diagnosed with lymphoma

[ratface]

Last day of Radiation

Hello everyone. Today is my last day of radiation. Graduation day! Had a long talk with the RAD oncologist yesterday. Prior to that had a very bad day mentally. He was very reassuring and I think for the first time I actually believed some of the things he was saying. Said he couldn't have asked for a better response to treatment, Neck appears symetrical again although radiation gives you a turkey neck. Will see him again in two weeks.

Left that hospital and had an appt. with the Head of head and neck oncology at the University of Chicago. What a difference in care. Should have gone there in the first place. Why do doctors refer to the hospitals where they are on staff rather than the best place for treatment? These people spent an hour in my mouth. Ordered up a bunch of tests for 1 month from now on holloween. Some of these should have been done at the first hospital months ago. Questioned some aspects of the pathology and are having that retested. Doctor said I now belong to them.Got no argument from me. I will finish up today with current Hospital and follow up with RAD guy. Then its off to greener pastures. Much more confident in qulity of care here. If only I had known. Was terrified at the onset and just wanted to get treatment started. Neck is healing well and I can wear shirts again. Just in time because its getting cold!!!!!!!

 

[ls99]

Great news, you sound optimistic still. Good that you found a care setting that you feel confident in.

 

[bbbamI]

I put this outfit on especially for you...

...........

.....with some music of course.

Great news darlin'!

 

[Bestwifeever]

Sounds like the University of Chicago hospital is great, but I'm sure the treatment you've received already is doing you a world of good and no harm done, Ratty, so no second-guessing allowed. Forward and onward and all good thoughts for you.

 

[Amethyst]

Waiting

Ratface,

Thanks for the good update. The doctor's words sound very hopeful, indeed. In a way, I'm glad you're getting more tests at the end of October, because that's only 4 weeks. Maybe that will be enough time for the doctors to see how well the treatment really worked.

I suggest you use your "waiting" time to make or re-check your list of things to do after you retire to your farm!

Amethyst

 

[ratface]

I brought the mask home to scare my children about the evils of smoking and anyone else on this board I can impact. You are then secured to a table using plastic clips literally holding your head motionless. Remember it starts out as a flat piece of hot plastic on your face. Happy Halloween.

 

[vicente solano]

I brought the mask home to scare my children about the evils of smoking and anyone else on this board I can impact. You are then secured to a table using plastic clips literally holding your head motionless. Remember it starts out as a flat piece of hot plastic on your face. Happy Halloween.




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Ratface: The mask is really scary! But I´m afraid I´m too hooked up on smoking.... Glad you are doing well.

 

[bbbamI]

I brought the mask home to scare my children about the evils of smoking and anyone else on this board I can impact. You are then secured to a table using plastic clips literally holding your head motionless. Remember it starts out as a flat piece of hot plastic on your face. Happy Halloween.

Egads....that scares the weenie out of me! Good job...RF.....

 

[TromboneAl]

One picture is worth 1,000 words. I'm not sure you should allow it to play on the treadmill, though.

 

[citrine]

Glad to hear that things are going so well ratface.....I am absolutely confident that everything is going to work out fabulous....
Make sure that while you are waiting that you have a lot of fun....go away for the weekend or take a mini vacation....you definitely deserve it

 

[ratface]

No vacation yet. I'm afraid the energy levels are all but gone right now. This could take some time.??

 

[bbbamI]

Yes...it may take a little time. But it's great practice for ER. Just sitting back with your feet up....doing nothing....

 

[Kroeran]

I brought the mask home to scare my children about the evils of smoking and anyone else on this board I can impact. You are then secured to a table using plastic clips literally holding your head motionless. Remember it starts out as a flat piece of hot plastic on your face. Happy Halloween.




View attachment 7494

thank you for sharing your story. I read through the entire thread just now, and hope you are doing ok today.

I don't smoke, but I AM going to sign up for the health club membership at the *ffice that I have been fence sitting on and get back to my vitamin regime!

 

[ratface]

I started taking multi vitamins this week mainly to get my anemia jump started with some more iron. Picked up on brand and it contained zero iron. Got to read those labels. Anyway glad to have inspired you to start taking care of yourself. Get off that fence! It really is a misleading thread and you have to read the whole thing otherwise you think I have Lymphoma which may or may not been better?

Anyway got away for the weekend to the rural place and stayed busy which kept cancer thoughts from creeping in most of the time. Damn cancer awareness month wasn't helping with the constant advertising. I think they said 1 in 8 woman get breast cancer and 1 in 18 people get colon cancer. Go get checked out if it applies to you? Almost all early detection cancer has high cure rates, don't procratinate!

I'm just wating for the scans at the end of the month. The waiting is brutal. Hanging in there. Very cold in Chicago for this time of year, hampering my evening walks. No snow yet.

 

[freebird5825]

...Anyway got away for the weekend to the rural place and stayed busy which kept cancer thoughts from creeping in most of the time.

...I'm just wating for the scans at the end of the month. The waiting is brutal. Hanging in there. Very cold in Chicago for this time of year, hampering my evening walks. No snow yet.

Excellent distraction - the country is a good mental healer.
Now you need something for the mind while at home. Need ideas?
Warning - I tend to do downright silly stuff.

Getting chilly here too. Fall colors in abundance but leaves are falling quickly. Here we go into winter hibernation - got all your nuts gathered?

 

[W2R]

It really is a misleading thread and you have to read the whole thing otherwise you think I have Lymphoma which may or may not been better?

Squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma... they both end with that dreaded "oma"! Any ***oma is pretty scary, to me, and I don't know a great deal about any of them.

Glad you are able to spend some time at your country place. Being closer to nature sounds like just what you may need during this stressful waiting time.

 

[freebird5825]

O Ratface, wherefor art thou?

How ya doing ?

 

[ratface]

i'm here, no over here, no higher-lower

I've been slowly recuperating and taking it easy. I feel stronger every day and even get a small workout in some days. DW says I have a cast iron stomach. Dw and daughter came home with authentic Mexican tacos and I wanted one but knew I could never get it down. I can't really taste anything and swallowing is slow and tedious. Later that night we drove past a pepe's tacos and although not the same as authentic they are softer especially their pork variety. Well we bought a dozen, $43.00, DW and I nearly lost it right there. Got them home and my DD was estatic as she loves tacos and guacamole. I had a little of the guac. The taco was horrible and couldn't eat the totilla at all. Made some chicken and rice soup. Still hungry. Had some cottage cheese with cling peachs, yummy. Spent the afternoon visiting with a gentleman who had the exact cancer 10 years ago and is alive and kicking. Very uplifting. What a wonderful story. Trying to stay sane while waiting for my cat scans on the 30th of this month. Meanwhile trying to get stronger in case things don't go well and I need to endure more treatment. The neck disection is almost a certainty. Talked to GP yesterday and he recommends a shot for the flu as well as shingles. Scheduled for the flu shot tomorrow. The shingles shot has to be ordered and I don't know if insurance will pay, its rumored to be a $300 shot. I'll pay out of pocket if I need to. They don't look pleasant. It seems that anyone who has had chicken pox is suseptable to shingles either around age sixty or if their immune system is compromised as mine is. I had Chickpox around age three and still have the scar above my right eye from it. I don't think they even immunize for it today. Anyway I'm doing as well as possible under the circumstances. Two weeks and counting for the scans. Will sit and enjoy my Bears play this evening. I'm hoping to win the weekly football pool to pay for the shingles shot. Everyone have a great sunday.

 

[W2R]

Glad to hear you are doing so well!! (Well, comparatively speaking, anyway).

If cottage cheese and cling peaches are yummy after your ordeal, then I think you should eat as much of them as you want.

My brother got shingles a couple of years ago, and he was utterly miserable. I should probably get that shot, too. I think we both had chicken pox in 1954, and then I had shingles in 1955. At that age it isn't as miserable though I remember it was very itchy.

 

[ls99]

Sound like good progress. Good to read your update.

 

[bbbamI]

To get your mind off stuff, you can come over and help me paint....or rip up the carpet in my house! .....ain't I the sweet one?

Have a great Sunday RF, I hope you win the pool.

 

[bubba]

My mother has shingles right now and is most uncomfortable. Plus she swears her energy is zapped due to the outbreak. Hopefully your insurance will cover the shot, but be sure to get it regardless. After everything you've been through you don't need that problem. Take care, and thanks for the update. You continue to be an inspiration.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Ratty, my beloved sister-in-law also has CAT scans on the 30th to see how the surgery/radiation/chemo worked for her since her lung cancer relapsed to the brain this summer (her first tests last month were all clear). I will most definitely mention you too in my conversations about my SIL with a higher power.

 

[Rambler]

DW got the shingles at age 45 or 46, and I have had a few friends come down with shingles in their late 40s and early 50s. Not pleasant at all. Get the shot if you can. You don't want to have to deal with other things at the same time as the big C.

Take care of yourself RF and keep us posted. We're all still rooting for you!

R

 

[Urchina]

Healthy, strong thoughts coming your way from California!

And yes, they offer vaccines for chickenpox to kids now, and since most kids get the shots it's not common to get chickenpox naturally any more. Done had mine when I was 5, got the scars to prove it.