Bonkers' Journey with Head & Neck/Throat Cancer

4/2005 It started with a lump in my throat that was believed to be caused from strep throat so I was given antibiotics. After about a month or so it did not go away so I was sent to an ENT specialist. She still believed it was from the strep throat so I was given stronger antibiotics. After waiting about another month it still didn't go away. She didn't believe it was cancer but told me the lump would have to be removed so I was scheduled for surgery (11/2005). After the surgery was over and I went back for my follow-up I was told they took a lump out of my neck the size of a lemon and I did have stage 4 cancer.

In the month of November 2005 I had a Radical Neck Dissection done to find the base of the cancer. In December 2005 I had a Peg Tube Placement for tube feeding. I used the peg tube for 4 years before I was able to have the tube removed (3/2009).

The side effects of the chemo was so severe that I ended up having to cancel the chemotherapy and only continuing with radiation.

There was many side effects such as anxiety, fatigue, mouth dryness, vomiting, nerve damage, pain, taste change, thinking problems and weight loss.

After almost 5years of recovering and just starting to get back on my feet my wife decided to move out. We had been together for almost 30 years and it's been a big struggle not having her here but I've managed to pull myself together and I take it one day at a time.