I’m a 59-year-old (male) and I was diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer of my right tonsil in April 2023. Truth be told, I knew before then and almost waited too long.
April 12 is a popular day for me. April 12, 2023 is the day I was told I had cancer. April 12, 1992 is the day my wife and I met. April 12, 2018 is the day I got sober.
I was not a candidate for surgery. A treatment plan consisting of 36 radiation and 7 chemotherapy treatments was developed. I decided that, if possible, I would go through treatment without a feeding tube. It was not easy and regret did rear its ugly head every day when it was time to eat. Eating for me was three blended shakes my doctors and wife designed every day at the same time. It was easier to use Magic Mouthwash and Lidocaine to numb my mouth and then force all three shakes down, as opposed to trying to do the process three times a day.
Chemotherapy was hard for me because I had an allergic reaction to the drugs. After 4 treatments the decision was made to stop chemotherapy. My mouth, tongue and throat were covered in blisters (Mucositis). It was the worst case of Mucositis they had ever seen. My tongue is still regenerating 18 months later.
I managed radiation by creating a process that I could count. I entered the room with the Grateful Dead playing. I never wore a smock, just took my shirt off. I asked the Technicians (trained to be stoic for good reason) to join me in my nonchalant approach, which made everything more relaxed. My positive attitude went farther than I could have possibly known.
The first time they snap you into the radiation table is surreal. I count things and found that it took exactly 300 seconds to close the door, adjust the table, run the scans and open the door. I hear of other treatments that keep patients in rooms much longer and consider myself lucky.
What I learned most was how valuable a strong support group is to treatments. Having someone there to watch your nutrition and allow you to rest cannot be overstated. My wife Leann is a big reason I made it through treatments and I am eternally grateful.
My cancer journey introduced me to an entire cancer community that I did not know existed. I did not know people lived WITH cancer or how many families are affected by cancer. Cancer does not care how rich you are, how many friends you have or where you live. Surviving cancer however gives you and those around you a more meaningful purpose for life.