Hello, we are back.

NJShore
NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Good Morning,

Life for us is taking a wild ride again. My husband was diagnosed with Stage IV Tonsil cancer in 2012, we fought like crazy and thought we had it beat.

3.5 years later we are back. It's small, it's in a bad place to reach, but reachable by surgery, the rest of this story is yet to be told. Other than surgery we don't know much. No biopsies this time, just the ole "get it" attitude.

Again we are doing a ton of things we should have done before until the surgery this friday. My husband, the patient, is by appearances taking it all so well. I am hanging in with a great front (at times) and rallying the olde fighting spirit. The big risk this week is his ability to swallow at all, or temporarily, or how it will change again. What ever it is, we will handle it - it's only change.

Three years ago I would have never made it through without this group of wonderful caring people. And I can't imagine doing it again without your support.

Kari

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    Oh Kari.....

    I'm so sorry this is happening again in your lives....but I'm heartened by the fighting spirit I'm hearing in you, and your man.

    It's deja vu in a way.  The first time you came here, I was a couple months out of treatment and you guys were just beginning....this time, I'm just a couple months out of treatment for a recurrence, and you are back also. 

    You know we got your back....we're always here.

    p

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    #3
    phrannie51 said:

    Oh Kari.....

    I'm so sorry this is happening again in your lives....but I'm heartened by the fighting spirit I'm hearing in you, and your man.

    It's deja vu in a way.  The first time you came here, I was a couple months out of treatment and you guys were just beginning....this time, I'm just a couple months out of treatment for a recurrence, and you are back also. 

    You know we got your back....we're always here.

    p

    Thank You Phrannie

    P,

    Thank you for the warmest welcome back. I am so sorry to hear you had to go through this too.

    I read from another thread where you talked about how you felt over the last few years... well I guess I was living in denial. Now my goal is to keep both feet on the ground, not to take anything for granted, and love & dance as we should, everyday we get -  regardless of any condition.

    At least there are less unknowns with the experience which helps us with expectations! And yes, those fighting gloves are on - here we go :)

    My prayers and good wishes for you!

    Kari

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #4
    temporary condition

    Good Morning to you too,

    I am sorry that Dan and you have to travel this road again.  It sounds like they spied it early and removal will do the trick.  Of course they will biopsy whatever they find, but this go-a-round will hopefully be just a formality.

    Remember, swallowing is your friend and Dan needs to visit it often

    Good luck, I am in your corner.

    Matt

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    #5
    best wishes

    Best wishes for battle number 2.  Fight Hard!

    Lorna Larson

    tonsil (2007) & hypopharnx (2014)

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    #6
    CivilMatt said:

    temporary condition

    Good Morning to you too,

    I am sorry that Dan and you have to travel this road again.  It sounds like they spied it early and removal will do the trick.  Of course they will biopsy whatever they find, but this go-a-round will hopefully be just a formality.

    Remember, swallowing is your friend and Dan needs to visit it often

    Good luck, I am in your corner.

    Matt

    Matt!

    Hello Old Friend,

    Thank you so much for the warmest welcome :)  Swallowing seemes to be the big risk with this surgery on Friday.. every swallowing nerve surrounds that area. They didn't expect him to swallow after the first surgery, so I am counting on his Irish stubborness to prove them wrong again. If not, we adjust - it's what we warriors do. :)

    Hope you are well, look forward to catching up.

    Kari

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    #7
    lornal said:

    best wishes

    Best wishes for battle number 2.  Fight Hard!

    Lorna Larson

    tonsil (2007) & hypopharnx (2014)

    Thank you Lornal

    Lornal,

    Thank you so much. We have those boxing gloves on, and I really don't take no for an answer. :) My husband learned how to fight through his last battle, and this time he adjusted to the thought much faster than I did.. That makes me feel really good about winning. I am a firm believer that attitude is definitely a part of getting better.

    Nice to meet you!

    Kari

  • the_wife
    the_wife Member Posts: 184
    #8
    NJShore said:

    Thank you Lornal

    Lornal,

    Thank you so much. We have those boxing gloves on, and I really don't take no for an answer. :) My husband learned how to fight through his last battle, and this time he adjusted to the thought much faster than I did.. That makes me feel really good about winning. I am a firm believer that attitude is definitely a part of getting better.

    Nice to meet you!

    Kari

    Attitude is everything

    Kari,

    I'm so sorry you've found yourself back on this thread. I still consider myself a newbie here. My hubby also had stage 4 tonsil cancer and is 6 months out from a brutal treatment. It was so scary the first time, and took all the strength we had - I cannot imagine doing it again. But it's true that attitude is everything. You are obviously a fighter and have a wealth of skills to draw upon. Use your skills and use this thread, as you know, this site has wonderful support from folks who have been there. Sending gentle hugs to you - from one caregiver to another!

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    #9
    the_wife said:

    Attitude is everything

    Kari,

    I'm so sorry you've found yourself back on this thread. I still consider myself a newbie here. My hubby also had stage 4 tonsil cancer and is 6 months out from a brutal treatment. It was so scary the first time, and took all the strength we had - I cannot imagine doing it again. But it's true that attitude is everything. You are obviously a fighter and have a wealth of skills to draw upon. Use your skills and use this thread, as you know, this site has wonderful support from folks who have been there. Sending gentle hugs to you - from one caregiver to another!

    Attitude is everything

    Thank you sooo sooo much!

    Just have to tell you --love that button on your pic :)

    I remember that brutal treatment, I hope your husband is getting stronger every day. Took about a year and Dan had a new normal look. Infact we went out for Easter Brunch with friends, and a friends mom stopped Dan on her way out, and said I just have to tell you, you look just like Patrick Swayze.. I think it's the chissled jaw that the removal of the lymph nodes provides! But I took the double take.. he does!

    Thank you so much for the welcome and the hugs.. truely appreciated.

    Kari

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #10
    Kari - round two

    Kari, 

    I wasn't here for your first go around, but I will cheer on your fight for round two.

    For me, the hardest posts to read are the ones that deal with a recurrence because that seems to be our worst nightmare. But when you and others post about your second battle it imparts courage, hope and wisdom to us all. Thanks for sharing part two of the journey with us and showing us that a recurrence doesn't signal defeat or hopelessness.

    Prayers for a return visit of NED...

    Barbara

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #11
    As they say Welcome Back

    It is because of wonderful caretakers like you that we are able to make it. I been there a few times myself and it is only because of my wonderful caretaker wife and best friend that I been able to make it this far. Life still has many ups and downs for us but the main thing is being alive and getting to be a part of my grandchildren life’s

     

    Tim

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
    #12
    Round Two

    It's always disheartening to hear of a recurrence. Like Barbara said, I wasn't here for round one, but offer my support and prayers as you fight again.

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