Checking in...

Laralyn,

So great to see you here, I am glad you are doing fine and a birthday milestone to boot,.

I occasionally think about you and gaming.  Your Train Jam reminds me of the folks on the H&N forum, the people and  the stories.

Nice picture!

Matt

It is great to see you guys doing so well.  Being that I was 6 years doing just fine from my initial diagnosis of stage 4, left tonsil cancer, I noticed a small bit of blood on my pillow at the beginning of this past February.  Wife said it looks like it came from a small brown spot between my right ear lobe and sideburn.  Made an appointment for my Dermatologist, and wife and I discussed that this "spot" had been biopsied within the last year....(nothing).....and burned/sprayed at least once.  Dermatologist took another biopsy and three days later CALLS ME ON THE PHONE and informs me that I have Level 4, intermediate Melanoma Cancer.  Needless to say I was p...ed, and drove over to her office.  Since my Dermatologist for 30 years had recently retired, I had by default ended up with this cute child, who had only finished up residency 2 months prior.  In no choice words, I told her never,never call a patient on the phone....or use any other electronic wizidry....to tell somebody that they have cancer.  Anyway, my great Head & Neck surgeon from the last time agreed to operate on me and to keep my smile.  On Feb. 24th I had a 2 1/2 hour full blown surgery.  Bandaged up all around the right side of my head.  On March 10th, since they didn't get clear margins, we do another hour and 45 minute surgery, and results came back clear this time.  On March 17th, I got through a PET scan to find out a few days later that I have cancer cells in my facial nerves.  We then go to my Radiation Oncologist, who tells me that Radiation therapy is out of the question due to no known target to radiate.  Surgery is out due to the possibility of no healing due to former radiation in the area.  So I guess.....for now... I'm keeping the facial nerve involvement for the duration.  Last Thursday, I had ear/facial reconstruction, wheras they took a 4"x5" graft from my right outer thigh.  Should find out on the 1st of April how that all turns out.  I'll make an effort to keep this board informed.  Hope all is well, and good to hear from y'all.

Larry

CajunEagle said:

So good to see you hopping.

It is great to see you guys doing so well.  Being that I was 6 years doing just fine from my initial diagnosis of stage 4, left tonsil cancer, I noticed a small bit of blood on my pillow at the beginning of this past February.  Wife said it looks like it came from a small brown spot between my right ear lobe and sideburn.  Made an appointment for my Dermatologist, and wife and I discussed that this "spot" had been biopsied within the last year....(nothing).....and burned/sprayed at least once.  Dermatologist took another biopsy and three days later CALLS ME ON THE PHONE and informs me that I have Level 4, intermediate Melanoma Cancer.  Needless to say I was p...ed, and drove over to her office.  Since my Dermatologist for 30 years had recently retired, I had by default ended up with this cute child, who had only finished up residency 2 months prior.  In no choice words, I told her never,never call a patient on the phone....or use any other electronic wizidry....to tell somebody that they have cancer.  Anyway, my great Head & Neck surgeon from the last time agreed to operate on me and to keep my smile.  On Feb. 24th I had a 2 1/2 hour full blown surgery.  Bandaged up all around the right side of my head.  On March 10th, since they didn't get clear margins, we do another hour and 45 minute surgery, and results came back clear this time.  On March 17th, I got through a PET scan to find out a few days later that I have cancer cells in my facial nerves.  We then go to my Radiation Oncologist, who tells me that Radiation therapy is out of the question due to no known target to radiate.  Surgery is out due to the possibility of no healing due to former radiation in the area.  So I guess.....for now... I'm keeping the facial nerve involvement for the duration.  Last Thursday, I had ear/facial reconstruction, wheras they took a 4"x5" graft from my right outer thigh.  Should find out on the 1st of April how that all turns out.  I'll make an effort to keep this board informed.  Hope all is well, and good to hear from y'all.

Larry

Yes to call and tell someone well its cancer stop on by sometime is a crock.  With that peice of news we need all the information we can get and give and take about what can be done.  I sure hope that you have a ton of luck and that things just stablize and slowly improve.  Been though hell and back and now again.  To say life is not fair hardly describes it.  

Good to hear you are doing well and continue to celebrate life. Praying you continue to heal.

Debbie