Just found this site and would like to introduce myself and say hello to all.
I am a 47 year old P.E. Teacher full of health and fitness, who found out 2 weeks ago that he has cancer of the base of the tongue. I am having a PEG fitted tomorrow and have a partial glossectomy (with attentant lip and mandible split, neck lymph nodes etc) on Monday. Fortunately CT scans are clear and I am told the lump on my tongue is mobile and superficial - so heres hoping!
I am somewhere between petrified and terrified at the moment. But I am very positive - I have a very competitive nature and hope to be strong enough to take this on and make the best of whatever is thrown at me. I know it is going to be very tough but trust in God to help me be strong enough.
I'll get back as and when I can and let you all know how I am getting on.

Best of everything Norm, try to stay focused on get better...We will be here when you get the chance to let us know how you are doing??? Please keep in touch with us, we care and we have to stick together, you are not ever alone...My thoughts and prayers are with you, that is a promise..Always Miss Vicki

Thanks Vicki,

I will do my best - got too many taining sessions to do and games to go to just yet!!

Norm.

Hello Norm

Great news about the negative scans. Let us hope for the best. It is important to have a positive attitude. We will always be here to listen and help where we can.

Good luck with your PEG tomorrow. Pikeman's the local expert.

Best wishes
Vinod :coffee:

So glad you found this site Norm. You are surrounded by so much genuine loving interest from everyone that you feel nothing can happen that someone here can't understand and advise on.
All best wishes. Ishbel. Good luck with the PEG. I should think your general good physical nick is going to make everything that bit easier.

Hi Norm,

It is such a blessing for you to have come across this site at this point in your life. I have also had tongue cancer and had similar surgery to what you have scheduled for Monday. It is not the easiest time you have ahead & believe me at times you will wonder if it is ever going to get better...I promise you in does. I always say that 'C' deserves no more attention than to think of it as a road hump that may slow us down but not completely stop us. ..& the best thing is that as you watch in your revision mirror it disappears from site & we can continue on with our wonderful journey in life. My love & prayers I send to you at this time..please know that you are not alone. I only discovered this site myself in the past 24 hours & I cannot tell you the difference that it would have made to me if I had known about it during my recovery time when I could not speak & was feeling a little lost. Be strong, stay positive and I look forward to hearing how you are going as soon as you are ready.

Love & positve vibes to you, Kelley ( :

Hi All,
(I'll try and finish this time before I send)

Just got home from having my PEG put in. A little uncomfortable but not too bad. It all works O.K. so far (though I understand pouring H2O down it as a test is not the same as surviving off it but hey one step at a time!) Got all my pre ops done too so now I can spend Sunday with family and friends - don't have to be in til 8p.m.
I am scheduled for an 8.30a.m. start on Monday with the evening spent in critical care - I trust all will go well and that Tuesday will be the first day of my """new""" life - I certainly intend to do all I can to make it at least as good as the one I have had up to now - different but as good.
Will be in touch in 3/4 weeks to let you know how it all went/ is going.
Hangin in there.
Norm.

Norm, Bless you please know that we are all thinking of you and your family now and in the weeks to come. You will get used to the feeding tube, not to worry. It is strange tho at first this much I know. I don't want it but I have to have it in order to survive. You have some hard days ahead of you, just please remember that most of us have had it done and we are all right here to help you thru yours....Okay? I hope that came out right. We will be thinking and praying that much is a promise. Keep us informed on how you are doing or have a family member to let us know how the surgery went and how you are..If not we will hear from you when you are well enough to post....Take care, Always, Vicki Lynn

Norm, all the very best with the surgery and all that follows.

It's nearly 3 years now since I had a total glossectomy (with attendant neck dissection etc.) as a result of which I am unable to swallow any solid food, and even if I could I wouldn't be able to taste it.

I've been on PEG feed since the surgery with no problems, ideed I have to be careful about putting on too much weight. If you're going to be on permanent PEG feed you'll hit the regime which suits you best. For me it turned out to be intermittent feeding, others find bolus best.

Please keep us updated - and once again good luck

Hello Norm

You will be in good hands, all our NHS Head and Neck surgeons are great. They are dedicated to doing their best for their patients. Best wishes for the surgery.

Vinod

Hi All,
Just got home - Op cancelled - really disappointed.
Got all the way to being prepped in theatre for aneasthetic when the Senior anaethetist was called away to an emergency in another Operating Theatre and so a decision to cancel was taken at midday, as it was felt we had run out of time.
Sooo, now I've got to go through all of it again on Wednesday for a Thursday a.m. op.
I didn't really need a practice run at it!!

Still I celebrate that his work in the other theatre saved a young mans life.

Heres to Thursday and I'll be in touch as and when to let you know how I am.

Norm.

Norm, OH MG GOD,,,how cruel was this. I would have just died!!! I mean it, to get yourself all siked to do this and then they cancell you. This is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing, I don't know what to say except.OM MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS Vicki Lynn

Oh my God! Yeh that about sums it up Vicki Lynn.

BUT as I say my misfortune did allow a young man the care of a senior who was able to do the right things for him in what I understand to have been a long and difficult op. If it had been the other way round I would be expecting them to cancel on the other guy too!!!

Funnily enough it didn't seem that awful just really disappointing that I was going to have to wait a few days. I don't know whether that is just my fatalistic nature or plain stupidity but there you go - that me!
Norm.

I was told we have a cancelation in 10 days time?

I dare not ask why

Paul

Someone taking a holiday?