No evidence of disease

micktissue
micktissue Member Posts: 430
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I toyed around with toying around with anyone who is interested in this news but decided that I am too grateful for all the amazing people in my life who have gone out of their way to tell and show me they care to mess around like that.

Dr "Hee Hee" Lee, Doc Nuke 'Em, the radiation oncologist called and said of Monday's PET/CT scan "everything looks fine, there's no abnormal uptake anywhere, see you on your next scheduled visit". In other words there is no evidence of disease. It looks like they got it all.

Dr G, the amazing surgeon I have written about here sent an email: "Everything looks great on your PET scan! That's great news. I recommend follow up every 2 months for the first year. Let me know if you want to come back here to be seen rather than San Rafael."

I just got off the phone with #1 son and he said "That makes it official, right? You're a cancer survivor!" I guess so.

I am overwhelmed. I don't really know how to feel. It seems like I've been without good news for such a long time that I can hardly believe it.

Now it will be a series of PET/CT scans as part of follow up for a few years until the 5-year mark when they claim you are a "long term survivor" which doesn't say much about statistics. But, this is definitely good news and I am very happy to be able to share it with whoever wants to know.

Best,

Mick
«1

Comments

  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #2
    We have our good news
    We have our good news together. YIPEE!!
  • davidgskinner
    davidgskinner Member Posts: 81
    #3
    NED is welcome here
    Congratulations! After all the constant bad news it's hard to know what to do when you get good news. Enjoy it and be proud of yourself for pressing through.
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    #4
    davidgskinner said:

    NED is welcome here
    Congratulations! After all the constant bad news it's hard to know what to do when you get good news. Enjoy it and be proud of yourself for pressing through.

    Happy
    Hey Mick,

    Really happy for you man. Keep up the good work!!!

    Best,
    Steve
  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #5
    MICK, we all want to know so
    MICK, we all want to know so we can celebrate with you!!! That news is just excellent and makes all of us very happy for you. It makes me so happy whenever I hear this news that it actually brings tears to my eyes. I'm so glad that so many here have recently received good news. I am tipping my hat to you right now!! Way to go.
    God bless you friend,
    debbie
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    #6
    debbiejeanne said:

    MICK, we all want to know so
    MICK, we all want to know so we can celebrate with you!!! That news is just excellent and makes all of us very happy for you. It makes me so happy whenever I hear this news that it actually brings tears to my eyes. I'm so glad that so many here have recently received good news. I am tipping my hat to you right now!! Way to go.
    God bless you friend,
    debbie

    Congrats Mick!!!
    That is such great news!! Love to read of others who are doing so good, it gives us hope that we can do this too.

    Enjoy!!!
    Glenna
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
    Great News Mick
    Congrats....
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    #8
    Duude !
    Great news Mick. Happy for you. It's been a rough ride for you so this is well earned news.

    Keep on getting better.

    Scam
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557
    #9
    Scambuster said:

    Duude !
    Great news Mick. Happy for you. It's been a rough ride for you so this is well earned news.

    Keep on getting better.

    Scam

    Good to feel good.
    Mick,
    I said it before, your good news is everyone's good news. When you get the news of being cancer clear, it keeps all of us in there fighting, knowing what is possible. I am so happy for you and your good results. Let it sink in and enjoy every day!!!
    Kim
  • CajunEagle
    CajunEagle Member Posts: 408
    #10
    Kimba1505 said:

    Good to feel good.
    Mick,
    I said it before, your good news is everyone's good news. When you get the news of being cancer clear, it keeps all of us in there fighting, knowing what is possible. I am so happy for you and your good results. Let it sink in and enjoy every day!!!
    Kim

    Mick brings up a question that I have.....
    What are the odds/percentages of those with initial Head and Neck diagnosis making it as a "long term survivor" (5 years) without a re-occurrence of the cancer ? Just wondering if anyone knew off the top of their heads. I'm too lazy to try and look for that data.

    Larry
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #11
    CajunEagle said:

    Mick brings up a question that I have.....
    What are the odds/percentages of those with initial Head and Neck diagnosis making it as a "long term survivor" (5 years) without a re-occurrence of the cancer ? Just wondering if anyone knew off the top of their heads. I'm too lazy to try and look for that data.

    Larry

    Awesome
    Great news Mick! Glad to hear it. Keep on, keeping on!
    Congrats
    Greg
  • micktissue
    micktissue Member Posts: 430
    #12
    CajunEagle said:

    Mick brings up a question that I have.....
    What are the odds/percentages of those with initial Head and Neck diagnosis making it as a "long term survivor" (5 years) without a re-occurrence of the cancer ? Just wondering if anyone knew off the top of their heads. I'm too lazy to try and look for that data.

    Larry

    Larry, survivor percentages
    Thanks everyone. If anyone is in downtown Petaluma on August 21st come to Helen Putnam Plaza to hear my band The Beets, your favorite rocking root vegetable band, play! It will be my first gig since this all started.

    I was told that my chances for long-term, disease free survival (5+ years) was 80% with the Full Monty treatment and 20% with just surgery. I wasn't given any numbers beyond 5 years. I know a few people so far who are 5+ years. My understanding is that recurrence is more likely, statistically speaking, when the cause is something other than HPV+ related, but my gut says who knows.

    Thanks again to everyone for the prayers. best wishes, and support through all this.

    Best,

    Mick
  • wifeforlife
    wifeforlife Member Posts: 189
    #13
    micktissue said:

    Larry, survivor percentages
    Thanks everyone. If anyone is in downtown Petaluma on August 21st come to Helen Putnam Plaza to hear my band The Beets, your favorite rocking root vegetable band, play! It will be my first gig since this all started.

    I was told that my chances for long-term, disease free survival (5+ years) was 80% with the Full Monty treatment and 20% with just surgery. I wasn't given any numbers beyond 5 years. I know a few people so far who are 5+ years. My understanding is that recurrence is more likely, statistically speaking, when the cause is something other than HPV+ related, but my gut says who knows.

    Thanks again to everyone for the prayers. best wishes, and support through all this.

    Best,

    Mick

    congrats
    So very happy for you!
  • friend of Bill
    friend of Bill Member Posts: 87
    #14
    congratulations!
    Wonderful to hear the word "overwhelmed" in conjunction with GOOD NEWS! I echo #1 son's proclamation!

    Vince
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #15
    Congratulations!
    Mick

    Congratulations on becoming a cancer SURVIVOR! Now get out there and enjoy your life!

    Deb
  • Irishgypsie
    Irishgypsie Member Posts: 333
    #16
    D Lewis said:

    Congratulations!
    Mick

    Congratulations on becoming a cancer SURVIVOR! Now get out there and enjoy your life!

    Deb

    Fantastic!!!!!!
    That's great news Mic; so happy for you!!! =)
  • SASH
    SASH Member Posts: 421 Member
    #17
    micktissue said:

    Larry, survivor percentages
    Thanks everyone. If anyone is in downtown Petaluma on August 21st come to Helen Putnam Plaza to hear my band The Beets, your favorite rocking root vegetable band, play! It will be my first gig since this all started.

    I was told that my chances for long-term, disease free survival (5+ years) was 80% with the Full Monty treatment and 20% with just surgery. I wasn't given any numbers beyond 5 years. I know a few people so far who are 5+ years. My understanding is that recurrence is more likely, statistically speaking, when the cause is something other than HPV+ related, but my gut says who knows.

    Thanks again to everyone for the prayers. best wishes, and support through all this.

    Best,

    Mick

    NED
    Some of the best words to ever come out of doctor's mouth NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE. Congrats. The further out from treatment the lower the odds of recurrence.
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #18
    Happy to Hear the News
    I am sooo happy for you!!

    Kathy
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #19
    Pumakitty said:

    Happy to Hear the News
    I am sooo happy for you!!

    Kathy

    more good news
    Mick that is really great news and I am very happy for you.
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #20
    Jealous
    Mick,

    Excellent! Very happy to hear NED.

    Jealous that you have your results, and I have to wait 'til tomorrow for my results from Monday's tests.

    Keep it up.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #21
    micktissue said:

    Larry, survivor percentages
    Thanks everyone. If anyone is in downtown Petaluma on August 21st come to Helen Putnam Plaza to hear my band The Beets, your favorite rocking root vegetable band, play! It will be my first gig since this all started.

    I was told that my chances for long-term, disease free survival (5+ years) was 80% with the Full Monty treatment and 20% with just surgery. I wasn't given any numbers beyond 5 years. I know a few people so far who are 5+ years. My understanding is that recurrence is more likely, statistically speaking, when the cause is something other than HPV+ related, but my gut says who knows.

    Thanks again to everyone for the prayers. best wishes, and support through all this.

    Best,

    Mick

    Percentages
    I just have a hard time with percentages....

    There are so many factors and variables involved, health going in, tolerance to treatment and chemicals/radiation, age, heriditary factors, etc......

    Besides, who is to say what a persons five year out come on life is really? Even if we hadn't been diagnosed and treated for cancer. There are so many other factors and variables that you can come across without any knowledge, control, or prevention of.

    You could have never gotten cancer, and have a lower percentage of a five year survival and never even realize it. I think just because we have been exposed to the disease and treatment, we start looking at mortality rates.

    Anyways, just my thoughts at the moment.... I hope that we all have a full, long, and mainly positive event filled life.

    Best,
    John

Discussion Boards