A Good Day Vals update

So I had my appointment today at the Cross Cancer Institute, and it went fine. They gave me alot to think about, lots of info, and facts. The nice thing was the oncoligist agreed with Dr. Seikaly in that my cancer is CURABLE! From what I have read oncoligists do not like to use that word… but he did. He also said that the size of my tumor is only a stage 2, but with the lymph node involvment it puts it up to a stage 4. Anyhow I was happy with what they all said, and am confident in my decisions that I have made. :-)

Hubby and I talked about it and I have decided to have the surgery first and then the treatment. I just want to get as much of the cancer out of me as possible as quick as possible. I feel as if I have been invaded and/or raped by this awful disease.

I am also signing up for a clinical study as part of my surgery where he will actually do a submandibular salivary gland transfer to protect the saliva glands from radiation.He is the doctor who pioneered this techique, (so like I said before I do think I have a great doctor). With this kind of cancer and the normal surgery and treatment there are so many quality of life issues such as: saliva and dry mouth, swallowing, and tastebud issues, and it usually takes a long time to get theses things back under controlas many of you know. With this clinical trial it makes healing, eating . drinking, swallowing etc. that much easier and you heal quicker.

Anyway I will be seeing him on Monday with my decision, and he will tell me more about the sugery, he told me that it would be within 3 weeks from then.

If any of you are interested in reading my Doctors proceedures, just type in “Submanibular Salivary Gland Transfer/ Dr. H. Seikaly” or another interesting on of his is " Beavertail Surgery" these are being done as a clinical studies all over N. America now. If anyone has had either of these done please let me know, what you thought The Clinical Research nurse is going to put me in touch with people who have had this proceedure done.

Anyway I am so happy this appointment was not a doom and gloom one, and finally the ball is in my court so I am going to run all the way to Cancer Free and good health with it!

Sunshine and Smiles Val