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One year post treatment

pmj2011
pmj2011 CSN Member Posts: 25
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hello everyone and first off this forum has been extremely helpful in this journey. It has been perhaps one of the hardest years of my 46 . I have been through alot, being a recovering alcoholic I have had many rough times in my life. Having lost everything at 38 and managing to become a contributor to society and now having a family, I thought all the BS was over. Think again funny man. My DX was similar to many here stage iv SCC. 33 rads and three rounds of Chemo. It Knocked me on my ****. At the time I was in good shape, ate well and exercised on a regular basis. I finished treatment 1 yr ago today and to say what a difference a year makes would be understating it immensely. I lost 55lbs with the Peg tube. Thank god I put that thing in, I went for 3 months without solids because of the throat pain and nausea. Today I am back to work, feeling great and appreciating all that life has to offer. It's funny because people see me in good shape - smiling and joking....little do they know! I suffered from severe depression a few months after I went back to work. I went to a shrink and doing alot better now. Wellbutrin does wonders. Now I know that depression is no joke, I couldn't get out of bed and had no interest in anything, except sleeping. Well the old saying is what doesn't kill you makes you stronger and there right. What we have done for ourselves alone, dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." I love that quote and thanks for letting me vent- God Bless.....Paul
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Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor CSN Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    Good for you Paul
    Your story is a great one for how living our lives one day at a time is essential, whether it is overcoming addiction, facing severe health problems, or just living our ordinary lives. Please keep coming back here. You have a lot to offer.

    Best regards,

    Pat
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  • Crazymom
    Crazymom CSN Member Posts: 339 Member
    #3
    wondeful post
    thanks for the post. It is nice to hear that others are surviving and living productive happy lives after all the treatments and pain we go through.

    Ann
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  • robinleigh
    robinleigh CSN Member Posts: 297
    #4
    Well put
    Amazing how much this disease changes us. I'm the caregiver but feel that I have that "new normal" as well. Yes, one never knows just how strong you can be. And, yes no one can even imagine what this battle is like. But, so much GOOD comes out of it all.
    Best wishes to you!
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  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey CSN Member Posts: 729 Member
    #5
    robinleigh said:

    Well put
    Amazing how much this disease changes us. I'm the caregiver but feel that I have that "new normal" as well. Yes, one never knows just how strong you can be. And, yes no one can even imagine what this battle is like. But, so much GOOD comes out of it all.
    Best wishes to you!

    Thanks
    Paul,

    A story like yours is so uplifting to those of us in the beginning of treatment. Just knowing recovery is in the future makes the going easier.

    Glad to hear you're doing so great after a year.

    Tommy
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