Richardc's Journey with Squamous Cell Sarcinoma

When originally diagnosed, I went from a biosy of the lymph nodes in the side of my neck and the doctor thinking it was not cancer, to finding out four days later that it was cancer. Once we got past the initial shock, then it was question of what type of treatment was recommended.At that point, the doctor could not give a prognosis. He stated it depended on how far the cancer had spread. If the cancer was localized, I had a better chance than if it had spread to my brain. Only surgery and the pathologists report would determine my outlook.

Some of the ong term effects of my "radical neck dissection" were damage to the Accessory nerve. Between the damage and long term recovery, I experienced a frozen shoulder that took physical therapy to overcome. I have persistent numbness in my little finger and ring finger that is attributable to damage to the ulna nerve.

I usually listened to music on my mp3 player and read the newspaper to keep me occupied during my 4 hour round of chemotherapy. I had minimal side effects on the first day following chemo, but the rebound effect of steroids wearing off usually hit on the secon day after chemo. I would be a mess by the weekend and begin to recover the first few days of the week until chemo bevan again. This was usually on a Wednesday. It took several rounds of chemo before the doctors figured out why I was having these problems. They ultimately ended up prescribing oral steroids to counteract some of the side effects.

Being under "the mask" I found out how claustrophbic I really was. I was scheduled for 7 weeks of daily radiation or a total of 35 rounds. This was performed concurrently with the chemotherapy. Initially, food started to tasted like cardboard and eventually metal. By the middle of my radiation treatments, I was having difficulty swallowing. Different mouthwashes and pain medication allowed me to swallow some foods. It progressed to the point that I could only swallow liquids and had to depend on the feeding tube inserted through my stomach to get sufficient calories. I strongly suggest having the radiation doctor put a "hole in the mask" where the mouth is to allow fresh air. It helped the radiation process. Also, get a feeding machine instead of trying to do this manually.

Side effects included-difficulty swallowing (1 of my tonsils was removed), radiation burn inside my throat and on the outside of my neck, decreased appetite, thrush, fatigue, thinning hair (I never lost mine), excessive fatigue. I had to take a leave of absence four weeks into my treatments. 75% of the way through my treatments, I was hospitalized. I was confused and finally admitted to ICU. My weakened immune system ahd allowed a MRSA infectin to set in. This resulted in memingitis, loss of ability to speak and lack of cognizance of the time that had transpired. After two weeks, I finally was cognizant of my surroundings. The best part - I could finally tell my wife I loved her. For two weeks, She wasn't sure if I would come home. I was diagnosed with memgiitis, MRSA infection, Sepsis and respiratory failure. I spent 4 weeks in a specialty hospital and 6 weeks in a rehab center. The attending physicial at the nursing home gave me a hopeless diagnosis. The doctors diagnosed me as terminal and wrote in his notes that his prognosis was " patient is terminal and will never return to work" I had limited use of the leg and arm on the side of my surgery. Partly attributable to the effects of the meningitis.

This was the anniversary of the date that I was celebrated my release from incarceration! We celebrate the day I went home from Rehab to begin my recovery. This is the first Relay for Life I had participated in. It will not by my last! I walked as many laps as I could and rested when necessary. The luminaria ceremony was as emotional as any I've attended.

He stated the bone marrow in my collar bone was destroyed by the radiation and I would not regain use of my arm. His only recommedation was to remove the collar bone (a procedure he had never performed) and he had no prosthetic or implant to put in its place. My wife and protector kept pushing for a second opinion. I was finally referred to an orthopedic oncologist at a larger hospital. Fortunately, he was able to perform the surgery to restore blood flow to the marrow, eradicate the infection and give me hope!. This was my decision point. It was also the first time I realized - there is hope. The dread and despair that preceded this was unimaginable. I didn't think I would ever be able to work again. What a turning point in all I had been through.