Cancer Support

sinkingfeeling

(53,661 posts) Wed Jan 16, 2019, 09:35 AM Jan 2019

287

Ten years ago today, I woke up from what was to have been minor [View all]

surgery to remove a benign lymph node, to be told they had discovered Stage IV cancer on both my tonsils. It was squamous cell carcinoma.
I was shocked as I had had no symptoms at all. I underwent 33 radiation treatments that also destroyed most of my saliva glands and taste buds, covered my throat with blisters, and burnt my neck. Didn't eat for 4 weeks.
But I survived and have been cancer free for TEN years!

69 replies

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Highlight:

Ten years ago today, I woke up from what was to have been minor [View all] sinkingfeeling Jan 2019 OP

Amazing! tulipsandroses Jan 2019 #1

Congrats on having gone through hell and come back to be with us here. Zoonart Jan 2019 #2

A huge tip of the hat 🎩 for reaching such an important milestone! Ninga Jan 2019 #3

From one survivor to another Ohiogal Jan 2019 #4

My lifetime sweetie is battling cancer thucythucy Jan 2019 #5

Good luck, thucythucy kag Jan 2019 #23

Thank you. thucythucy Jan 2019 #41

Good for you! You beat cancer! raging moderate Jan 2019 #6

Congratulations!! cate94 Jan 2019 #7

How wonderful that you survived that horror! Lonestarblue Jan 2019 #8

Amazing Farmer-Rick Jan 2019 #9

21 + years since my first diagnosis Yonnie3 Jan 2019 #10

Glad you're here. Duppers Jan 2019 #42

wow. barbtries Jan 2019 #11

Congratulations to you, Scarsdale Jan 2019 #12

Wonderful! Congratulations! Cousin Dupree Jan 2019 #13

Wonderful! lillypaddle Jan 2019 #14

Congratulations! volstork Jan 2019 #15

Congrats on the 10 year mark!! Solly Mack Jan 2019 #16

OMGAWD.......no symptoms.....and all that hurt. a kennedy Jan 2019 #17

Yay! Very happy for you! CaptainTruth Jan 2019 #18

Congratulations! Quite a wonderful milestone MaryMagdaline Jan 2019 #19

That's EXCELLENT! Such great news! calimary Jan 2019 #20

fantastic! we look forward to having you with us for many years. niyad Jan 2019 #21

Congratulation! Javaman Jan 2019 #22

I think you are RADIANT ROB-ROX Jan 2019 #24

Fantastic News! Happy Anniversary and Congratulations! dlk Jan 2019 #25

Wow! Happy Anniversary! panader0 Jan 2019 #26

Congratulations--and many more years! nt tblue37 Jan 2019 #27

Did you get your ability to taste back? Honeycombe8 Jan 2019 #28

Taste returns slowly. With me, the first was salty and the last was sinkingfeeling Jan 2019 #32

Bummer. Honeycombe8 Jan 2019 #45

so happy your taste buds recovered eventually. pansypoo53219 Jan 2019 #58

Pot does wonders for the appetite. Codifer Jan 2019 #40

OMG. Horrible experience. Honeycombe8 Jan 2019 #46

The decision was a precaution. Codifer Jan 2019 #57

+1. nt Honeycombe8 Jan 2019 #59

God bless your heart and soul. Enjoy every minute of rest of your life. Thank you for your story. ancianita Jan 2019 #29

Congratulations! SnowCritter Jan 2019 #30

wow - congratulations on 10 years of being Cancer Free NewJeffCT Jan 2019 #31

Woo hoo!! Rabrrrrrr Jan 2019 #33

November 2008 - Melanoma Pachamama Jan 2019 #34

Congratulations,sinkingfeeling! gademocrat7 Jan 2019 #35

Congratulation! All cancer survivors are waiting for those benchmarks. 5 yrs, 10 yrs.. cancer FREE. usaf-vet Jan 2019 #36

Glad you are still with us! get the red out Jan 2019 #37

Amazing! Congrats and cilla4progress Jan 2019 #38

Congratulations! Heartstrings Jan 2019 #39

Wow and Congrats! Duppers Jan 2019 #43

Good on you. alfredo Jan 2019 #44

Damn right, Alfredo! True Dough Jan 2019 #67

I still have little victories, and Little victories make life worth living. alfredo Jan 2019 #69

Bravo!!!!! diva77 Jan 2019 #47

That's great news. My 22 year old son had what he was told was a wart. Pepsidog Jan 2019 #48

Congrats! IronLionZion Jan 2019 #49

That's wonderful! LisaM Jan 2019 #50

This is wonderful news. MontanaMama Jan 2019 #51

You really encourage me, sinkingfeeling! Anon-C Jan 2019 #52

Good for you! Liberty Belle Jan 2019 #53

Mazel Tov Gothmog Jan 2019 #54

Wow awesome! we can do it Jan 2019 #55

So happy for your recovery... Moostache Jan 2019 #56

Fantastic seta1950 Jan 2019 #60

Amazing story. Thank you for posting. cpamomfromtexas Jan 2019 #61

I'm not religious at all but sellitman Jan 2019 #62

I'm so happy for you and I needed to hear something like this today JHan Jan 2019 #63

Congratulations! Trueblue Texan Jan 2019 #64

Happy tenth! So glad you are here. mahina Jan 2019 #65

congrats! Demovictory9 Jan 2019 #66

You are the most True Dough Jan 2019 #68