33 year survivor is my cheerleader!

IAmStrong
IAmStrong Member Posts: 58
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi, per comments on a previous thread I thought I'd share this. This survivor had the same cancer as I, SCC primary on the tongue. Hers was first noticed with a lump near her clavicle. She was in surgery the next day. They took 33 lymph nodes, and 18 were positive. They gave her a 1 yr survival rate! She had 3 preschool children. She had a radical resection and was radiated like there was no tomorrow to give her a "little time". No concern for survival was given during this radiation. Today, her issues are dental caries, she never goes longer than 3 months without a cavity. She had to have her esophagus dilated every few months so she can drink her favorite drink. She does had a peg tube and her nutrition is ensure. She cooks for her fammily, church family et others to this day. She works full time and is adorable! She is determined to be "Sexy" in her old age and she has certainly achieved that at this point.

Just goes to prove, "Just because you say it, doesn't make it true"! I am Blessed to keep my focus on what God chose for her despite what man said! She does attribute her survival to "I had my family to take care of"! She did not dwell on "dying", only on living.

My Hero!

Linda

Comments

  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #2
    special
    wow 33 years, you have a wonderful cheerleader. then to add double wow sexy.... :-) what a great inspiration to everyone fighting the fight.

    love the "dwell on living not on dying"

    i am shooting for 33 plus years and everyone else should get on board her train and ride along like the little engine that could.

    john
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
    Agree
    It goes to show you, once again, why getting quoted "the odds" doesn't necessarily mean diddly.
    To catch a node at the level of the clavical, they had to absolutelu fry her. Her treatment was done back in the days of orthovoltage radiation, to boot, which would have given her huge surface doses, without any significant tumor advantage.

    I really must agree, for many reasons her story is remarkable. And educational. And encouraging. Thanks for sharing.

    Pat
  • kimmygarland
    kimmygarland Member Posts: 312
    #4
    longtermsurvivor said:

    Agree
    It goes to show you, once again, why getting quoted "the odds" doesn't necessarily mean diddly.
    To catch a node at the level of the clavical, they had to absolutelu fry her. Her treatment was done back in the days of orthovoltage radiation, to boot, which would have given her huge surface doses, without any significant tumor advantage.

    I really must agree, for many reasons her story is remarkable. And educational. And encouraging. Thanks for sharing.

    Pat

    Wow
    Amazing story. We think the treatments today are barbaric, can only imagine what she went through all those years ago.
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #5
    Wow
    Thanks for sharing. This one made my day. I am so inspired. I would love to meet this person. Hell, I plan to BE this person, myself.

    Deb

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