... My comfy shoes (Sperry Canvas Slip-Ons) are pretty well worn. Usually by the time I give them up from fishing, they have holes in the toes, and the heels are worn through....not to mention the smell of salt water and old feet, LOL....
And, don't think I'm done with them then...they get moved to my yard shoes at that point, LOL...mowing, weed eating, shrub trim-ming, grass blowing....
Let's just say, I get my moneys worth on my shoes....
Bawahahaha,
John
John,
You were and still are comforting, re-assuring, helpful and most of all inspiring...and I am just the sideline in my dads corner and you and many many others here have helped us both more than words could tell you.
Some nights I come just to re-read that this beast is doable and survivorable, then I can sleep
Our first scope is January 4 with scan dates to follow....
Praying every night
Endless thanks
Michelle0 -
Just want you to know I havesweetblood22 said:"At times I question if I am
"At times I question if I am of still of value here, do I still have anything to offer or do I make a difference."
Yes, and yes. Dude, you are like my wing man.
You and I are pretty much about the same time frame. I heard my words in December, though. Its the anniversary of my neck dissection next week. I cannot even believe it will be three years.
Glad you are still here after three years. And glad you stick around on CSN, too. Though, you would think I'd get enough of you on FB. Apparently, I'm a sucker for punishment. JK, JK. I need to pay you guys back for all the duck jokes.
.
.
.
QUACK!
Just want you to know I have read or tried to read so much of what you write as I feel you have so much in common with my dad and his side effects, what he can try to eat or not..I have tried the dry mouth rinses you suggest, the magic mineral broth, and countless other suggestions you have either given me or to others. You are invaluable here and soo dedicated it is very inspiring and sometimes not said nearly as often as it should be.....
Michelle0 -
Just want you to know I havesweetblood22 said:"At times I question if I am
"At times I question if I am of still of value here, do I still have anything to offer or do I make a difference."
Yes, and yes. Dude, you are like my wing man.
You and I are pretty much about the same time frame. I heard my words in December, though. Its the anniversary of my neck dissection next week. I cannot even believe it will be three years.
Glad you are still here after three years. And glad you stick around on CSN, too. Though, you would think I'd get enough of you on FB. Apparently, I'm a sucker for punishment. JK, JK. I need to pay you guys back for all the duck jokes.
.
.
.
QUACK!
Just want you to know I have read or tried to read so much of what you write as I feel you have so much in common with my dad and his side effects, what he can try to eat or not..I have tried the dry mouth rinses you suggest, the magic mineral broth, and countless other suggestions you have either given me or to others. You are invaluable here and soo dedicated it is very inspiring and sometimes not said nearly as often as it should be.....
Michelle0 -
Michellemichdjp said:Just want you to know I have
Just want you to know I have read or tried to read so much of what you write as I feel you have so much in common with my dad and his side effects, what he can try to eat or not..I have tried the dry mouth rinses you suggest, the magic mineral broth, and countless other suggestions you have either given me or to others. You are invaluable here and soo dedicated it is very inspiring and sometimes not said nearly as often as it should be.....
Michelle
Thank you, that is very nice of you to say. My proper name, is Dawn Michele, btw. Only one 'L'. 0 -
Of COURSE You're Still Relevant
But I know what you mean - I post less frequently than I used to - but still toss in my two cents' worth from time to time. Three years - great!
Sometimes I feel that there are many others here who are better suited to reply to posts - fine - low pressure for me. I still toss in my two cents' worth from time to time.
Still dig your words of wisdom, kindness, and "hope and humor" (thx, Joe). And it's very handy for me to be able to say "I had the same chemos and rads as Skiffin", instead of going through it all. Just sayin'.
I think it's important for folks to see "old" guys here - adds a lot to their experience.
Keep truckin.0
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