Who else has faced the big C?

[red-beard]

First, I was quite busy with work, 2024 & 2025. So haven't been on too much.

In Dec 2024, a lump showed up on the side my neck. I was able to get into my PCP in January 2025. Ultrasound, then CT Scan. They didn't think it was anything. Sent me in March to a surgeon to have it cut out. He took one look and said "Not me". Sent me to an ENT surgeon.

April, ENT looks at my throat and immediately says it is probably cancer. Me? I'm in denial. Skin cancer? Sure. Prostate cancer? Likely. Throat cancer? I never smoked or anything.

Finally, in for biopsy in June and YEP, cancer. Transferred over to Oncologist. Very treatable. PET scan, stage 1 with one lymph node involved. The biopsy actually cleaned the original site! Chemo & Radiation. Apparently, this is extremely common today.

And it is the reason EVERYONE should be getting Gardasil. Girls, Boys, Women & Men. Sort of like chickenpox & shingles, except the shingles is cancer. Gardasil can help prevent it from manifesting. And it is now being used post treatment to prevent reoccurrence.

35 Rads & 3 big Chemo infusions. August-October. I certainly had it easier than most, but no cake walk. Never used the feeding tube, but it was close a couple of weeks.

Tongue is almost fully healed, still can't taste much sweetness. Very sensitive to spicy food. Hearing is off but improving! As of 10th of November I really started feeling like my old self. And maybe the beard is recovering. Still places nothing is growing, but it's spreading. Clean shaving, I haven't done that since 1988. And I haven't shaved my moustache area since 1983!

PET scan just before Thanksgiving and results Dec 1st. I'm clear. Follow-up PET in 3 months, and then ongoing for the next 5 years.

I lost 90 pounds over 2.5 years with diet, exercise & weight loss drugs. I took 25 lbs off in 2 months. Yep, down 115 lbs. I weigh what I weighed in college! And I'm back on a maintenance dose of the weight-loss/Blood Glucose drugs.

Nope, 2025 has been a hell of a year. I hope everyone else is doing well.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Damn, that sucks! Glad to hear you’re on the mend, and that you won’t have to change your screen name.

[HobieMarty]

Very thankful that you are doing well!!! You went through a lot, a lot, in 2025 and I hope 2026 is a better year for you. I've lost a few family members to cancer so, it is nice to hear when some beats the dang stuff and you Sir have made my day today!!! Onward and Upward from here!!!

Sent from my SM-S916U using Tapatalk

[herr_oberst]

Great news! I can't imagine what your went through, but I'm glad you're still here!

[IROC]

Wow, what a saga. A little disconcerting that the medical community took months to correctly identify what was going on.

And...35 rads! Impressive.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by IROC

Wow, what a saga. A little disconcerting that the medical community took months to correctly identify what was going on.

And...35 rads! Impressive.

I re-wrote Nirvana's "Rape me" as "Zap Me"

Yeah. If everything had gone perfectly, I think I could have cut off 2 months. Originally tried to get the biopsy in May, but I had a conflict on getting the pre-surgery labs. And if they sent me to the ENT in Feb or March, we might have been another month ahead or so. It does make me wonder if the spread to the lymph node could have been prevented. It would not have changed treatment. 35 rad plus chemo is "standard".

[Rot 911]

Tough way to lose weight, but glad to see you made it through!

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Tough way to lose weight, but glad to see you made it through!

I gave that weight loss program a "2" on Yelp. Effective, but the side effects suck...

[speeder]

Glad to hear from you and glad that you caught it in time. I've known a few people with cancer in the same location, including my dad. Take care of yourself and Happy New Year! +++

[vash]

RB.

I consider you a bud. I am glad you are whipping this thing.

off all the males in my family on my dads side..there are only 4 of use that havent been affected yet. 4!! its the specter in my life. I thank the heavens me and my brother are part of that 4. and we are all in this generation. that older ones, I miss them.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by speeder

Glad to hear from you and glad that you caught it in time. I've known a few people with cancer in the same location, including my dad. Take care of yourself and Happy New Year! +++

In the voice of Londo Mollari:

Here I was, just trying to create joy and happiness for the world...and this is the result.

In my Radiation oncology documents, it had a section on Sexuality and Intimacy: "Cancer is not a punishment for past sins or sexual behavior..." Well, apparently it is!!!

[911 Rod]

Wow. Sucks you went through this, but good news that it worked out!

[vash]

great quote.

[Scott Douglas]

Very glad to read this, RB.

I'd like to tell you all what all my brother has been thru in the last ten years or so but I'm not at liberty to say as I'm not sure he wants it told.

Needless to say, he's a fighter and has been winning so far.

A positive attitude goes a long ways in this kind of fight.

I'd also recommend all of you watch 'Killing Cancer' on the Newsnation YouTube channel.
I think the world could benefit greatly if that doctor can get some traction and the powers that be will allow change for the good of us all to take place. With the money that's at stake I have my doubts it'll happen though.

[rfuerst911sc]

Early 2015 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer , caught early . I documented the journey on this forum . Had rad seeds implanted with follow up radiation . All perfect until late last year . PSA started rising and because of history off to the pet scan . Found a tiny spot in a lymph node .

Radiation treatments again along with prescription meds for 2 years , my first year is up this month . Had a follow up pet scan two weeks ago and no cancer found . So I am 2 for 2 . Cancer history is in my family so really no surprises . Early detection is HUGE as treatment options are good when caught early .

Will I never get it again ? I would like to say yes but the reality is there are no guarantees other than death and taxes I am thankful for all the doctors and staff that did a great job taking care of me . Good luck to all that have to endure this journey .

[masraum]

Red, very glad to hear that you caught it early, and you're doing well! Holy hell!

Wow! Dec 2024 --> Jun 2025 before you finally got somewhere. I guess the silver lining is that it was early, and it seems to be done and gone.

Keep on keepin' on and keep up the good fight!

We had a poster here years ago, Johnco, he dug swimming pools in the New Orleans area that got throat cancer.
My uncle passed of throat cancer several years back.
My wife's father passed of throat cancer 20ish years ago.

[GH85Carrera]

So no beard? That would be weird for me, as I grew my mustache in 1974 and my beard in 1976.

Glad you are on the mend. I will try hard to avoid that diet plan of yours. It does not sound like a good way to loose weight.

Keep getting better!

[pwd72s]

Wow...glad you made it...

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

So no beard? That would be weird for me, as I grew my mustache in 1974 and my beard in 1976.

Yeah - and cold! And I had to use an electric razor since the radiation affects your skin. I'm back to being able to use a regular razor, but it is weird to be shaving the whole thing. And I haven't shaved my mustache area since 1983!!! I think I had to shave a couple of times, when I worked in chemical refineries as a field engineer. But those were temporary.

Mustache area seems like it is fully back. Maybe I'll do a 70's porn stache.

[GH85Carrera]

I started my mustache sometime just before October 10, 1973.

I only know that date as that is the day Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned. I photographed one of his VP appearances in Montgomery, AL for a newspaper. Even back then the secret service made me remove the lens caps and they looked through each lens, and they wanted to hear the camera shutter operate twice. Then they put a sticker on my camera case.

Anyway, we were called to go to the press conference with little notice. I rushed home and changed into a sport coat and tie, and nice slacks, and while shaving I cut the heck out of my lip with the razor. So I had to press a paper towel to my lip to slow and eventually stop the bleeding. As the secret service were inspecting my camera gear, I had the paper towel pressed to my lip. He asked what is going on, and I showed him the cut, and I said I am bleeding.

That was the last time I shaved my lip. I grew a beard a few months later. One of the guys I worked with would grow a beard every winter, and shave it in the summer. He mentioned his face felt cold with no fur.