Just Diagnosed

Hondo said:

Hi Shell

Hi and Welcome to the family here on CSN. Please understand that because you have cancer your life is not over it will just change a little that’s all. Many of us here are old timers and we stay here just to help people like you who are just starting the fight. You will get through this and you will be a survivor, something’s will change a little but in the end you will be alive to see your grandchildren. For now please keep posting and ask as many questing as you need.

 

God Bless

Tim Hondo  

I see a lot of posts from you Tim.  It is a very special person who doesn't leave the rest behind when they are "cured".  I want to be an old timer too.  Of course my husband is the center of my universe but those grand babies are eveything to me, life worth living just to see them.  I already had my plane ticket bought to be there when our daughter has her second, the first grand daughter.  I cannot stop breaking down knowing I'm not going to be able to make that flight now.  She says she'll skype me from the delivery room!

Shell

CherieLW said:

Hi Shell!
I myself have not

Hi Shell!

I myself have not been affected by cancer, but my father was who I am extremely close to.  I know that many ppl on here who have lived it can give you wonderful advice as they did my father.  So sorry to hear that you have to go through this, I'll be praying for you the whole time.  I can't think of many things more devastating than cancer... 

I know one thing is that trying to stay as positive as possible and having support are 2 of the greatest things.  Because of those, my dad has thrived and stayed more positive than anyone I know of in his situation.  He had sinus cancer and 2 lymph nodes affected.  He lost his taste, had a peg tube (which despite sounding scary- was not and was such a lifesaver!).  He is now just hand in hand with Shawn's brother- a little over a year out of treatment and cancer free!  

It's amazing what technology can do these days!  I think going through this now would greater anyone's chances of longer survival versus even 5 to ten years ago! It was amazing when I first visited this site the amount of support and watching people's stories/progress.  You will be amazed.

Prayers!

Cherie 

Thank you Cherie,

Your dad is lucky to have such a loving supportive daughter.  The positive thing is slowly creeping into my mind.  So far I've enjoyed the humor of my friends.  Laughter is a great medicine.

Shell

debbiejeanne said:

hi shell, welcome to our

hi shell, welcome to our family.  the one nobody wants to join.  i'm sorry you need to be here but glad you found us right away.  i didn't find it until after tx and I really missed out on a lot of very important and needed information.  ask any/all questions you have.  i'm sure someone will be able to share their experience with you.  come here if you want to vent or if you feel alone or if you want to share that you had a good day, whatever you feel.  as long as you come here, you will NEVER be alone.  we will ALWAYS be here with you.  we will be on the sidelines cheering you on.  we will even pull you along when you feel like you can't put one foot in front of the other.  we are now family and that's what family does.  as for it spreading, i'd just worry about what has been found, not what someone says may happen.  the tx is tough as the others have said, but also like they said, we are here to share our stories.  we made it and so will you.  start writting down any questions you have so you don't forget to ask them.  leave room to write down the replies.  if you have a hand-held recorder that would be even better.  if possible, have someone attend doc visits with you, 2 sets of ears is always better than one.  create a calender for your treatments so its easier to keep them straight.  plus you can mark them off as you do them.  as you go thru this, i'd get copies of every test i have done and keep them for your records.  if you get them as they are done there is usually no charge.  if you wait until later when there are many, they will charge you, at least that's how it worked with me.  i have a notebook with all my info in it from my dx and rad dosage tx to the last throat dialation i had done in June.  I will be praying for smooth tx and with few side effects.  please keep us posted on your progresss and remember we are here for you.

God bless you,

dj

DJ that dog is just too cute! I plan to get copies of everything.  Luckily I have AFLAC and I have to send them tons of paperwork.  See there's a good thing!  I'm going to get my moneys worth for those premiums!  God bless you too for being so kind.

Shell

phrannie51 said:

LOLOLOLOL Shell.....

I can hardly type, I'm giggling so hard....hahahahahaha......you tell'em!  I'll bet the HPV talk stifled all talk about HOW you may have gotten this....LOLOLOL. 

May as well forgive your ENT, too.....he's going to be your best friend for a long while.  I see my Onc 3 times a year, the Rad doc once a year.....but the ENT every month.....and we've moved into talking about other things other than cancer......he's my bud.

If you gotta cuss, just use an * for a letter in the word.  None of us are going to get uptight.....and keep that sense of humor....I laughed a lot during treatment....maybe it was the drugs??   

p

I'm creating a list of jokes to tell myself when I want to give up.  I have a whole page about wigs so far.

Thanks for being here P.

Shell

cureitall66 said:

One day at a time....

Shell,

All I can really tell you is to take one day at a time and don't get to far ahead of yourself. Our minds like to take us to places that we don't need to be when we let them think to far ahead. Deal with today's needs and nothing beyond. Surround yourself with your family and close friends, they will be the ones that get you through this.

I'm a caregiver to a loved one (male, age 53- non-smoker, light drinker) that is 21 months out from treatment. He was dx Aug 2012 with SCC of BOT, HPV16+, 2 lymph nodes involved. No surgery. He had rads 5 days a week for 7 weeks and chemo was once a week for the 7 weeks. Treatment was hard, but very doable. Today, it seems to be a vivid memory and he is doing well. Physically he had a few obstacles, but mentally he is doing very well. In fact, today he is going for his 21 month check up where they scope, probe and prob him. At the end of November will be his 24 month mark and then he will have a chest xray, and blood work to check his thyroid. The teaching facility (U of M) doesn't do any more scans than necessary (they claim they can cause recurrences). He had one prior to tx and one after. The xray is to keep an eye on his lungs.

If you are not happy with your ENT and where you have been referred to for treatment, you should most definitely seek another opinion. We had a board of doctors that reviewed his case and decided on treatment. It was not up to any "one" doctor.

Shell, you will do just fine. Please come here often and someone can help answer your question. Cancer is not a death sentence anymore, technology has advanced tremendously and especially with this type of cancer. This cancer is treatable and cureable, please remember that.

As others have suggested, please review the "superthread" at the top of the discussion board.  It is loaded with valuable information that you will eventually find handy. I will say that if there is any suggestion about a feeding tube, to really consider getting it prior to treatment. Some have done well without it, but some have needed it. My loved one needed it about 3 weeks into treatment and we wished we would have gotten it ahead of time. His throat became too irritated to even consider food. Keep stocked up on Ensure or Boost to keep your calorie consumption up, you will definitely need this. Also, keep drinking water no matter how hard it is to swallow. This is imperative because if you don't swallow during this whole treatment, you could lose your swallowing ability, so DRINK, DRINK, DRINK! 

You will always have plenty of support here, so come as often as you like. We'll be here when you ring the bell that treatment is over!

God Bless,

~C

P.S (Stay off the internet...outdated material there and wording you will not understand and take out of context)

I was on that superthread nearly all night!  Very helpful.  When you referred to the U of M were you talking about Michigan?  I'm forced to receive my treatment 1,200 miles from family because of my insurance.  When treatment is done and my new plan starts Jan. 1 I'm going home to Michigan.

Water, water, water....I'll remember.  Thank you!

Shell