Short History

In early May, I noticed that the lymph gland on the right side of my throat was swollen. I went for a physical, and was referred to an ENT that suggested we biopsy or remove the lymph gland. I opted to wait and see if this was somehow related to a dental implant I was having done, as lymphs are usually indicative of some other problem.

Upon seeing another ENT that really looked around my ear, nose and throat (imagine that!), a velvety surface was discovered on the tissue of my tonsil. After a biopsy, it was determined to be squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer.

So, I will be the undergoing treatment of cancer for the second time in my life. The first was a testicular cancer, resulting from an undescended testicle when I was very young. Not too uncommon, and entirely treatable. Only issue was that they found a spot in my left lung on the CAT scan. I opted to wait a month to monitor it's growth while I moved from Maui back to Santa Barbara to do the treatment for the testicular cancer.

When I returned and got another scan, they said that it had grown and needed to be removed. So we removed both my left testicle ad my left lung (not at the same time!). Testicle removal was minor, but the lung was a different story! When I heard the the spot in my lung was nothing more than scar tissue, likely from an infection I had when I was a kid, I was both upset and relieved. Upset that I really did not need to have most of my lung removed (scar tissue does NOT grow), but relieved to know that the cancer had not spread to my lungs.I decided to focus on the positive so I healed up and finished my radiation treatment. Considered 100% cured!

So back to my current situation, I will be undergoing both radiation and chemotherapy treatment for the cancer, which is in both my tonsil and lymph gland (no other spots showed up anywhere!). X-Rays, CAT scans and PET scans show that it is isolated, and the prognosis is good if I follow the recommended treatment.

Radiation to the throat is not an easy thing, in the old days, they just gave the whole area a dose, effecting everything including salivary glands, etc. Now they are much more precise and "aim" the radiation exactly where it is needed. I'll lose my lymph node along with the tonsil, but there should hopefully be some salivary glands still working on the other side of my mouth.

I had to get all my dental work completely up to date, so after four visits to the regular dentist and another couple for the dental implant, I won't need anything done there for awhile. Apparently, the mouth is slow to heal after radiation.

Next is the stomach tube, needed so I won't lose any weight during the treatment. Radiation to the throat starts out easy enough, but soon becomes increasingly difficult to swallow, and not eating is not an option for me! If I were to lose weight during the treatment, they may have to stop the process - not good!

So yesterday morning, I checked into Cottage Hospital and got my tube installed, along with my first radiation treatment and chemotherapy treatment. WHEW! The stomach tube is real sore, and the morphine they gave me made me pretty ill, so I opted for demerol with tylenol. Much beter!

I fell asleep during the radiation treatment, so no problem there, and the chemotherapy was proceeded with anti-nausea drugs, and I felt nothing. This morning, I will get my radiation treatment, then go home to be with the whippets and Lee Anne - Yippee!

I am starting this blog so I'll be able to keep everyone updated, especially towards the end of the treatment, where it will become exceedingly difficult to swallow or speak. My treatment will go until mid-september, once a day radiation on weekdays and once a week chemo.