Fran...

I cannot even imagine hearing my own cancer diagnosis right after my husband's treatment had just concluded! I've been told all my life that God will never give us any more than we can handle... Well, if I'd been in your shoes upon learning that you also had cancer... I'm quite sure I would have screamed... "Okay, Lord, now THAT's pushing it!!"

I have great respect for what you and hubby have endured together... and am so thankful that you both remain in remission today!

Thanks for sharing!

Melanie

Melanie, you gave my first chuckle of the day. I'm not sure which God I believe in, but thats exactly what I did yell up to the heavens. Thanks Girl

Hi gang. Hope you are all ok. Just to let you know that i saw the team at the combined clinic today and i see them now every 6 months instead of every 3 months. Im now 23 months on from my surgery and i feel fine. Hope to hear from you soon.

Great news, Russ. Keep well.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi Gang. Its been two years now since my operation and i feel good. But i just wonder if there is any tests my consultant can do to check? All they do is look in my mouth and feel my neck. Can they do any other tests? Hope everybody are ok?

Greetings Rus!

Do you not receive regularly-scheduled xray scans of any type? My Dan is nearly a year and a half post treatment. He has had several follow-up CT scans of the head/neck and a full-body PET scan within that time to check for recurrence and/or metastasis. Also, Dan's blood is checked by his medical oncologist upon each visit (was three month intervals, now six). The blood panels cover a lot of things... from post-radiation thyroid function to checking for anemia. I'm not sure about this, but I think there are certain components of the bloodwork that could actually indicate the possible presence of cancer if that were the case.

Another thing to consider is having just a regular check-up... a thorough physical exam. It occurred to me after my Dan's cancer ordeal (and he had been in remission for over a year) that perhaps he should have some of the more routine types of screens and exams done. (When you are dealing with cancer, there are certainly "bigger fish to fry" than worrying about cholesterol levels, for instance.) But, once the cancer crisis was well behind us, I decided to make Dan an appointment to see his regular general physician for all the other things that a man over 50 should have checked. I set him up for a thorough exam, had his heart checked out, had his prostate checked, had bloodwork done to assess cholestorol/triglycerides, and scheduled a colonscopy too. Of course he was just thrilled with me! But, as I said, when cancer is the BIG fire to put out, these other things get put on the back burner. So, Rus, if you've not had the "regular", "normal" stuff checked out in a while, I'd suggest making an appointment for a thorough physical exam. If you are over 50 and haven't had a colonscopy, do that too. I'm glad my Dan had his done because they did discover a polyp, which was promptly removed. As you may know, polyps can be a precursor to colorectal cancer, and must be removed. Then the colon should be rechecked at regular intervals and the tissue monitored in order to diagnosis any future cancer at the earliest possible stage.

Was your cancer back at the base of the tongue or on the part that is visible? If it was base of tongue cancer, I would assume you have been scoped down to the old tumor site to make sure there is no recurrence. My Dan has had multiple scopings done since treatment concluded.

Well Rus, that's about all I can think of in answer to your posting. Glad to know you are still trudging-along so well, my friend!

FMH,

Melanie

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Melanie,

Hi Russ
I recently asked my consultant exactly the same thing, I am 1 year post treatment.
Basically he said they can find out more by feeling the neck area and looking in the mouth, mine always checks by sending the old scope up my nose & down my throat every time I see him, hate it big time!!!
He said they don't scan as because of the treatment surgery etc something may appear due scarring and not be anything to worry about. You would panic, they would panic & it would be nothing. He said scans etc are usually offered to patients that probably only see their medical team once or twice a year.
Hope this answers you question
Take Care
Yvonne

Hi Russ, our oncologist told us exactly what Yvonnes told her. Also if THEY had any concerns, they would carry out further tests.Our GP does the routine stuff, blood checks etc. as & when required. We have a wonderful team & they are all on the ball.

Hi. Sorry its been a while but computer was down and couldnt get it fixed until now. Seasons greetings and i wish everyone a happy new year. And any cricket fans im sure we wont be whitewashed.

Hi Russ

Thought I'd introduce myself as I haven't been on here for a few years. My name is Kelley & I am a survivor of tongue cancer twice over so I can relate to your journey too, great to hear you are going strong .

Just wanted to let you know that I'm an Aussie from Sydney, Australia & am ABSOLUTLEY loving this ASHES TOUR!!!! God we aussies are good....aren't we Russ?!!

Nice to meet you :0
Kelley

Hi Kelley. We have met before on here over a year ago. Yes you aussies are world class. Im a huge huge cricket fan and disapointed with our performances but glad our durham based player scored a double century. Credit where credit is due you totally outclassed us once again. Im a huge fan of the way Australia go about playing. Always on the attack. Hope you are well.

Hi Kelley,
This is Ananth. I have been following the Ashes and there was never any doubt about a total whitewash. The Brits just did not have the firepower to make a fight out of it.India at the moment is playing South Africa and the scaore remains one all - with the final test going on. India has done well and hopefully they should win the test and if they do it will be the first time India would have beaten the Proteas on their own soil. In India - its almost impossible to defeat India and even the Aussies acknowledge it and it means a lot for shane Warne to say that Sachin Tendulkar gives him nightmares.
I did not know you were so much into cricket as I am one huge fan of the Indian side - for good or bad and never miss a match. I guess tomorrow or day after will be one big day with two of the greatest players of this decade - Shane Warne and McGarth are retiring after the Ashes are over. A lot of batsmen are going to breathe a sigh of relief!!!
Take care and do write,
Ananth

Just wanted to let you know that I'm an Aussie from Sydney, Australia & am ABSOLUTLEY loving this ASHES TOUR!!!! God we aussies are good....aren't we Russ?!!

Nice to meet you :0
Kelley[/QUOTE]

To all three

I am cricket mad also and over the last few weeks have followed

The Ashes
NZ vs Sri Lanka
SA vs India

Annath,

I spent a week in India last May in Goa during which I managed to attend the India vs England ODI in Panjin.The Indian fans were absolutely fantastic.The crowds queing outside the ground were there as early as 6am ,thousands of them.

I been to many test matches in England and will watch Scotland in the World Cup in the West Indies in March.We have Austrailia,South Africa and Holland in our group.

As for India being the greatest then I would suggest maybe not.My fsvourite Indian players are Dravid and Kumble. I hope that India beat South Africa and they may just do it after Kumble took Amla's wicket with the last ball of the day

Anyway

all the best to all in your recovery

Robert

Dear Robert,
What a great surprise - another crazy cricket lover.So its been a disaster of sorts for the Indian side and I think a lot of them should decide on hanging up their boots or play some serious domestc cricket and then get back on the team. Sehwag "the ex- destroyer" has been given too many chances and feel he should make way for some of the new openers. I was hoping against all odds that the ball would do some crazy things after the rain and would help kumble - but it was not ment to be. Yes - I agree with you - Dravid and Kumble are players India cannot do without and even in the quickie department the bowlers seem to have come through.
Have you been to India earlier of was this your first time in Goa? Would you believe if I told you that I have never been to Goa, though its my home town!! I have spent all my years in the north and a whole lot of them in Spain. I speak the langauge though and thats saying a lot.
Robert would love to keep hearing from you, so do keep in touch and also as to how things are going with you. I think it will be fun to "discuss" the teams and the future matches coming up - especially the WC!
You take care and look after yourself,
Withy warm regards from a very cold Delhi,
Ananth

Dear Russ and Robert,
I have been through your experiences with this lousy thing that we all went through. What i find great is that noone here has lost their will to give up the fight and what can one say more - with Russ getting married. Congratulations though belated Russ and my best wishes will always be with you and your bride who I am more then sure is a very special person.
Both of you - Russ and Robert are really fun guys and how strange it is that thanks to cricket I feel I have known you all for ages. I hope we can continue our discussions on the same but at the same time also see on how we can help out the ones who need some advise or consoling.
Take care both of you and Russ - congratulations once again and all the very best to both your wife and you from India.
Ananth