New & Humbled
Comments
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The storyMickg01 said:The Story
All you folks have me feeling better, psychologically anyway. It seems similar experiences give encouragement so I thought I'd tell 'the tale of the Old Iron Pot'.
My voice started getting raspy about a year ago when I had zero insurance. by February this year it was bad enough that I went to a Walk-in clinic and met a doctor who must have been with me all of 20 seconds, looking down my throat with a flash-light and writing a prescription, saying very confidently; "You have Bronchitis. Take these Antibiotics and you'll be fine. That'll be $102"
Well of course the Antibiotics did nothing, and by July Medicare had kicked in with my voice getting worse I went directly to an ENT doctor who told me there were bumps on my vocal chords which he would remove and biopsy. He said then that it could be cancer or warts and that I should hope for cancer as that was 100% curable where with warts I would have to keep going back regularly for the rest of my life to have them removed.
As it turned out it was T1 Cancer and the Doctor at the Cancer Center was the one who said "We're going to cure you, you'll live to be 100" and here's where I replied "That's a problem, I only budgeted to 90!"
Sitting back and looking rationally It has not been too bad a price for what promises to be a total cure for such a potentially devastating diagnosis. But when you go through this unpleasant experience, of course it can get you down. That is where the encouragement and support of the great folks here can be of inestimable value.
For those at an earlier stage in the process I will keep posting my progress here in the hope it helps.
Right now I have 6 treatments left then they say they will give me the mask as a souvenir.
I can just dry swallow with some pain and have learned that technique with liquids to be ale to get something down. My speech is extremely croaky but people do seem to be able to understand me. Now it's 5:00 a.m. and time for me to go open the Dog Spa we own. Customers and Dogs think it's quite amusing.
Well mickg01,
All i can say is that your story is fantastic in the way you have approached the whole subject. You say all the folks on the forum have made you feel a lot better, but having only been here for a few hours i am now more optomoistic. One difficulty i have is my wife who is always so negative on helth matters. I am a hevy smoker, soif it is cancer which i doubt, it is my fault because of the ciggies. Daft as both my leukemia and testicular cancer had nothing to do with smoking. But that is the wife for you! However she is a great cook. Wont get anyresults till mid november, but would like to hear from other membrs, especilly about my crowns. Teeth work is very expensive here.
Take good care
Ronnie0 -
You can always vent here Mick
Hi Mick
I was misdiagnosed also Mick. For many months and this was by my primary care doc who has been my doc for over 30 years/. She had just gone thru cancer herself. I think now she went back to work too soon. Anyways.....I went back for months and finally she was on vacation and I saw the other doc in that practice. I got really stern with her and said I was tired of feeling bad and DO SOMETHING! She finally had me point to where it hurt in my throat and she used a tongue depressor and looked down that left way....then asked if I wanted to see the ENT or have a CAT scan. I chose the ENT and from there I was on my way to the best hospital around (80 miles from me)35 radiation and 7 chemos and it is 9 months out from my last treatment and I feel great. Taste buds back, swallowing not an issue. a tiny amount of dry mouth and my teeth are healthy and strong. My dentist checked my teeth 3 times before my treatments started, did a heavy fluoride treatment before my first radiation and I get my mouth checked every three months.
It is not an easy road but with enough guts and a good warped sense of humor, you can deal with it. I think we all find we are tougher than we thought we were!
Peace, Nancy aka toughcookie0 -
Ronnie - Welcome...Ronnie2751 said:Another new and humbled
Hi there all!
I am scheduled for a biopsy on my vocal chords end october. Why? Because for several months i have been coughing up blood in the morning. They do not suspect cancer, but only want to rule it out, however, for some reason the procedure frightens me. I had t.c twenty years ago,did the chemo route and sailed through it. I also have had cll for three years now.
Why am i posting you lot? Several reasons.
One i am worried they will damage my crowns. Due to chemo, i have no teeth and getting new ones will cost me a fortune.
Two. I have stopped coughing blood in the mornings.
Three the thought of not being able to use my voice for ten days annoys me no end.
And fourth, i am asking myself if i am really a candidate for this awful procedure.
I hate to moan, but you folks seem to have all the answers, and if anybody can help me out, i would appreciate your help and advice.
Warm regards
Ronnie
Congrats on beating the cancer several years ago....hoping you don't have to go through it all again for sure... But you should stop smoking...
I don't think the chemo will probably have any effect on your crowns, the radiation could if you were to have radiation also.
The not coughing blood isn't necessarily a good thing, especially when you don't know why it was happening initially.
As for the voice..., if you have to have the procedure. In the big picture (especially if it's cancer) ten days compared to a life with many years ahead from survival is nothing....
As for treatment, "It is what it is"...we all do what we have to in hopes of survival....
Thoughts and Prayers,
John0 -
CrownsRonnie2751 said:The story
Well mickg01,
All i can say is that your story is fantastic in the way you have approached the whole subject. You say all the folks on the forum have made you feel a lot better, but having only been here for a few hours i am now more optomoistic. One difficulty i have is my wife who is always so negative on helth matters. I am a hevy smoker, soif it is cancer which i doubt, it is my fault because of the ciggies. Daft as both my leukemia and testicular cancer had nothing to do with smoking. But that is the wife for you! However she is a great cook. Wont get anyresults till mid november, but would like to hear from other membrs, especilly about my crowns. Teeth work is very expensive here.
Take good care
Ronnie
Ronnie,like mentioned above, I don't think you have to be so concerned with only chemo.
I have a few crowns and I'm 2 1/2 years out from Tonsil Cancer. I had a totally of sixteen weeks of four different types of chemo (cisplatij, taxotere, 5FU and carboplatin). The carboplatin was concurrent with 35 days of radiation.
So far knock on wood, I haven't had anything out of the norm going on with my teeth.
Best,
John0 -
Great people on here!
Mick,
As noted multiple times already, the people on here are very helpful and supportive!!!!
I just finished two surgeries on my throat and neck; am starting radiation Wednesday, so you have helped me already with your story and prople giving you advice! Thanks. Like you I didn't think about 100 years, but after this, anything seems possible.
Good luck on your final treatments.
David0 -
it does get better
Hi Mick
I am also new to this site. I am the wife of Jim a laryngectomee. I know how you feel worrying that you are upsetting your wife because everything tastes like sandpaper. I fussed and fussed with Jim trying to make different things but I soon discovered it was best to stick to the things he can swallow easily. Sure I miss cooking all the dishes he loved but on a scale of 1 to 10 its no big deal, he is alive and well and that's all that matters. It does take time after the radiation treatment finishes and Jim's weight dropped by almost 3 stone, that was exactly one year ago next week, he is now back to his normal weight, slow but sure, one day at a time. Hang in there Mick, all the best Brenda0 -
With you. Only on the 3rd
With you. Only on the 3rd week of radiation and I can't swallow or eat. Feeding tube. Hubby keeps saying "aren't you going to eat anything?" I don't think anyone understands. Pain is unbearable - how did you make it through all those treatment and still eat? I'm doint vitamins that I crush and put in feeding tube but nothing seems to help the pain.0 -
Almost there
Just 6 left.
Still managing on soup and the occasional Ice Cream, tasteless but the cold helps.
Hoping to one day get back to a full night of sleep.
Even my great Schnauzer, Blossom, has figured something out as when I get home now she's straight up on my lap, front paws on my chest and face in mine.
Still waiting to hear on the Job thing.
Seems to me that the positive attitude that a group like this fosters is a BIG part of the battle.0 -
Attitude!Mickg01 said:Almost there
Just 6 left.
Still managing on soup and the occasional Ice Cream, tasteless but the cold helps.
Hoping to one day get back to a full night of sleep.
Even my great Schnauzer, Blossom, has figured something out as when I get home now she's straight up on my lap, front paws on my chest and face in mine.
Still waiting to hear on the Job thing.
Seems to me that the positive attitude that a group like this fosters is a BIG part of the battle.
Mickg01...
you got it! My docs at the James (all three of them) stressed to me that attitude was as important as treatment.
I tried to stay positive, tell myself I was where I was supposed to be and keep my warped sense of humor. One of my docs (my favorite) had the same warped sense of humor and he helped me alot to maintain.
I know your dog senses your pain. When I got home from my 7 weeks of treatment, my one cat Emily, slept up against me every night for months. She now sleeps elsewhere now knowing that I am thru my pain and suffering. Gotta love our furry friends.
Keep on keeping on and know we are here to cheer you on!
Peace
Nancy aka toughcookie0 -
3 to goMickg01 said:3 to go
Just 3 left Thu, Fri & Monday
Doc is happy
Nurse is happy
I'm hoping to be happy in a few weeks when I can finally enjoy a meal Kathy prepares.
Nights are bad because of the Mucus (Sorry if you were eating).
Now all I need it that 7 figure job offer.
Finish line is just ahead my friend and we are there to cheer you as you go through.
I hear you on the Job now come the part where you have to pay for it all, one step at a time
Hondo0 -
Hi MickMickg01 said:Last teatment
Supposed to end today.
Well I made it. Now for the future.
I'm still not too sure about that 100 thing!
Great deal my friend; I am glad for you on finishing the treatment. Like you said now comes the other part and that is healing from all the bad stuff. We are here to help and support you so post if you need anything.
Hondo0 -
Steak and chips mmmmMickg01 said:Weight
Now I lose some pounds (not that I couldn't use it). Can't wait to get back to the Steak & Chips though
I'm with you I've been on vitalised baby nappies (ensure) through a NGT forever and finished my Radiation on Mon but man no matter how hard I look non of the cans have Rib eye with caramelised onions on the label. Hang in there mate.0
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