Throat cancer diagnosis

 
User avatar
coalkirk
Member
Posts: 5185
Joined: Wed. May. 17, 2006 8:12 pm
Location: Forest Hill MD
Stoker Coal Boiler: 1981 EFM DF520 retired
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Jotul 507 on standby
Coal Size/Type: Lehigh anthracite/rice coal

Post by coalkirk » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 3:57 pm

So on October 31st I woke up with swollen lymph glands on my right side under my jaw. Went to see my primary doctor who said he thought it was a blocked saliva gland and recommended I get sour lemon drops and suck on them. He added if it didn’t clear in a day or two that I should see an ear nose and throat doctor. It didn’t clear and the ENT doc took one look at it and said this is not your saliva gland. He scoped my throat and said this is not good. He said a biopsy was required for a definitive diagnosis but he was positive it was cancer as he had seen it many times.
So next day I had an appointment with a head and neck surgeon and the biopsy came back squamous cell carcinoma HPV. That stands for human papilloma virus, a sexually transmitted disease. He said I could have been exposed in my teens or twenties. I’m 70 now. The tumor is at the base of my tongue in my throat. Too advanced for surgery or I would lose my entire tongue. What has been prescribed is 7 weeks of radiation therapy 5 days a week. Concurrent with that is 6 weeks of chemotherapy one day a week. I started all this Monday morning. So far no real side effects but I’m told the radiation ramps up over time. I will lose my sense of taste, the ability to make saliva, possibly the ability to swallow and it may fry my thyroid gland. There’s a list of potential additional side effects a mile long. Hopefully the ones above are temporary and will subside at least to some degree.
The chemotherapy is milder than some apparently. They say I will not lose my hair. I may lose my hearing. Again a big list of potential side effects.
When the radiation is being administered I have to have my head immobilized. Picture below is a custom molded mask that is bolted to the table while I’m being irradiated. It really sucks!! Yes that’s me. If I can get through all this poison and torture they say that they can cure this cancer. I’m skeptical but they seem very sure. Thankfully it looks like Medicare and my supplemental insurance will cover everything. My wife, my family and my friends have been great offering lots of help and support.
By the way there is now a vaccine to prevent HPV available to young people. If you have young children or grandchildren make sure they get vaccinated. The statistics are about 90% of people who are or were sexually active have been exposed to HPV. There are over 100 strains of HPV and apparently only 4 are associated with cancer. Lucky me.


 
Toddburn
Member
Posts: 804
Joined: Wed. Aug. 28, 2019 7:38 pm
Location: Southwest P.A.
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Hitzer 983/ Hitzer 55
Coal Size/Type: Nut anthracite/pea
Other Heating: Heat pump/forced air

Post by Toddburn » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 4:07 pm

Kirk keep positive sounds like your doctors are confident!

 
User avatar
tcalo
Member
Posts: 2068
Joined: Tue. Dec. 13, 2011 4:57 pm
Location: Long Island, New York
Baseburners & Antiques: Crawford 40
Coal Size/Type: Nut/stove anthracite

Post by tcalo » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 4:39 pm

So sorry to hear this. Try to stay positive and we will all pray for a speedy recovery!

 
User avatar
Lightning
Site Moderator
Posts: 14658
Joined: Wed. Nov. 16, 2011 9:51 am
Location: Olean, NY
Stoker Coal Boiler: Modified AA 130
Coal Size/Type: Pea Size - Anthracite

Post by Lightning » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 5:27 pm

Ooooooooffff.. Yer in my thoughts buddy!
and hoping for the best!

 
User avatar
warminmn
Member
Posts: 8108
Joined: Tue. Feb. 08, 2011 5:59 pm
Location: Land of 11,842 lakes
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Chubby Junior, Efel Nestor Martin, Riteway 37
Coal Size/Type: nut and stove anthracite, lignite
Other Heating: Wood and wear a wool shirt

Post by warminmn » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 5:37 pm

I can add nothing except to stay positive. There is green grass on the other side of these treatments.

 
User avatar
gaw
Member
Posts: 4437
Joined: Fri. Jan. 26, 2007 2:51 am
Location: Parts Unknown
Stoker Coal Boiler: Keystoker KA-6
Coal Size/Type: Rice from Schuylkill County

Post by gaw » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 6:08 pm

Godspead coalkirk. I hope it things work out well for you.

 
nut
Member
Posts: 1378
Joined: Wed. Aug. 28, 2019 1:54 pm
Location: NEPA
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Glacier Bay
Coal Size/Type: nut
Other Heating: electric

Post by nut » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 6:40 pm

Good luck.


 
User avatar
freetown fred
Member
Posts: 30293
Joined: Thu. Dec. 31, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Freetown,NY 13803
Hand Fed Coal Stove: HITZER 50-93
Coal Size/Type: BLASCHAK Nut

Post by freetown fred » Wed. Dec. 14, 2022 9:01 pm

Ya know ya got prayers headed your way Terry!!!

 
User avatar
Pauliewog
Member
Posts: 1824
Joined: Mon. Dec. 02, 2013 12:15 am
Location: Pittston, Pennsylvania
Hot Air Coal Stoker Furnace: Alaska 140 Dual Paddle Feed
Baseburners & Antiques: Fame Rosemont #20, Home Stove Works #25, Glenwood #6, Happy Thought Oak, Merry Bride #214, Sunnyside, Worlds Argand #114, New Golden Sun , & About 30 others.
Coal Size/Type: Stove, Chesnut, Pea, Rice / Anthracite

Post by Pauliewog » Thu. Dec. 15, 2022 12:17 am

Stay positive and hang in there. Praying for a quick recovery 🙏

Paulie

 
User avatar
franpipeman
Member
Posts: 689
Joined: Fri. Jan. 11, 2008 4:27 pm
Location: Wernersville pa
Stoker Coal Boiler: efm 520 stoker fitzgibbons pressure vessel
Hand Fed Coal Stove: harman, russo
Coal Size/Type: rice
Other Heating: alpine propane condensing boiler radiant floor

Post by franpipeman » Thu. Dec. 15, 2022 8:33 am

thanks for this heads up and the recommendation for my grandkids
I have been wondering how to bring this topic up with my daughter and son in law so your advice will make it happen for the kids who are 7 months 4 ,,,6 and 8 years old
thanks and good luck with your treatment.

 
User avatar
Sunny Boy
Member
Posts: 25548
Joined: Mon. Nov. 11, 2013 1:40 pm
Location: Central NY
Hand Fed Coal Boiler: Anthracite Industrial, domestic hot water heater
Baseburners & Antiques: Glenwood range 208, # 6 base heater, 2 Modern Oak 118.
Coal Size/Type: Nuts !
Other Heating: Oil &electric plenum furnace

Post by Sunny Boy » Thu. Dec. 15, 2022 12:09 pm

And some more prayers from here, CK.

Paul

 
coalnewbie
Member
Posts: 8601
Joined: Sat. May. 24, 2008 4:26 pm
Location: Chester, NY
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: LL AnthraKing 180K, Pocono110K,KStokr 90K, DVC
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Invader 2
Baseburners & Antiques: Wings Best, Glenwood #8(x2) Herald 116x
Coal Size/Type: Rice,
Other Heating: Heating Oil CH, Toyotomi OM 22

Post by coalnewbie » Thu. Dec. 15, 2022 3:47 pm

God speed, be brave

 
ColdHouse
Member
Posts: 2291
Joined: Thu. Nov. 08, 2012 12:06 pm
Location: Bristol, CT

Post by ColdHouse » Thu. Dec. 15, 2022 4:13 pm

Good luck!
Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer have had it.
The older we get the more precious each day seems.

 
User avatar
Hambden Bob
Member
Posts: 8535
Joined: Mon. Jan. 04, 2010 10:54 am
Location: Hambden Twp. Geauga County,Ohio
Hot Air Coal Stoker Stove: Harman 1998 Magnum Stoker
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Blower Model Coal Chubby 1982-Serial#0097
Coal Size/Type: Rice-A-Roni ! / Nut
Other Heating: Pro-Pain Forced Air

Post by Hambden Bob » Sat. Dec. 17, 2022 9:11 am

Terry,I Can't Thank You Enough For This Update!!
As Daft as this may sound,in my eyes,Your Situation isn't negotiable. Your either "All In,All Hands On Deck To Repel Borders And Full Faith & Force Forward"! Rather easy for a dumbass such as me to state that,but You've always struck me as a "No Nonsense Kinda' Guy"! Like I've said in the past,"We'll Walk Alongside Of Ya' On This Deal!" Per Freddy: "Forward We Go"

 
User avatar
Seagrave1963
Member
Posts: 205
Joined: Fri. Sep. 26, 2014 7:12 pm
Location: Eastern Shore of Maryland
Hand Fed Coal Stove: Harman TLC2000
Coal Size/Type: nut
Other Heating: electric heat pumps, propane fireplace

Post by Seagrave1963 » Sun. Dec. 18, 2022 8:18 am

Many prayers and thoughts of strength to you coalkirk - wishing you the absolute best!


Post Reply

Return to “Health”