Still recovering from two heavy operations for SCC last year. T4N2M0 AND T2N1M0.
They have just found a 4cm growth in my stage 4 area upper right jaw on a CT scan. CT scan in November was clear so this seems to be quite aggressive and fast growing.
Need to wait until 14th February for a biopsy which is really hard as I can feel the pain and swelling get worse almost daily. Wish I could go sooner. After which they will tell me what my treatment options are.
Had full rads and cisplatin in 2011 so they have ruled out any of those treatments unless palliative. Also no talk about immunotherapy or chemo for me unless palliative. Only surgery if possible.
Feels like this could be the beginning of the end. No idea about a prognosis. Doctors say nothing until they know. They just tell me I have a problem.
After last year, with the two operations, my wife dying unexpectedly of pneumonia in December at age 54 and my teenage son attempting suicide I am finding it hard to 'stay positive'. I will do whatever is necessary (think it's called 'fighting') to be around my kids as long as possible but my lord, I feel overwhelmed.
Trying to get things in order for my potential demise but feel paralysed. Frozen with fear and stress. Can't seem to sit still and begin. Don't know what to begin with actually. Writing a will? I already gave my family all my codes for phone, banks, computer etc. Giving my belongings away?
Could be that they can operate and declare me 'cancer free' for the third time, but something inside me just knows this is not in my cards. Also, each operation leaves me weaker and weaker. They are 10 hours long and I haven't had time to recover. One in March, then ,October and now this.
Now I'm rambling or ranting and don't know what I actually want to ask/say. Just feel very sad. I'm still grieving the loss of my love and now I suppose I'm grieving for my kids, for me I don't know. Too much to process for one tiny brain and a broken heart.
Thanks for listening.
Difficult times my friend, heart goes out to you.
Lost my wife in similar fashion (53, pneumonia) in 2020, harder than any diagnosis could be, was her birthday yesterday.
Such a sad tale, your son's problems must be heartbreaking, for him and you.
I've never understood the "fighting" concept myself, the medical teams are the people who do battle with the disease while we just hang on as best we can. Really can't say much in the way of help or inspiration I'm afraid, just wanted to say I'm thinking of you and I share some of your pain. Life can be cruel.
Metastatic SCC diagnosed 8th October 2013. Modified radical neck dissection November, thirty-five radiotherapy fractions with 2xCisplatin chemo Jan/Feb 2014. Recurrence on larynx diagnosed July 2020 so salvage laryngectomy in September 2020.
Thanks for listening
Sadly that’s all I can do. I can’t offer anything constructive except maybe a little solidarity. My heart goes out to you. Hugs
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
