Two Year Update

Greetings,

I relied so much on this group when my wife was going through HPV-16 squamos cell base of tongue cancer. So many people here helped us so much. Thank you. I wanted to share some good news hopefully to encourage others. Betsy had the surgery to remove the tumor, which was very small. They also removed all the lymph nodes in the left side of her neck, about 30. One was extra-encapsulated so there was a risk the cancer had or would spread. She underwent 30 radiation treatments and 6 chemo treatments. She had all the issues from mucosites to loss of saliva to loss of taste.

However, we are two years down the road now. We had a clean scan yesterday. Below is what she wants to share in hopes of offering encouragement to others.

Two years ago on this date, I wouldn't have bet two cents that I would have regained my taste, my saliva or my energy for life. Today, I had my two-year scan -- ALL CLEAR! I celebrated by heading to Bricktops for lunch to enjoy shrimp gazpacho, grilled salmon, sauteed spinach and cucumber salad, with a nice glass of sparkling wine -- and I enjoyed every bite! For those just beginning this long and frightening journey, take heart. Life does begin again, with a renewed sense of appreciation for those things and people we love -- and tend to take for granted -- and gratefulness. To say I am blessed is an understatement.

We wish you all well. We thank you for the support your provided us. It helped us more than we can say.

Kim