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Vital Info


Barbara (barbaraann)


June 12, 2011


Jacksonville


September 10, 1951


Cancer Survivor

Cancer Info


Tonsil Cancer


Stage 4


Yes


Lymph Node Removal


Erbitux (Cituximab), Cisplatin (Platinol, Platinol-AQ)


Everything


How blessed I am to have a great family and friends


Mayo Clinic Florida


Don't try to rush anything in recovery .. One day at a time..


April 1, 2011


July 5, 2011


Swelling on left neck found one morning in November 2010


December 6, 2010 left neck resection..


Cisplatin ....nausea and fatigue


IMRT 37 treatments which began Jan 17, 2010. Still not sure how I got through it.

Stats

Posts:22
Photos:0
Events:0
Supporters:31
Supporting:16
Comments
-Made:101
-Received:153
Views:23144
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Barbara's Cancer Blog

Two Years and Thankful

A big hello to all of you on BFAC, I feel so close to you all and am so very thankful that I fould this site over a year ago.  It is a safe place I can go to for knowlege, inspiration and hope.  This past couple of weeks have been tests for swallowing, colonoscopy and EGD, Mammogram/Breast Clinic and Rad Onc check-up.  It has been 2 years now since I completed treatment for Tonsil and Breast Cancer and I am still NED..ya hoo!  My Rad Onc said I now officially go into the category that there is only a 5% chance of the tonsil cancer returning.  I don’t really believe in statistics…I just know that today, here and now, I am cancer free and I thank God for that.  I did find out I had a rather large colon polyp that was dysplastic (pre cancer) so unfortunately I will have to get another colonoscopy in a year…ugh ugh.  Swallowing study showed no obstructions, but I still cannot swallow meats, etc…but I do have tongue weakeness and residual jaw pain…anyway..I have no complaints.  I have actually gained some weight.  It seems that fatigue will be my life long buddy, but even that is manageable each day that I don’t overdue things before my engine gives out…Love to you all

Posted on March 22, 2013 at 10:38 AM PDT by Barbara (, 9 comments, 266 view)
ashleyann likes this post.
scottie sent you a prayer.

Congratulations on your good news x

EllenPosted on March 22, 2013 at 11:41 AM PDT by Ellen

I am SO happy for you. Keep up the good work, you sound like you have a wonderful attitude!

LauriePosted on March 22, 2013 at 12:24 PM PDT by Laurie

Happy Anniversary!

Private UserPosted on March 22, 2013 at 4:45 PM PDT by Private User

Barbara, You’re just a few months ahead of me with your diagnosis and the same age. I can eat meat but sometimes it takes several trys to get it to go down. It isn’t as enjoyable to eat but I just keep at it. I feel like my mouth is a magnet that attracts food and holds on to it. These are side effects of treatment that I can LIVE with so I’m not complaining. It’s a comfort to me to know that what I experience are the same as others. I used to eat so fast now I have to take my time. Glad to be sharing our NED status!

NanicePosted on March 22, 2013 at 4:54 PM PDT by Nanice

Happy two year anniversary! It is a big one, statistically speaking, so good for you to be here to celebrate it. May there be many, many more. Ann

AnnPosted on March 25, 2013 at 8:35 AM PDT by Ann

Sounds like a good report to me! Sending up prayers of thanksgiving and prayers for continued healing!

Scottie

ScottiePosted on March 25, 2013 at 11:23 AM PDT by Scottie

Thanks for all of your comments and support. As I said earlier I don’t put much stock in statistics regarding cancer..I am learning to live today and let tomorrow take care if itself..with my Heavenly Father’s help, if course. Love to you all snd continued prayers fir those of us still in the throws of treatment.

BarbaraPosted on March 25, 2013 at 11:51 AM PDT by Barbara

Great news Barbara.. all sounds so wonderfully positive! hugs and love.. Sabina

Private UserPosted on March 25, 2013 at 12:54 PM PDT by Private User
WOW 2 years…WONDERFUL! Big Hugs for congratulations!
Private UserPosted on March 25, 2013 at 7:10 PM PDT by Private User

LTD Outcome

I am so very happy to say that my Long Term Disability has been reinstated. Thanks to everyone who offered up a prayer for me. The outside physician that my employer sent me to wrote a colloborated report backing up everything that my physicians had documented. In his letter he said he had gone through over 500 pages of medical notes. It is amazing what our journey down “cancer lane” really has meant until we read about it in our medical notes. God bless to you all both in recovery and going through treatment you are in my prayers everyday.

Posted on February 18, 2013 at 7:35 AM PST by Barbara (, 5 comments, 461 view)
3 people like this post.
scottie sent you a prayer.

Glad everything worked out for you.

Private UserPosted on February 18, 2013 at 8:52 AM PST by Private User

Wonderful news! Thanks for letting us know.

SandyjoPosted on February 18, 2013 at 1:06 PM PST by Sandyjo

Yeah! Doing the Happy dance here for you!~ Hugs Val xoxoxo

ValeriePosted on February 18, 2013 at 8:19 PM PST by Valerie

What a weight off your mind x

EllenPosted on February 19, 2013 at 5:26 AM PST by Ellen

As if beating cancer wasn’t enough, you just beat some beaurocrats as well. Good job!

Sending up prayers of thanksgiving for you!

Scottie

ScottiePosted on February 20, 2013 at 7:21 PM PST by Scottie

Living Life

Hi everyone, Haven’t posted in a while. I am still kicking and screaming through this recovery process. I began a battle with my company’s LTD insurance in late November 2012 regarding my inability to return to work and that took a lot out of me. I still do not have an official ruling yet, but I have two more appeals left if they come back with a negative verdict. I am employed by a big-name Medical facility and since all my physicians said that they agree I was unable to return to work they sent me to an outside physician, who agreed with my personal physicians, that I am unable to return to work. The waiting is so hard isn’t it..we wait for results to tests and we wait for someone else to determine our future…ugh. Had to go through an upper GI and colonoscopy recently. Still having swalling problems and major reflux/GERD. Found 3 colon polyps..one was 20 mm…was some dysplasia but they felt they got it all…another colonoscopy in a year. I will be having a swallow study in late March so I can see if I need any further treatment to help with the chocking..I can eat mostly what I want, just not meat. Saliva is coming back slowly. I sent all my love and well wishes to everyone and appreciate your comments and keeping us imformed on things in your lives. Let’s keep on Keeing on!

Posted on February 15, 2013 at 10:38 AM PST by Barbara (, 8 comments, 560 view)
ashleyann sent you a prayer.
3 people sent you a hug.

Great to hear from you…Swallowing is such a bear after this treatment!

Private UserPosted on February 15, 2013 at 12:57 PM PST by Private User

HI and welcome back. I’m running a parallel course with you except for the extenuating problems…swallowing – still causes some aggravation…stuff goes up my nose and pills still get stuck in my throat. Meat is an issue and saliva never enough! But better than before. My ENT said in the summer: “in 10 years you’ll never even notice all the damage done to your throat. Hang tough, good luck and keep workin it.

Pat CPosted on February 15, 2013 at 1:17 PM PST by Pat C
Sabina likes this comment

Hope things wotk out with your insurance company. I had to file for SSD for continuation of benefits at some point, which was approved in 2010, so the LTD stopped bothering me. I eat everyting too, and work around my taste and chewing difficulty. Good luck with the swallow study.

Private UserPosted on February 15, 2013 at 2:30 PM PST by Private User

Hi Barbara, I have my throat stretched on a regular basis. It does help, I was suppose to go and have the stretch and colonoscopy a week ago last friday but I had an abscessed tooth after a root canal. I am not looking forward to it. Waiting is hard, I was waiting for an ok from medicaid to do my teeth which is why I got the abscess after the root canal. Makes me angry but nothing to do but appeal and wait, finally they agreed .I don’t have the saliva I need either. I will pray for you.. hugs and love Sabina:)

Private UserPosted on February 15, 2013 at 3:22 PM PST by Private User

Good to hear from you. Yes, LTD can be a battle. Sometimes I think they just try to get us upset. A doctor said some of the workers get bonuses if they can drop people! I decided I have one of those. He always said he never gets faxes or it takes 5 days to get to him. When my worker was on vacation, the person who took over for him had me fax something and todl me it can take up to two hours til he receives it. Not days. I got a call within an hour that he received the fax! What a difference.
I hope they soon get their act together.
It was a huge relief when all was cleared for the OK.

SandyjoPosted on February 16, 2013 at 8:07 AM PST by Sandyjo

Hi Barb, We have the stage 4 diagnosis in common. Mine just happens to be in the bone. Hey, it’s just a number. The number will stay the same but we will change. We will whip this lousy disease. I am honored to be one of your supporters.
Ron

Private UserPosted on February 16, 2013 at 6:26 PM PST by Private User

Best of luck to you!

Mari

Private UserPosted on February 17, 2013 at 8:29 AM PST by Private User

Barbara you sound like you are doing really good! I am glad you are fighting to get what you need! I hope and pray everything goes your way Hugs Val

ValeriePosted on February 17, 2013 at 9:31 PM PST by Valerie
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Barbara supports (14)

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