...you are through the surgery okay.

And here's hoping

Please read up about what to expect. Ask the radiologist to explain what they will do to protect your thyroid, backbone, salivary glands, and taste buds. Since your primary tumor wasn't deep in your throat (at least, I don't think it was), you may avoid some of the 'unpleasant' side effects of the radiation.

SPOHNC has chapters across the country. Here is their website: https://www.spohnc.org/

This is a forum where you can ask questions and get advice: http://oralcancersupport.org/forums/

It wasn't in my throat. Inside right cheek, dead center.

I appreciate the links and I will be getting questions ready.

You've been wonderful and helpful!

SO glad to hear that only one was compromised! It could have been WAY worse, and that was quite the sample. Chalk this one under good news.

Will you also be going to physical therapy for exercises to keep the lymph system moving? My PT told me at the end of my sessions that those personal trampolines (the kind that are like 3' wide) are the best thing for that - because the lymph system relies on movement and gravity to keep pumping (unlike our blood, there is no "lymph pump&quot . I haven't bought one yet, so can't say - just thought I would pass that along for reference. You don't even need to walk on them, she said - just very light bouncing does the job.

And hey - there ain't a damn thing wrong with wallowing. Some days your body may just be sending you the signal that it is what it needs, both mentally and physically. If you feel 'meh', then just take a 'meh' day.

They wanted to be sure since it was the face/neck area.

I'll ask about PT. That'll go on my list of questions.

Thanks for the trampoline tip!

I did a little wallowing today - music to fit my mood kind of thing.

30 seems large to me, but I am not in the medical field, so what do I know! They took 1 from each armpit when I had my surgery and I have been fighting lymph issues ever since - but that is really, really rare. Not cancerous and not life threatening, just annoying (swelling). I would have never known about the mini-trampoline if not for PT. Just another thing to keep in your notes to ask about.

Heres to a peaceful night with the fur babies.

to have a 'not so great day'. Actually I think it is healthy, nobody is happy all the time, and those days let your body and mind rest a bit for the days ahead. Just do not stay in that place too long.

I'm going to try to give myself permission to do just that. To allow myself the bad days without beating myself up over it.

I felt bad earlier today because my feeling bad caused my sister pain - but her need for me to feel upbeat and positive when I just didn't have it in me wasn't doing either of us any good. I told her that. She understood and that made it better for me....made it better for both of us.

Just gotta take each day as it comes and go from there.

and I'm glad you were able to tell your sister that you' just did not have in in you today' to remain upbeat and trying to do so would not benefit either of you. What a great relationship you seem to have and it will help you in the future. My sister has been fantastic, although I was the caregiver, she was still there for us both.

One step at a time.

Hi there-
As a fellow cancer warrior, I'm checking in to see how things are going. I've read your posts and the update and know this is a very challenging time for you- trust me- I can totally relate. My posts and my story are one of the threads in this group (rare form on NH Lymphoma- about to have my 6th chemo then possibly a stem cell transplant). Are you out of the hospital? What's the next step- waiting for the post-op before radiation?

I know what we have may be different but the experience of managing through a cancer diagnosis I'm sure, has many similarities. If you'd like to chat at any time, please send me a PM. If there's anything I'm doing that can support you in your healing process, I'm happy to share what's working (and not working).

Thinking of you and sending healing energy!

K

I've been doing better than expected. (so they say) It helped that the surgery wasn't as extensive as they thought it would be either. No major grafting and the tumor was smaller than expected.

I was swallowing on my own while still in ICU and once they removed the feeding tube swallowing got that much easier. Instead of 3 days in ICU, I was in for 24 hours. Once I came out of sedation, I was hitting the milestones. (swallowing, eating, moving, etc.) The thing is, they were all impressed and all I could think of was how helpless I felt.

I have to be 3 weeks post-op before they'll start the radiation therapy. So, 2 more weeks more or less. Tuesday they remove the stitches from my neck. Drain is gone, as it the protective patch over my graft, so post-op wise it's just about resting and waiting at this point...until the next phase.

I won't have to travel as far for the treatments. My surgeon is over 2 hours away but the RT will be about 1 hour away.

I'll have to start PT as well. Don't know when exactly. I'll get all that info during my initial consult for the radiation therapy.

Wow! I'm trying to imagine how I would feel in your shoes and I'm already exhausted. (((KaryninMiami)))

Thank you! I find myself wide awake in the middle of the night with my mind racing....those are the times when I need to just talk. If you don't mind getting a PM filled with the rantings of someone scared out of their head, then Thanks!!!!

I'm hoping the best for you as well!!

e weeks post op which I guess means recovering at home. Try not to go stir crazy and do things you love doing. For me, these months of not working and not being productive had been very challenging (used to be a senior exec in the travel/hospitality biz- big change for everything to simply stop!).

Feel free to send me your nightly rants and ravings. I totally understand. Just did a rather dark vent on my site at Caring Bridge.org. One of my darkest yet but sometimes things well up and just need to get out. For me, writing is a great outlet. It just so happens that I have an audience of friends and family reading along and coming along on this wacko journey.

Big hug to you and know that you are not alone!

I got through major surgery for colon cancer mets to liver. Now on chemo. We can do this. Solidarity!

Best wishes!!