Help with preparing for treatment

On 4/3/2008 Mattnmiami wrote:

Hi Donna,

It appears your husbands, home, work responsibilies
& type of cancer and even probable staging are almost exactly the
same as mine. I am one year out of treatment and have been blessed with
a very good recovery and prognosis by all concerned with my outcome.
How each person responds is very different based on their
individualized treatment needs and other factors. His attitude and
nutrition are as equally important as other decisions you will face as
a family. If you do a search on this board for my name you will find
numerous ( and sometimes lengthy) posts based on my observations and
personal recommendations of what worked for me from a nutritional and
treatment standpoint. Another area and just as important was the love,
prayers and support of those at home and on here, that helped me get
through the "paralysis through analysis" on treatment options and make
a good decision in a reasonable time frame. I believe the time prior to
going into treatment was more difficult emotionally than the actual
treatment or recovery was physically. The funny thing is my wife has
different thoughts, she felt seeing my difficulties going through
treatment was harder. I feel that is based on a desire to put all my
best effort into getting the most from treatment, getting through it
and getting it behind me and not focusing on the negativity. Make your
best decision, go into it heart and soul and ride  all positive
thoughts and energy to what will hopefully be a successful and
fortunate outcome. There is amazing power in a smile, my wife's was
like a beacon that drew me from those moments that doubt tried to sap
the energy I needed to drive forward into recovery. 

Our prayers, hopes and thoughts are with you and your family throughout
this process. If I can help in anyway please don't hesitate to contact
me and I will try to help

Matt 

Thank you so much for the encouragement, It is so helpful to hear from someone through with treatment and had a good outcome. I will do a search by your screen name an covent the advice. We are blessed by a great support system as well as a faithful GOD

Thanks again and I will stay intouch

Donna

On 4/5/2008 g8orgal79 wrote:

It is definately comforting to see encouraging words out there.  My husband was diagnosed two weeks ago with squamous cell carcinoma in his neck and it has been a roller coaster since then.  He will be having surgery twice next week, once to biopsy a spot they found on his vocal cord and then later in the week to get his peg tube.  Radiation starts on the 14th and he will be doing that in combination with erbitux for close to six weeks.

 This has been the worst time of my life and it is nice to know that there are others there who are feeling the same types of things I am.  My husband is very strong and I think he will soldier through this but I am also glad to see the ecouragement as well.

 Thanks!

We Just found out yesterday that my husband will begin treatment on the 14th as well, I guess we will be on this ride together. Stay strong and I agree it is a comfort to not feel so alone.

Be Talking to ya I am sure

Donna