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The Mouth Cancer Foundation Online Support Group Mouth Cancer Forums Members Forums General Chat Twenty-Year-Plus-No-Recurrence Survivors... PLEASE Step Forward!|
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| Twenty-Year-Plus-No-Recurrence Survivors... PLEASE Step Forward!
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Hello to All...
I am becoming increasingly curious to know if there is anyone "out there" who is at least twenty years post treatment for base of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (or any of the oral cancers for that matter) and NEVER once suffered a recurrence (be it at the original site or elsewhere). Do such cases exist???? If so... I think it would be the most wonderful thing in the world to know about them on this site... better yet, to actually HEAR from them. Talk about an encouraging story (HOPE!) for those of us who live in fear of recurrences! Dr. V... Do YOU personally know of any such survivors who have been in remission (without ever having had a recurrence) for that length of time (20-plus years)? Does ANYONE know of another human being who fits the above description? I would like to appeal to everyone on this site to ask their oncologists (or other cancer care providers) if perhaps THEY know of any such head and neck cancer patients or cases. Bring your findings to the message board, whether it be a "yes" or a "no". I realize there are wonderful long-term survivors who are members on this site with incredibly powerful stories to tell; however, I have yet to hear about anyone who is twenty years out and never had a recurrence. Is there anybody besides me interested in finding out this type of information? Many of us, including myself, post notes about not worrying about statistics and learning to live with our recurrence fears one day at a time... and that is all great, don't get me wrong... BUT, I cannot help but yearn for tangible concrete examples of true HOPE... the kind of hope that can only come from discovering that there are human beings walking around right now who are cancer-free after beating oral cancer a very LONG time ago... and it never ONCE came back. I hope members on this site will understand my need to do this search. PLEASE, PLEASE respond if you know of someone who falls into the category I have described. Let me know your general thoughts on this topic too. Many thanks... Melanie |
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Its an interesting point you have raised there Melanie. I think there are quite a few long term survivors around but i'd be interested to know what the long term survival rate percentage is....or what it is predicted at. As someone who is three years clear I feel that I have beaten my Cancer but then again....I can't say that it won't ever come back.
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Hello Melanie YES, YES, and YES! However, most head and neck cancer survivors would have been between 50-65 years old at time of diagnosis and so 20 years later would have been 70-85 years old! There are so many other things we can die off at that age besides a recurrence, so I am lucky they are still around otherwise I might have had to say "NO!" It is how one decides to live their life that matters. A happy life does not have to be a long life. Happiness does not depend on having a long life. Best wishes Vinod 
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,
Disclaimer: Please see your own dentist/doctor for a proper diagnosis as my words should not, in any circumstances, be taken as dental/medical advice. "If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives, then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally." Lao-Tsu, Tao Teh King |
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Heathrow Steve... Three years is awesome! I hope with every ounce of my being that you, my husband, and all the others will be able to contribute to this forum in the year 2026... and beyond... about how you beat cancer YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS ago... and consider yourself CURED of cancer by that point! I wouldn't care if you each die of almost ANYTHING other than damned 'ole cancer... as long as you are at least 100 years of age when it happens (and it's quick and totally painless)!!
Dr. V... If you are still in touch with the long-term cancer-free people that you know about... let them know that Melanie from Virginia, USA... and other members on this site warmly (desperately  )invite them to join our forum and tell their remarkable stories! Please call them up... encourage them to share with us. Thank you, thank you!From my heart, Melanie |
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Hello Melanie
They are not internet savy, their stories (links above) have been told and were hand-written. One of them has just gone to Australia for a holiday to visit family - I just fitted him a new obturator plate. Best wishes Vinod Disclaimer: Please see your own dentist/doctor for a proper diagnosis as my words should not, in any circumstances, be taken as dental/medical advice. "If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives, then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally." Lao-Tsu, Tao Teh King |
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Hi Dr. V...
I didn't see the links you referred to. Am I overlooking something? Thanks, Mel |
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Well I knew a woman in my home town who had jaw cancer 25+ years ago and a large portion was removed and she is still alive.
When in hospital a woman in the next bed to me had had 17 years cancer free after a tongue cancer treatment. Her tumour had been so large she had chemo to reduce it before surgery. I think we all have to hope we will be that person who goes way beyond the median. |
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Hello Mel
Click on each YES, YES, YES! in my initial reply above. Each is a hypertext link to a survivor's story. Vinod Disclaimer: Please see your own dentist/doctor for a proper diagnosis as my words should not, in any circumstances, be taken as dental/medical advice. "If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives, then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally." Lao-Tsu, Tao Teh King |
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The Mouth Cancer Foundation Online Support Group Mouth Cancer Forums Members Forums General Chat Twenty-Year-Plus-No-Recurrence Survivors... PLEASE Step Forward!