3 surgeries in 6 weeks - when it rains it pours

Not sure I qualify
I had head/neck cancer surgery in october of '05. They replaced half of my tongue with stuff from my left arm, which left my left arm with less than it had before. They also did a radical neck dissection, and put me in an induced coma for four days following that 15 hour surgery.

I was happy. But I was not you. That was just one thing, while you are describing many at once.

In June of 07 I indicated to my doctor that I was still coughing while I hadn't smoked in a couple of years, so he had some scans done and the results were, according to OncoMan, agreed to by ENTMan and GP, that I had 10 months to live, maybe two years.

I was not happy, but, still, I was not in your boat.

When in August of that same year they reversed the diagnosis, saying that I wasn't dying after all (unless I stepped in front of a bus, or some such), but 'simply' had a node that had to come out, I was happy. But I was not you. That was just one thing, while you are describing many at once.

When they took the node out in January of 08, deciding they could not tell if it was new cancer or metastasis, I was happy. But I was not you. That was just one thing, while you are describing many at once.

When, as a complication of my surgery I incurred MSSA, a staph infection that is a cousin of the dreaded MRSA, when I ended up going through another surgery, when they thought this would kill me rather than cancer, when this kept me in the hospital for nearly a month (rather than the originally projected four days), I was happy. But I was not you. That was just one thing, while you are describing many at once.

Despite the fact my speech is a bit different and there is much I used to eat that I can no longer eat, I am happy. But I am not you. That was just one thing, while you are describing many at once.

I guess it is what it is.

I wish you the best. We are here for you, and venting is part of the deal, completely understood.

Still, my advice would be: buck it up chick! This is not the end but the beginning! Treat your caregivers well, both professional and personal, and they are apt to treat you better too.

It sounds as though you are up for that.

Hope and Humor!

Take care,

Joe

jgpaulson said:

Not Sure I Qualify
Hi Joe,

I read your story and I think if he can go through all this surgery I can too.

Thank you for your honesty and you are right "buck up to it". And even though there is a lot of mistrust (at least on my part) of my doctors you are right again I must trust them.
I haven't gotten the results of my biopsies yet. But if it bad news I will think of you and be grateful that you were so kind to share.

You sound like a pretty remarkable guy, going through all what you described and still keeping your hope and humor.

I wish you the very best in good health and life.

I see you are playing the guitar. What kind of music do you like? I play the violin.
Isn't music great therapy?

Do you mind if I ask how old you are?

With the very best wishes,

Jeanne

Actually, Jeanne, YOU are now among the very many remarkable folks who, for whatever reason, end up on this site. I am blown away in here on a regular basis by the stories I read of people defying and defeating cancer, either as survivors or caregivers.

I play the guitar, Jeanne, to answer that question, but not as well as you play your violin, I am willing to bet. I have eclectic taste in music, as my friends will attest. I enjoy the blues, jazz, folk, country, and rock music, but largely play the likes of John Prine, Neil Young, Jimmy Buffett, Bob Dylan, Guy Clark, and a bunch of rock and country stuff I've picked up along the way.

If you want to start a band, let me know. I've met one or two others in here who play, all better than me, it seems, but I am willing to give it a go. What have we got to lose ?

Most importantly: Hope and Humor, Jeanne!

Take care and best wishes with your results,

Joe