I wake up each morning with some thick spit in my mouth that I immediately have to spit up into the sink and then rinse my mouth out. I think this is caused by the dry mouth that I'm still experiencing. Seems like I have to carry around a bottle of water with me at all times and keep drinking small amounts of it.
The whiskers on my face have all grown back from my jawline up, but from the jawline down it's still as smooth as a baby's A**. The hair on the back of neck still hasn't grown back and is just as smooth, but at least most of the hair on my head has grown in just fine. It is considerable finer than it used to be, but I'm getting used to that.
As far as food goes, I can eat just about anything, but foods with a lot of breading, chips, crackers and that type of food don't get broken down very well inside my mouth due to the lack of saliva, so I tend to stay away from most foods like that.
My weight is still down about 20-25 pounds from where I used to be, but I feel good and am trying to gain it back but it just doesn't seem to want to come back. I started back at the gym so maybe I'll gain muscle back and not beer gut or fat.
Other than that I'm feeling pretty good. After talking to my Oncologist and ENT doctor, they both seem to share the same point of view in that those side effects, dry mouth and loss of hair on my neck, may never get back to the way they used to be and I might end of dealing with both of those for the rest of my life.
I'm scheduled for a Laryngoscopy on the 13th of August. Dr. Debo wants to do a biopsy of my tonsil just be sure that no cancer is present. I'm hoping this will be clear and if it is, I'll just start having CT scans every 6 months or so for the next five years with quarterly visits to the Oncologist and ENT doctor.
I've been doing a lot of fishing lately and have met some pretty cool people in the process that not only have boats that can get to where the fish are, but have the knowledge of fishing in this area and don't mind passing along there fishing tips.
I fished with a guy yesterday that is retired from the Navy and had tonsil cancer. He is a cancer survivor of two years. Boy oh boy did him and I have a lot to talk about. He's also still experiencing some of the side effects that I'm dealing with. Dry mouth is the major one and lack of taste in some foods. He unfortunately had to have all of his teeth removed prior to his radiation which seems to be common in a lot of people who have had to have radiation therapy in the neck region. Fortunately, I did not have to go through that. Anyway, it was really interesting talking to him yesterday about his experiences and how he's dealing with things today.
Here are a couple of pics from us fishing yesterday. We cruised 12.2 miles out to the Chesapeake light tower and got a total of 16 Spadefish. Myself and new friend Tommy caught about 8 on rod and reels and my friends Jamie (the cancer survivor) and John the Captain of the boat shot the rest with spear guns while snorkeling around the tower.
5 comments:
Nice Fish Dave! You are definitely making up for some lost fishing time!! I was glad we got out for those stripers last week, even if the weather shortened the trip a bit. It was great getting out with you to wet a line.
And pass on to Marjie that her recipe was great on Halibut also, I made it last night and it was awesome!
See ya in a couple weeks.
Juliet Romeo sends...
Dave,
Great show!! I'm glad to hear that you and yours are doing well. I'm not sure if I told you but my dad's battle didn't turn out so well. I lost him on 27 April. Give me a call sometime, I've got some homebrew with your name on it. I think that you and Marjie deserve a cold one!!
Eric
Dear Dave,
So glad you are doing so much better. And to be out fishing is always a plus. When are you going to start bringing them in on a fly rod?
Our best to you & Margie.
Jim & Emily Lechner
Wishing you a long life with your wonderful wife, who has been such a great support network through your ordeal.
Take care.
Josie from Pasadena, California
Hello Marjie and Dave:
I'm writing from Pasadena, California. I just want to share with you both that I have swollen lymph nodes in the right side of my neck, have undergone 4 biopsies, all came back negative, except for 1 positive showing squamous cell carcinoma in a tumor in my right lymph node. Went 2 3 ENT's for 3 opinions, and all 3 thought the cancer was in the right tonsil because they saw some fullness back there. I work at a hospital in Pasadena, but went to City of Hope Cancer Ctr., where I had my right tonsil removed, as well as a biopsy of my hypopharynx, larynx, and nasopharynx biopsied and all returned with negative results. I have an unknown head/neck cancer, which they say is very common, though rare. My surgery was on 7/5, and yesterday came back to work. Sitting at home has been depressing so came back to work to keep my mind occupied. My brother from Seattle has put his entire life on hold and is here staying with me supporting, loving and caring for me, not that I can't help myself. He's just a good brother. I've decided to go for the treatment, and will be done here at the hospital I work at since I know everyone and feel more comfortable doing it here rather than City of Hope Cancer Ctr. My radiation onc. and oncologist suggests 8 weeks of chemo/rad combination, and although don't want to go through it I must. It's been quite emotional getting up to this point. (I discovered the lymph nodes the end of April, 07, went from one dr. to another for as many opinions as possible, carrying around all my films and biopsy slides, etc. I've been in a state of denial and finally this week, have just begun to accept that the lymph nodes are not going to go away unless I have treatment, and I want to live. I'm only 53 and have lots of spunk in me and need to get with the program.
In anticipation of the side effects, I happened to type in the words, "saligen solution for oral thrush" and came across your blog. I've read your updates and it's been emmensely helpful.
The interesting thing is I don't feel sick, and hope that my dr.'s are doing the right thing. I'm scared I will admit.
I'm going to try to work through my treatment to keep myself occupied so I don't have to do too much dwelling. My boss is so nice that she's giving as much flexibility I need and when I'm fatigued I'll just stay at home. Your infomation has been very helpful and it helps me prepare myself for whatever. I guess my big question to everyone I speak to who has head/neck cancer is whether I'll be able to tolerate the entire 8 weeks of treatment without crashing? If you can do it I can too right? I've been given 2 different options of treatment, and I'm going to stick with the 8 week course so I can get it down with vs. the once a month chemo over 4 months, and then the radition at the end. If I do it, I won't be done until after 1/1/08. I just want to do what I need to do and get it done with.
I have such admiration and respect for you and for your wife. She's a wonderful person with immense respect and love for you. I'm glad to read that you're improving. Good luck to both of you.
Josie
kirenoko@yahoo.com
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