CancerCompass message board discussion started by Heyladee55 on 3/30/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,10857,0.htm Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 30 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ PLEASE PLEASE respond if u have knowledge or have had your voice box removed! due to cancer! I am 60 yrs. old & the 39 radiation treatments didn't workx. I live in SC & haven't found any support groups 4 this kind of cancer. I want to find out if anybody else has been thru this & can help me to understand some things.....how do i eat, drink or talk after this voice box removal. My doctor seems eager to operate but can't tell me the stage of cancer until after he operates. I thought since the radiation didn't work maybe chemo.but Doctor said it wouldn't help. Surgery is the only answer!  My health is not good, diabetis, high blood pressure & arthritis in some joints. After reading a lot of "stuff" on the internet many people (who have passed on) said if they could go back & do it again they would not agree to the surgery with stage 4 cancer! Seems like a lot of percentages with people who didn't live very long after the operation! Doctor said some lymph nodes would have to be removed but I don't know how many!  I would appreciate some feed back from anyone that can address any of these issues.I have surgery scheduled the 2nd.week of April  & I will admit that I fear that this is going to kill me! I am alone & don't know who I can reach out to. I can only whisper & please tell me if there r any devices to help patients like me. I would greatly appreciate any replies to this email. God Bless u all!  ----------------- lX-07osh  Heyladee55 Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 3/30/2007 Heyladee55 wrote:PLEASE PLEASE respond if u have knowledge or have had your voice box removed! due to cancer! I am 60 yrs. old & the 39 radiation treatments didn't workx. I live in SC & haven't found any support groups 4 this kind of cancer. I want to find out if anybody else has been thru this & can help me to understand some things.....how do i eat, drink or talk after this voice box removal. My doctor seems eager to operate but can't tell me the stage of cancer until after he operates. I thought since the radiation didn't work maybe chemo.but Doctor said it wouldn't help. Surgery is the only answer!  My health is not good, diabetis, high blood pressure & arthritis in some joints. After reading a lot of "stuff" on the internet many people (who have passed on) said if they could go back & do it again they would not agree to the surgery with stage 4 cancer! Seems like a lot of percentages with people who didn't live very long after the operation! Doctor said some lymph nodes would have to be removed but I don't know how many!  I would appreciate some feed back from anyone that can address any of these issues.I have surgery scheduled the 2nd.week of April  & I will admit that I fear that this is going to kill me! I am alone & don't know who I can reach out to. I can only whisper & please tell me if there r any devices to help patients like me. I would greatly appreciate any replies to this email. God Bless u all!  ----------------- lX-07osh I can imagine how scared you are.  I have stage 4 lung cancer and refused any chemo or radiation therapy.  The doctor put me on Tarceva  which is a chemo drug for 6 weeks and the last CT scan showed no new growth; it worked for me. If your doctor is reluctant to provide you with the information and answers you need, by all means get a 2nd opinion.  They wanted me to do the surgery first also and I flat out refused; wasn;t going to have them cut out my lung or any part of it.  They found out I was stage 4 via CT needle biopsy which was easy.  Ask if this is an option for you.  My heart goes out to you.  I will be 60 in June so I know it's scary.  I try to monitor the board everyday so if you need someone to talk to I'm here or you can send a private reply if you want to talk off the board.  Most importantly, there were a lot of people praying for me and I know that helped.  I will add you to my prayers.   Chessie Fri, 30 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT My wife was diagnosed with SCC March 2006.  She has taken the alternative treatment approach and most recently since last December has sought treatment in Germany.  They utilize hyperthermia, galvano therapy, ozone therapy, high dose infusions of Vit C to name a few treatments.  They can be reached at http://www.klinik-st-georg.de/e/ if you are interested.  The cost is high, but we have believed that if we set our intentions and put one foot in front of the other that the way will be provided. It has not been easy for us but her treatments have proved healing.  If you are in any way interested I would suggest you contact them at rezeption@klinik-st-georg.de  The hospital there offers Complimentary Alternative Care and has approximately 10 MDs on staff who are Oncologists.  They are world renowned and if you explain your situation to them they are very will to communicate via e-mail with you.Good luck and God Bless You !!  Alternatives Sun, 08 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT Thanks so very much for the info. My ex-husband is the one with throat cancer & he is on disablity & funds r limited. You & your wife are very blessed to have found the Doctors in Germany. It's a shame what health care has become in the USA. I trust that u all have a great support system & everything will work out. May God Bless you both & thanks again for taking the time to answer. Heyladee55 Sun, 08 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT You are very welcome.  The only thing I can offer you is to set your intentions and desires and be surprised as to what happens in your healing path.  The Doctors at St Georg Klinik in Germany do work with or are in contact with Doctors here in the states, so even if you do not think a trip to Germany can be afforded, I would still contact them for some guidance.  You have nothing to loose.My spouse gets Vit C infusions, hydrogen peroxide infusions, chelation therapies here in the states.Good luck and do not hesitate to contact me. Alternatives Mon, 09 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT Please go to this website:  http://www.webwhispers.org/ if you have not already!  There is a wealth of information here!!  My husband had a complete laryngectomy and radical neck disection in September - they removed all of his lymphnodes surrounding the vocal cords.  He has adapted quite well to this (he is 52 years old). This website helped him deal with his situation and many people provided support and encouragment!  His cancer has returned since then (in just 7 months) but it is a very stubborn cancer.  He does not regret having the surgery and would have had it done the first time he was diagnosed 3 years ago (with the SAME cancer in the same spot) had he know how stubborn this cancer was going to be!  I hope this helps Gatordebbie Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 6/3/2007 Gatordebbie wrote:Please go to this website:  http://www.webwhispers.org/ if you have not already!  There is a wealth of information here!!  My husband had a complete laryngectomy and radical neck disection in September - they removed all of his lymphnodes surrounding the vocal cords.  He has adapted quite well to this (he is 52 years old). This website helped him deal with his situation and many people provided support and encouragment!  His cancer has returned since then (in just 7 months) but it is a very stubborn cancer.  He does not regret having the surgery and would have had it done the first time he was diagnosed 3 years ago (with the SAME cancer in the same spot) had he know how stubborn this cancer was going to be!  I hope this helpsThanks so much for the info. & we will contact them asap. My ex had the removble done on May 9th & is still in hospital. After he learns to feed himself thru the peg tube & show the doctor he can take proper care of himself. he will be discharged & home health will come on an as needed basis. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. I hope your husband does well & God Bless both of you! Heyladee55 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hopefully you are doing well . Please let me know how you are! currently my mom has stage 4 cancer of the larynex treatment did not help .She has become very sick but she wants to live. Surgery looks like the last option if the will still do it . Really sad  i cant help her anymore than i have.    concerned Leman Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT Good evening.  I can only offer support because I just completed my 14th radiation treatment this morning on my throat.  For peace of mind, you may want to get a second opinion.  Your doctor may not appreciate it, but it is your life your dealing with.   Good luck to you in any event and Godspeed.... Mike Mike1sc Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT