Good and bad news. 05/18/2011

I have some good and maybe not so good news to share. I recently had a CT scan done which is normal procedure during my doctors visits. My doctor ordered a chest CT to be done, along with my neck and throat, because he saw a speck on my lung from my last PT scan in November. First the good news. The cancer in the throat and neck is gone(woohoo!!!). The speck on my lung is gone(woohoo!!!!!). But(there's always a but in there)they came across a spot the size of a large grape(one inch by a little under an inch) on the lower lobe of my right lung. Dumb luck, luck of the Polish, call it what you will. There are three scenarios with this.
Door #1) The neck and throat cancer spread through my bloodstream to my lung.
Door #2) A new cancer in its early stages.
Door #3) Valley fever that was aggravated by my chemotherapy.
Monty I'll take what's behind door #3.
I won't know until a biopsy is done within the next few days. Once I find out I will let you all in on the results. Until then .........Peace Out!

02/09/2011

It's been a while since my last post and I apologize. I've been seeing my doctors(ENT, Radiation Oncologist, and Medical Oncologist) at least once a month since September 2010 and all is good. From what my Radiation Oncologist says the cancer that I had is a cancer that jumps out at you right away and is not a slow mover. So far so good with the check ups. I've been dealing with a cold for a little over a month but I am assured by my doctor that it has nothing to do with my cancer. Whew! My resistance is still low because of the radiation and chemo treatments and also my healing is slow because of this.
If I don't post again I would like to say thank you to all that have been following our journey and sending us well wishes.

Peace out!

Good News!!!!!!

I received some very good news on Friday afternoon. While playing video poker I received a call from my oncologist with the results of my PET scan that I took Thursday.........(drum roll)........... the scan came back clean! The chemo and the radiation worked. I am cancer free!!!!!


Happy Thanksgiving to all.

Leaving for Vegas

Thank you, Theresa and Troy for the great send-off for our celebration trip to Vegas!

Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor 11/12/10

All righty tidy folks, more good news from the ENT doctor. After sticking his fingers in my mouth and scoping the throat(through the nose)he concurs with my radiation doctor that there is no tumor to be felt or seen. The area was still red and a little swollen but that is normal. Next visit with him will be in February. That's what I'm talking about!!!
I have nothing but praise for the doctors and assistants that Mary and I have come into contact with. We have become firm believers of everything happening for a reason. Mary losing her job in February of this year and hooking up with a part time job from home. This allowed her to care for me throughout this whole ordeal. Getting a referral for the ENT(Blatchford) that I have, who happened to be in the same office as the original ENT(Ray) I saw, from her new boss. Doctor Blatchford's wife had breast cancer so he referred me to the oncologist that treated his wife, Dr. Neuschatz. Doctor Neuschatz referred me to Dr. Chen, my medical oncologist, who happened to have an opening two days later instead of two weeks later and the rest is history. I would never wish on someone what I went through these past three and a half months, but if it happened I highly recommend these great doctors and their staff for their knowledge, professionalism, caring, and upbeat attitude.

Peace out dudes and dudettes!

Therapy Started

Steve started therapy today with his Speech Pathologist, Babs (yes, really). She is also amazed at how well Steve is able to swallow and how his taste buds are coming back. He does need help (hahaha, I knew that before all this started) with some of his swallowing techniques and also getting rid of his "waddle" which under his neck on his throat (like a turkey neck). He'll have appointments for the next month twice a week.
Steve has an appt. this Friday with Dr. Blatchford his ENT and the 18th is when his pet scan is schedule (scary).
Thank you all for your continued support.

Doctor visit 11/03

I had very good news today on my birthday. After further review the play is confirmed. No tumor to be seen or felt by my Radiation Oncologist. Needless to say Mary and myself are very relieved. When questioned on the tumor returning he said there is a 20% chance for a person at my stage of recovery. If it did come back it would be within 2 years. He feels very confident that it won't. For now my visits with him will be every 2 months. Next up for the home team, Primary Care doctor visit on Friday to get my meds squared away. Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor visit on the 12th and then my Medical Oncologist on the 30th. All of this will continue for the next 2 years at the least. If things go well between now and the 30th my feeding tube should be gone the first week of December.
Again Mary and I would would like to thank all of you for your support, prayers, and love.

Peace Out!!!!!