I was recently diagnosed with oral cancer. I noticed a swelling in the lymph gland area in the right side of my neck. I first thought that the gland might be swollen because of an infection in my left knee. I had contracted cellulites from a skin injury. I assumed that the gland was simply doing the job that it was designed to do. A week later the cellulites was gone but the swelling persisted. I decided to go to the doctor. He thought that I probably had a saliva gland with a stone in it and placed me on an antibiotic. Ten days later things were the same and he sent me to an ear nose and throat specialist. This doctor sprayed a numbing substance up my nose so that he could send a tube down my throat to have a look. He saw nothing but wanted to do a needle biopsy on the lump. He told me that he was suspicious and that it may be malignant. I was speechless as my mind started to race. Cancer! The killer! He did the biopsy which wasn’t to uncomfortable and told me that it would probably be a week before I would get the results. We left two days later on a trip to Michigan to see kids and grandkids. I called the doctors office several times over the next few days and didn’t get anybody. I left messages for the doctor to call me on my cell phone. He didn’t call. I finally called one last time and told the recorder that I was sitting on pins and needles and needed an answer as to what the biopsy had shown. I was watching TV at about 8:00 P.M. that evening when the doctor called. He told me that the results had confirmed his suspicions and that it was malignant. I was standing up while talking to him and my knees almost buckled. My heart began to race, and I started trembling. We talked for a few minutes and he told me that when a gland in the neck has a malignancy it generally means that there is another spot somewhere in my head or neck that was also malignant and that the cancer had spread to the gland from that site. An appointment for a PET scan was made. A PET scan involves an injection of a mildy radio active substance that has a sugar base. (as I remember). I was then made to sit in a recliner and completely relax for about a half hour. I was then taken to the scanner which is basically, if not the same as a CAT scan, The tumors absorb the sugar at a faster rate then the other muscles and so those areas light up. Another appointment was scheduled with the ENT doctor and my wife and I were told that I had Squamous Cell cancer at the very base of my tongue and in my lymph node.. He again peered down my throat with a scope but could see nothing. He told me that the treatment for this was a combination of chemo and radiation and that there would probably be thirty five radiation treatments. Of course we asked what my life expectancy might be.
and he said that with treatment 60 to 65% were still alive after five years. I am still getting chills thinking about this as I type. Those might be great odds for Vegas but they were way lower than what I wanted to hear. That should have been enough info. For one day. I should have gone home and digested this info, but the doctor asked me whether I wanted to have an appointment set up with the radiation doctor and I said yes. Unfortunately there was an opening at 1:00 P.M. that afternoon. We said okay and went to lunch. I strongly suggest that there should be a day or two between the original diagnosis and the first appointment with the radiation doctor. Too much bad news comes at you to fast otherwise. You need a little time to absorb what you have already heard. The radiation oncologist was a very gentle man of about my age which is 65. He told me what to expect. He said that I would have chemo and 35 radiation treatments and that I would get an extremely sore throat. My saliva glands would most probably shut down maybe forever but most likely I would get some use after healing. He also told me that I might lose my ability to swallow and that a feeding tube would be inserted through the wall of my stomach. I may lose 10% of my body weight also. I may have to have a trach in order to breath although this was unlikely. I would also feel extremely fatigued. I also needed a full set of dental xrays and any work that needed to be done had to be done before radiation could begin. That included extractions if necessary. We talked with him for approximately an hour and then he left and his nurse came in. My wife said that I asked her the very same questions that I had asked the doctor. It was as if I hadn’t heard a word that he said. She told me that my eyes were glazed over and she suspected that I was in shock. I believe that she drove home that day. I don’t remember. My sister and daughter wanted me to get a second opinion and we set up an appointment at the Massey Cancer center in Richmond. The doctor at the Massey center agreed with the diagnosis and treatment which made us feel better.
Yesterday, Oct 15th, I went to the radiologist and had the CAT scan that will be used to set up the IMRT machine for the radiation treatments. I was also fitted for a bite guard and a mask that would hold my head completely immobile. A softened gel was placed in my mouth to cover my upper teeth. I was instructed to bite down on this as it hardened. There was a protuberance on the front of the bite guard that stuck out of my mouth and inch or so. Next a large sheet of warm wet netting was placed over my face and gently made to conform to my face exactly. After it dried and stiffened it was clamped to the table. The protuberance was then attached to the mask. I could move nothing. My adam’s apple rubbed as I swallowed. A ten minute CAT scan was then performed. I was told that I could raise my hand at any moment and that would signal discomfort and the radiologist would stop and come in to insure that I was okay. I felt mildly claustrophobic as I thought of being attached to the table, but all in all it wasn’t too bad. I asked to have a look at the beast that will perform the treatments and it is a big machine. It didn’t look too frightening.
Today I have my first visit with the chemo doctor. I am certainly feeling some apprehension. I have a list of questions to ask, one of which is would a visit or two to a hypnotherapist be of any benefit. I have heard that hypnosis can sometimes minimize reactions to treatments of various sorts.
Radiation is expected to begin on the 29th of Oct. My best guess is that it will be completed by Dec 12th. My resistance to colds, etc will be low so I will have to stay away from people who may be sick.
Sometime ago I asked god to please bring me closer to him. This has certainly done that.
