Hi - I know only too well that there apeople out there a lot worse off than me and I feel guilty even bothering anyone with this but if not here wehere!?
I was 5 years on on the 1st March. I had radical neck dissection and removal of half my lower jaw with chest flap. No radiotherapy or chemo needed. All cut out. One short brief recurrence after 3 years but very small bit of trouble and lazered off.
Yesterday I got results from a biopsy and low and behold here I go again. And weirdly it is on the chest flap itself. I have a small reccy op next week and then they will presnt me with the options - surgery/ more lazer or radiotherapy/ chem o etc depending on the extent of what they find.
I am quite fed up as you ca imagine. I've managed to lead a fairly normal life since the op. Back to work - just getting back into my stride if I am honest - back to my old self I thought. Now I feel like I have had a kick in the teeth. (pun intentional)
As I said, I just wanted to have a moan and a sulk. So many of you out there have been through so much more - but well, it's hard to talk to family about it without worrying them. I am in pain at the moment - and it seems to be getting worse daily - but there's no sign of a tumour - no bone or anything to have a tumour on!
Sorry to be a misery guts - I am actually keeping relatively sane - even still going to work. But I fear going through the whole show again. Thanks for being here - and letting me let off steam!

Tony

Hello Tony
you moan away lad.You have the right and the reason.Every oral cancer survivor i know lives wth this fear,and its tangible.when rob was sick we shared our journey with David and he was a nine year survivor suffering a recurrance.rob didn't make it first time round,david is back at work and enjoying life ...who's to say who will be the chosen ones.It always worries me a little to hear of surgeons who believe that an operation alone is enough,i am a great believer of throwing everything at this pig of a disease especially in the age of second radiation and limitless chemo options.I have also come acroos several people who have suffered numerous recurrances and survived,so...be pissed off, kick the dog,howl at the moon,and when you are done get your arse into gear and get ready for round two.you can do it.

love liz

Thanks for your sense and wisodom. It is appreciated.

hiya tony
what a kick in the teeth for you so you go ahead and have a good moan it's your right mate.as liz has said we all live with the fear of it coming back and i can understand how you feel about not wanting to say much to the family about it.when i was diagnosed just over 2 years ago i felt so guilty for having to tell my family and giving them so much worry but that's how us humans are i guess.it must have been a shock especially when you have started to feel like your old self again.i feel gutted for your rotten news tony.love shirl xxx

Hiya Tony.Just a little note to say I really feel for you at the moment.You are thrown these statistics all the time but you just feel like screaming at everyone don't you. I was quoted each time It'd be 98% that I wouldn't get cancer as in wrong age group,I don't smoke etc but I got it.Then I was quoted 98% certain it would be just a small op,no it wasn't,98% certain it wouldn't spread,it did and I had a radical neck dissection also. Ive nw got a bad tooth and when he nearly said I was 98% that it'd be ok after I cried my eyes out as I know where I could be again.Nobody knows how we feel,only us on this site.Its a horrible thing that never leaves us does it. I really hope you'll be fine and telling us you're ok.Keep smiling.....if I hear that once more I'm going to punch someone!!!! ha ha. We really do feel for you and I find this site brilliant for letting off steam.Take care x sammy

Yes ,yes yes, Tony absolutely a moan and a sulk is the least you can do with this news .What a gut busting piece of news especially when you have comes so far and resumed your life back to working order.

You have recovered so well in the past and there is no reason you will not do so again .Batten down the hatches in your head and prepare for another round.

At least they are talking about OPTIONS this has to be positive Tony so hold that thought .You are absolutely dumped by this news and the thought of more treatment has to be daunting .You have responded well in the past and got back up there with your life on track ,you can do it again Tony .

Here is our place for letting the worries and gremlins out and thank goodness we can, so you carry on and we will all be here to help you through and also celebrate when this new ordeal is past and you are back on the road to full recovery just like the happy news we have been reading from others.

The shock of this news and accepting it is a whirlpool of emotions and anger and resentment so you need to a have a good vent before discussions with the family.

I hope in the meantime they have sorted you out with something for the pain Tony .

Keep strong Tony you need to get back into the right frame of mind ,just like the boxers do before they get back in the ring .

Hark at us ,we have been having a right old moan here ourselves but everyone here is so helpful and has some words of wisdom, that is what gives us the strength and courage to carry on ,then after a period of time you can look back and remember and see how far you have come .

All here for you, all the way.

Love ,Bell and Paul .

Thank you all for the support. It means a lot. I am very lucky and I know it, and I am a very positive person - but sometimes I just want to scream. It means so much hearing from people who know what I am talking about and have been through the mill themselves rather than just normal well wishers and family who don't really understand. Anyway the plan is radiotherapy this time - too many naughty cells making too much trouble to make surgery again a sensible option. Not had radiotherapy before and I've heard all the negatives so now I'm thoroughly terrified. BUT it really can't be as bad as the surgery I had last time; that was so bad - nothing could be that bad! Oh there I go again moaning. It wasn't that bad - I'm still here to tell the tale - and so many other people have it so much worse. Honestly I get on my own nerves some times! Well most of the time actually! Anyway thanks and all the best!
Has anyone heard of a cancer cure from drinking tea made from the burnt ashes of the Silver Birch tree? No don't laugh I'm trying this cure and wonder if anyone has ever heard of it.

Tony

Hi Tony ,have not heard of this but will certainly have look into it, anything that boosts your immune system safely and your well being can only be positive, where are you buying this from ? maybe we should all be drinking it.

Regarding the RT there are different types and also each person will receive different fractions so ask what type and dosage .Make sure you are told what to expect and in my opinion if you are living on your own just spend a little time getting prepared in advance for any kind of little side effects you may experience or may not Tony .

If you have some dried tinned stuff of the soft variety like custards, yogurts, ready break especially milk shake boxes you can whisk with full fat milk also carnation milk , theese things stored away they can come in handy if you have a period of fatigue or sore mouth also ask them for the creams etc used if you have any burning which again Tony you may not .A lot of people cope well with RT and have very little problems if that is case with you further down the treatment plan your worst point will be with tiredness or what they call fatigue so a few things stocked in cupboards mean you don't need to drag yourself to shops when you are just too tired and just can't be bothered.The first few sessions should go well just be organized for the last set of fractions.

Just make sure you ask them what they expect you should experience and what areas will be the sensitive ones usually entry and mainly exit points in our case .

You will be ok Tony just keep on top of things and the main thing is to keep your fluids and nutrician up at all costs even if you dont want to eat or feel hungry this is paramount and the secret to get through it with the least problems.

Keep us up to speed Tony with your treatment plan and the tea.

Bell and Paul.

Thanks Bell
The Silver Birch tea isn't bought it is just a matter of going out and finding silver birch and making it yourself. This is one reason my wife believes in it. No is making any money or exploiting it - it's there to just go andget yourself. No idea if itworks but according to someone her mum knows in France (?) several (10) people including 2 close relatives her grandma and dad both were cured. Bone and pancreatic cancers.
I am not alone by the way my wife and kids are here to help me so I have it easy. I really have no reaon to moan about aything! Pull myself together, stiff upper lip ...oh well probably will have!
All the very best
Tony

Hi Tony, so glad you have the family round you your wife will be there to have a wee nag with you your diet.Hey Ho, we do have siler birch trees.

Let us know how your wife prepares this and how you feel it tastes ,you can be the guinea pig Tony and then you may find we will all be jumping on the band wagon ,Tee Hee.

Bell and Paul.

quote:

cancer cure from drinking tea made from the burnt ashes of the Silver Birch

Hello Tony

This link from the American Cancer Society about the Silver Birch aka White Birch being used as an anti-cancer agent will be of interest to you.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi Anthony,

I am really sorry to hear that you are having to go through another round in your battle with this horrible disease, but I am sure that you will get through it.

thanks for alerting us to the silver birch story and thanks to Vinod for finding such an interesting link.

Cathy

Hi Tony

Have not been posting for a while and missed your earlier posts. So sorry you are having to go through this. Please don't ever apologise for "moaning" - this is surely what these forums are for, so we can let off steam to people who understand and so we can tell people how we really feel.

Do let us know how you get on with the silver birch tea, if you decide to try it, and what it tastes like.

All best wishes

Gwyn

Thanks everyone! Thanks Dr Vinod for the link. I have looked into this on the web. I can find lots of interesting material on the anti-cancer properties of the bark of the tree and will continue to look intio this.
The "recipe" I am taking is nothing like anything I can find on here though. For the "cure" you must burn a log/logs from the Dilover Birch until itis fine ash and then boil it - let it simmer for twentyminutes, let it cool and then drink. It tastes FOUL on its own but is masked by fruit juice. I am combining it with fresh juice from the juicer with berries and grapes and so on. Well you have to try!
I will let you know if I get anywhere - certainly if it is a miracle cure I will be making it for everyone!

Happy Easter!

Back to have another moan. Tee Hee! Well radiotherapy started today after the two weeks of preparation and what with the pain I already have from the cancer in the mouth and throat it's all great fun. Having had surgery they warned me it might be a bit stiff after, but said that would not start for while. It started already. Maybe it's like the opposite of a placebo - eating is also already a major issue and I've only had one dose. It sounds daft I know! What a big wuss I am.
I am still experimenting with the old Silver Birch cure and I do think it offers some pain reduction - but this may be placebo who knows. Not me for sure.
I find the juicer a problem now as many fruits sting like hell. Anybody any suggestions for fruits that are less harsh?
Thanks for taking the trouble to read this - it is just so nice to have somewhere to say stuff and know that peopke will know what you are talking about!
Tony