After Neck Disection

Hi everyone,  I have been reading everyones entries lately and believe we all need to hear this. God is intimately involved with each and every one of us. He knows exactly where we are at, and how we feel about the battles we have faced and are facing still. November of 2005 I was diagnosed with stage 4 SCC that had metastisized into the lymph nodes in my neck. The primary is unknown. I had 2 surgeries, the second a radical neck disection and then 7 weeks of radiation at 6000 to 7500 rads every day. Sat/Sun off (thank you Jesus). I was never so sick in my life and after loosing 75 lbs, I did away with the feeding tube and forced myself to eat by mouth. I still have little to no saliva and taste buds that are seriously lacking. Thats tough coming from a gal who was raised in a restaurant family and loves to eat. Ha! I was given 6-12 months and I will be 1 year out on feb. 8th. My point is that we must believe that our prognosis is in the capable hands of God, and we don't go until He wants us to go. That's just the real! The trials and suffering we endure only makes us stronger and more qualified to help others going through the same things in a way no one else can. Think of it. God entrusted you with this burden because He values you and believes in your ability to reach out to other hurting people. Personally, I am honored, but for a while I made it all about me when it was never about me. Anyway, for what it is worth, we are all fighters, and as long as we have breath, it is just another opportunity waiting to be revealed. God Bless each and every one of you......Woobie

Woobie, I too had a radical neck dissection 6 weeks ago.  The primary source was cancer in my tonsil.  Because the CT and PET scans showed cancer in my lymph nodes, the surgeon removed 56 on one side.  The path report showed no cancer in the lymph nodes at all.  I just started radiation this week and I had a PEG tube put in last week.  I'm hurting and I'm scared of the coming weeks but I KNOW this is happening for a reason and I want to reach out to others in similar situations.  I am blessed by family , friends, and a great church home group who all help take care of my family but it breaks my heart when I think of all the people out there who don't any idea where to turn.  Bless you for this message I just happened to run across...I will be reading this message board over the next weeks. 

On 2/20/2007 Burgkitty Sue wrote:

Woobie, I too had a radical neck dissection 6 weeks ago.  The primary source was cancer in my tonsil.  Because the CT and PET scans showed cancer in my lymph nodes, the surgeon removed 56 on one side.  The path report showed no cancer in the lymph nodes at all.  I just started radiation this week and I had a PEG tube put in last week.  I'm hurting and I'm scared of the coming weeks but I KNOW this is happening for a reason and I want to reach out to others in similar situations.  I am blessed by family , friends, and a great church home group who all help take care of my family but it breaks my heart when I think of all the people out there who don't any idea where to turn.  Bless you for this message I just happened to run across...I will be reading this message board over the next weeks. 

it's ok to be scared, i sure was because i didn't know what to expect,but know that you know when it turns ot "fear" that is not from God, and you can be sure your enemy wants you to be weak and inaffective. press through with all that you are in Christ. and that is a LOT!!!! remember it only took the faith of a mustard seed to move a mountain, and a single stone to kill a giant. your mountain, and giant are no different. keep the faith, eat a lot, even if it hurts (soups, pasta, mashed potatoes & gravy), get plenty of sunshine, and stay close to your support group. for a time i did not want to see anyone, and that hurt me mentally and spiritually. write often...i will keep watching this message board. God Bless you........this too will pass.........Love, woobie

I so enjoyed reading your story. My husband was diagnosed in august 2003. I had him go to the doctor to have his hearing tested when the ENT found a mass on the carotid artery. I am sure you know how fast things moved from that point on. Your story really tugged at my heart strings. We too hung on to our faith and our Doctors tell us that it was the grace of God that brought my husband through all of this. He was in stage 4 when diagnoised and never found the primary for the cancer. The last time he was hospitalized I did not think he would be coming home. During all of this I broke my back and the dept of transportation came through and decided the highway needed to be widened so we were one of 15 homes in a very nice housing addition leveled. FAITH FAITH FAITH! We are almost 5 years out now and thank God daily for the blessings!

Rae