kristineingrid's Journey with Head & Neck/Throat Cancer

This was my third time around the block, I was originally diagnosed at age 34 though I didn't have any of the risk factors that often lead to this type of cancer. I had a seperate occurence of the same type of cancer in 2001 & an actual recurrence in 2003. All presented in the same way in the same spot of my upper maxilla.

It altered my facial features pretty significantly.

The radiation in my jaw in 1987 caused little damage.The radiation in 2003 led to a very hard to treat case of trismus which led to another surgery to release the jaw. I have recently started a newer form of physical therapy that is very time consuming, but is working very well to maintain my jaw mobility.

For me, helping others & raising awareness is something I try to pass on. I'm involved with Relay for Life & raising funds to win the war against cancer is very important to me.

I lost my sister-in-law, Pam to breast cancer. Pam's loss was so difficult, we had been walking together on this journey for 7 years when she lost her battle .The things that I do for cancer causes is in memory of her. In my heart, she still walks beside me.