Surgery tomorrow!

micktissue · January 2010

Met with the tumor board today and everybody was very excited about my chances. The Drs were all saying if the tumors are encapsulated and if there is a clear margin, I may not need rads/chemo - that's how confident they are, and these guys do not sugar anything.

My wife and my brother went with me and that was great because I tend to get a bit forgetful with the overwhelm of info.

I'll be back online by Sunday I think and will let you know. The final pathology will be Wednesday next week and that will determine the path of treatment.

Thanks for all the info and support here. I am part of a new family now, a family of survivors and all of you are in my family. Thank you, thank you.

Best,

Mick

Pam M · January 2010

Do Well
Mick,

Good to hear everyone's positive. All the best for tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing about your smooth recovery from surgery and good results.

- Pam

cwcad · January 2010

Pam M said:
Do Well
Mick,

Good to hear everyone's positive. All the best for tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing about your smooth recovery from surgery and good results.

- Pam

See you Sunday!!
Your in good hands. Best of luck and God Bless!!

Hondo · January 2010

Mick

Great news my friend, Got you in my prayer.

Scambuster · January 2010

Sounds Good
All the best for the excision Mick. I hope they get the little mother out clean and tidy.

Looking FWD to hearing back soon with some good news.

Regds
Scambuster

debbiejeanne · January 2010

your post
Hi, Mick. This is my first time being here. I want to wish you the very best tomorrow and let you know I'll pray for you.
I am recovering from throat cancer. No picnic. I got on here for information. It is so sad how many people are suffering with cancer. These post borads seems to help.
Good luck tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Debbie

carolinagirl67 · January 2010

Today is your day
I know the surgery will go fine and I know God has a plan for you that will include speedy recovery. Peace be with you my friend. Donna

Hondo · January 2010

debbiejeanne said:
your post
Hi, Mick. This is my first time being here. I want to wish you the very best tomorrow and let you know I'll pray for you.
I am recovering from throat cancer. No picnic. I got on here for information. It is so sad how many people are suffering with cancer. These post borads seems to help.
Good luck tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Debbie

Hi Debbie

Welcome to CSN, you are correct this is a great place to be to get help and support; I do hope you plan to stay. Sometimes just talking to someone else who had been there can help in our healing.

Take Care

Hondo · January 2010

carolinagirl67 said:
Today is your day
I know the surgery will go fine and I know God has a plan for you that will include speedy recovery. Peace be with you my friend. Donna

Hi Donna

Just to let you know you both are always in my prayers

Kent Cass · January 2010

Hondo said:
Hi Donna

Just to let you know you both are always in my prayers

the surgery
Hope and pray all went well with the Op., Mick. Let us know ASAP.

kcass

Chefdaddy · January 2010

Kent Cass said:
the surgery
Hope and pray all went well with the Op., Mick. Let us know ASAP.

kcass

Your in good hands, Gods hands
Mick,

Your are in mine and my kids prayers.

May God bless you Mick

Mike

delnative · January 2010

Like everyone else said
Best of luck, Mick. Prayers headed your way.

--Jim in Delaware

MarineE5 · January 2010

Mick, Just tapping on
Mick,

Just tapping on the door to let you know we're thinking about you. Give us a nod when you are up to it.

My Best to You and Everyone Here

Hondo · January 2010

MarineE5 said:
Mick, Just tapping on
Mick,

Just tapping on the door to let you know we're thinking about you. Give us a nod when you are up to it.

My Best to You and Everyone Here

Hi MarineE5
I welcome you here but I know you have been here for a few years now, what type of cancer did you have and how are you doing with it now. It seams like a lot of members leave after a year or two, there knowledge and experience is so badly needed for others who are just starting the journey.

Take care my friend

MarineE5 · January 2010

Hondo said:
Hi MarineE5
I welcome you here but I know you have been here for a few years now, what type of cancer did you have and how are you doing with it now. It seams like a lot of members leave after a year or two, there knowledge and experience is so badly needed for others who are just starting the journey.

Take care my friend

HI Hondo

Hondo,

I had Base of Tongue Cancer in 2004. Operated on in Oct, 04. Had 1/3 of my tongue removed. Radical Neck Disection, Tracheodomy, and Peg Tube. Received 30 IMRT treatments.
One year later, got Melenoma on my left cheek. Had a Sentnial node ( sp ) removed along with the Melenoma on my cheek with a large margin area. Now have scars on both sides. My Battle scars with this beast.

My side effects are like many here, no saliva, eating issues with some of the foods we all try to eat in order to stay healthy. But like many here, we learn to adapt and overcome. I no longer need the Peg Tube, my speech is pretty good. The main thing is, I am greatful for each and every day.

To be honest with you Hondo, it wasn't until recently when I was searching something about Agent Orange that I came across an old post of mine here that I made in 2005. My older computer had crashed shortly after that post and it was awhile before I got another one set up. I forgot that I was ever here, Duh. Instead of not coming back now, I thought I would view some of the posts and chime in if and when I might be of some help to someone.

Thank you for the welcome.

My Best to You and Everyone Here

micktissue · January 2010

Home
Hi everyone. First thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers.

I am home after a selective neck dissection to remove all the nodes on the right and a random biopsy of base of tongue, nasopharynx, ad other spots to try and locate the primary. The surgery lasted 5 hours. 24 hours after I woke up I am home. The marvels of modern medicine. I have very little pain and am taking Tylenol to manage it.

The good news is that the tumors were not adhered to any structures so very few nerves were cut. Also the surgeon said the nods looked encapsulaed which would be excellent news (no extra capsular spread). They thought if there was no distal spread and clear margins in the histopathology that my treatment might end at surgery. Final pathology is due A week from Wednesday. I'm pretty tired so I'm going offline for a while, but I will be back with updates ad to offer support.

All the very best,

Mick

Hondo · January 2010

micktissue said:
Home
Hi everyone. First thanks so much for all your thoughts and prayers.

I am home after a selective neck dissection to remove all the nodes on the right and a random biopsy of base of tongue, nasopharynx, ad other spots to try and locate the primary. The surgery lasted 5 hours. 24 hours after I woke up I am home. The marvels of modern medicine. I have very little pain and am taking Tylenol to manage it.

The good news is that the tumors were not adhered to any structures so very few nerves were cut. Also the surgeon said the nods looked encapsulaed which would be excellent news (no extra capsular spread). They thought if there was no distal spread and clear margins in the histopathology that my treatment might end at surgery. Final pathology is due A week from Wednesday. I'm pretty tired so I'm going offline for a while, but I will be back with updates ad to offer support.

All the very best,

Mick

MicK

That is great news my friend, we will all be waiting to hear when you get the full report, get some rest your body needs it. I will keep praying for you my friend

Hondo · January 2010

MarineE5 said:
HI Hondo

Hondo,

I had Base of Tongue Cancer in 2004. Operated on in Oct, 04. Had 1/3 of my tongue removed. Radical Neck Disection, Tracheodomy, and Peg Tube. Received 30 IMRT treatments.
One year later, got Melenoma on my left cheek. Had a Sentnial node ( sp ) removed along with the Melenoma on my cheek with a large margin area. Now have scars on both sides. My Battle scars with this beast.

My side effects are like many here, no saliva, eating issues with some of the foods we all try to eat in order to stay healthy. But like many here, we learn to adapt and overcome. I no longer need the Peg Tube, my speech is pretty good. The main thing is, I am greatful for each and every day.

To be honest with you Hondo, it wasn't until recently when I was searching something about Agent Orange that I came across an old post of mine here that I made in 2005. My older computer had crashed shortly after that post and it was awhile before I got another one set up. I forgot that I was ever here, Duh. Instead of not coming back now, I thought I would view some of the posts and chime in if and when I might be of some help to someone.

Thank you for the welcome.

My Best to You and Everyone Here

MarineE5
It sounds like you have been through a lot, like you said we wear our battle scars with pride. I am very glad you have found your way back; there are many who are just starting on the trail with tongue cancer treatment and have a lot of un-answered questions. JRANESH her husband had lost all of his tongue and is looking for help, I hope and pray that you will stay and give support.

Thanks my friend and may God keep you in his care.

Kent Cass · January 2010

Hondo said:
MicK

That is great news my friend, we will all be waiting to hear when you get the full report, get some rest your body needs it. I will keep praying for you my friend

until Wednesday
Trust that everything will be all right, Mick. Know that you got this thing taken care of. You are taking care of it all as you have chosen- Believe you will win this battle, my friend, and you will.

Believe.

kcass

ratface · January 2010

Kent Cass said:
until Wednesday
Trust that everything will be all right, Mick. Know that you got this thing taken care of. You are taking care of it all as you have chosen- Believe you will win this battle, my friend, and you will.

Believe.

kcass

Not a bad procedure?
Hi Mick, glad the operation went well. I found that pinning that drain bottle to a shirt with a front pocket which I used to hold the bottle worked well for me. That tube goes into your neck about a foot, so don't be afraid of tearing it out. Above all keep doing the exercises that were prescribed. You want that arm over your head every day. Then walk the fingers along a wall. Then the neck exercises. This is where you either lose or keep the ability to raise that arm, exercise, exercise, exercise!!!!!!!!!!!!

micktissue · January 2010

ratface said:
Not a bad procedure?
Hi Mick, glad the operation went well. I found that pinning that drain bottle to a shirt with a front pocket which I used to hold the bottle worked well for me. That tube goes into your neck about a foot, so don't be afraid of tearing it out. Above all keep doing the exercises that were prescribed. You want that arm over your head every day. Then walk the fingers along a wall. Then the neck exercises. This is where you either lose or keep the ability to raise that arm, exercise, exercise, exercise!!!!!!!!!!!!

ratface
Thanks for that ratface. Because the tumors were not adhered to any structures but were well contained within the lymph gland my Dr did not need to cut any major nerve or muscle or vein. I am very fortunate. My wife led me through the exercises last night and I seem to have full range of motion in my right arm.

A note about my Dr. We met with him the day prior to surgery and one of teh questions he asked me is what music I liked. He wanted to see if I wanted my music played in the OR. I was a bit thrown by this and mentioned a few names and then forgot about it. Then, the next morning, just as I was going under, he asked if I had a request. I was a bit nervous and groggy and don't remember what I said, but what I do remember is hearing Statesboro Blues by the Allman Brothers band blasting in that sterile, bright room. His humanity in that moment said a lot about him and I am so grateful to be in his care.

I am a musician and in a rock band and i cannot tell you what it means to me to be able to continue to play. I would give it all up if that's what it took to beat this thing. But fir now at least I have my health and my ability intact. YEAH!

Best,

Mick

Surgery tomorrow!

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