My recent cancer adventure - Here goes...

[Wylee]

good for you. im 4 yrs out throat cancer, same cancer as yours. i had a mild ear ach for a wile. cancer in the throat. it was twisting my toung. any way its back in my chest wall . doing good with treatment now. hang in there .

 

[Krooser]

I may be looking at a similar deal as you guys faced... film at 11

 

[roadrunnerh]

Keep us posted. PM if you want.

 

[Krooser]

Got a biopsy coming up as well as another MRI...

 

[OldGuyGTX]

I scrolled by this thread a couple of times....not knowing how to respond or even if I should.
This subject...it makes me really uncomfortable to think of or to speak about. I've lost family to this **** and it just makes me cower and shrink to think of.
Success stories are great to share because they DO happen and they DO inspire people to fight.
Thank you, Harry. Good luck with your recovery.

I feel awkward too about responding to these types of threads, but, perhaps my cancer surgeries can be of help to others.

I was exposed to all sorts of chemicals while in Vietnam, including Agent Orange. In 2023, w/i a 6 week time period, three of us vets were diagnosed with aggressive mouth cancer, the only thing we had in common was we were in high spray areas. One vet did not survive, a close combat medic of mine had most of his tongue removed, he now uses an artificial voice in speaking. All my upper right molars, two front teeth were removed and part of the bone itself, also, my entire palette was removed and I suffered upper right lip nerve damage. I was discharged from the hospital after a six week stay, I ended up losing 65lbs, including muscle mass.

During this same time period, I was also fighting a slow moving skin cancer. Then a third form of invasive cancer was diagnosed in my lower left eyelid, 4 tumors. Surgery lasted 5.5 hours, cancer was removed by a narrow margin, followed up by two reconstructive surgeries, the last reconstruction surgery was around Thanksgiving 2025.

I learned to deal with my mortality the first day I was in Vietnam, today I learned of another brother who is terminal with bone marrow cancer, he was also in an AO spray area.

I am a man of faith, at some point in time I'll be changing address, I have a great support team.

 

[mmissile]

God Bless, guys. I have many health issues, but haven't gone there....yet.

 

[Casca2525]

Well I have a cancer story myself. Just turned 69. A year ago they diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis and while my joints have hurt a little for many years, the arthritis was attacking my lungs and internal organs. Got some medication and started an exercise program and my lungs improved a lot. In the testing for the arthritis, they did a PET scan from head to toe and said no cancer in my body. January 2024, I started passing blood, did a scan and I have bladder cancer. Doctor says most common cause of bladder cancer is smoking, never smoked in my life. So, two operations to remove tumor and to check that it is all gone as the tumor tested as a T1 high grade tumor and today is my last BCG treatment. They use modified tuberculosis to trigger your immune system to fight any microscopic cancer as bladder cancer has a tendency to return. Will be checked in July to see if any cancer has returned. And as Harry mentioned it really does mess with your mind. If the cancer comes back, they are wanting to remove my bladder, and I just don't know if I want to live like that.

I don't know if this was your case or not, but 2nd hand smoke is a bitch, never smoked a single stick actively, but my mom, dad and 3 elder brothers smoked 3-5 packs a day, I move out the day I turned 16

 

[roadrunnerh]

The Lord continues to be very good to me.
Last week I had a routine follow-up CT Scan on my neck that came back clear.
Also, my blood test "NavDx" through Naveris in Massachusetts came back NEGATIVE for recurrent cancer!
I am nearing the one year date of my diagnosis. **** Cancer!

 

[roadrunnerh]

I'm feeling grateful beyond words. One year ago today I walked out of UPMC Presby - two days removed from my cancer surgery.
Yesterday, I saw my surgeon for my one year follow-up. He told me 75% of my type of cancer that recurs, comes back within a year. I passed a major milestone.
Please don't feel compelled to reply, I'm just telling y'all I'm grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Maybe I have some more time?
I'm also very grateful for my wife. She has been my rock throughout this. She's dealt with all my BS all along the way. All the appointments, the tests, the waiting for results, everything. I am blessed!

 

[Charles Cook]

I'm feeling grateful beyond words. One year ago today I walked out of UPMC Presby - two days removed from my cancer surgery.
Yesterday, I saw my surgeon for my one year follow-up. He told me 75% of my type of cancer that recurs, comes back within a year. I passed a major milestone.
Please don't feel compelled to reply, I'm just telling y'all I'm grateful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Maybe I have some more time?
I'm also very grateful for my wife. She has been my rock throughout this. She's dealt with all my BS all along the way. All the appointments, the tests, the waiting for results, everything. I am blessed!

AWESOME!

 

[Pistol Pete]

Great news Harry !

 

[Skytrooper]

That is terrific news !!

 

[HawkRod]

I AM compelled to reply, because that is great news Harry! I'm looking forward to continuing to hear that you are cancer free.

 

[1967coronet]

Hell yeh , great news.

 

[68BabyBlue]

That is terrific news! UPMC has come up with some great results for a few others I know, as well.