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BiographyFree spirit, non-conformist (probably can’t tell that by my photo…haha), day-dreamer, lover of life and people, enjoy classic rock, Hawaiian music, port wine, spending time with my dogs, cruising the aisles of my local bookstore and surfing the net. Would spend my life in blue jeans and sandals (i.e. rubbah slippahs) if I didn’t have to go to work everyday. :) Majored in Anthropology in college and work in the field of alternative transportation (i.e. fancy name for ridesharing…hehe). I was cruising along with my life at a good pace figuring I wouldn’t have to deal with a potentially terminal illness for a few decades. Then at 38, I wake up and wham! life takes a big turn when I’m welcomed to the club that no one wants to join….”the Big C.” I could safely describe this as the biggest bummer moment I’ve had in my 38 years of life. :) On a brighter note, after adjusting to the cancer diagnosis, I must say, I’m very content. Life is sweet. All I ask for everyday is to have just one more day….just one more day. I’ll keep on asking for this until my “clock” winds down….hopefully that will be in 40-50 years. :) My challenge has now become how to live a full life with the knowledge of cancer. LIVE is the keyword. I no longer spend so much time contemplating my own mortality (as I did after my diagnosis), instead I find myself loving, laughing and living. If you’re newly diagnosed, please know that you’re not alone, embrace the days when you feel good, surround yourself with love, and never lose hope. Be well! Cancer SymptomsEarly in 2009, I noticed an extremely dry irritation in my throat that was constant. In April-May I noticed I was having difficulty swallowing. Found out in May that my right tonsil was enlarged. Surgery Description, Dates & Side EffectsJune 10, 2009 – right side tonsillectomy. Radiation Description, Dates & Side EffectsRadiation is anticipated to begin the second week in July. Treatment plan will include 35 radiation sessions over a period of 7 weeks. Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side EffectsChemo (Cisplatin) is anticipated to begin the second week in July. Treatment plan will include 6 chemo sessions (2 sessions every 21 days). Will complete chemo concurrently with radiation. Comments: |
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08.04.09 
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Kim thank you for sharing all of your information. My mother inlaw was just diagnosed with thyroid cancer. The aggressive type angeoplast > so of course i’m trying to educated myself on this type of disease. I googled tube feeding and your blob came up. Now i am a member of blog for a cure and will pass along this site for my mother in law.
May you always be safe god bless you
Hi Kim,
happy New Year, hope all is going well by you. Have a wonderful New Years. Cheers to a Happy & HealthIER 2010…. When you have time, drop me a line, I was wondering how you were doing.
As for me. I ended up needing the neck disection bcuz rads & chemo shrunk the lump but not entirely. SO Nov 17 I had the surgery and ALL THE CANCER IS GONE….did the Pet scan as well…NONE Detected.. ALL GLory to GOD
Best Regards,
Elena Cuomo : )
I was just checking in with you to see how things are going. Kim how are you feeling? Are things getting better? I had a neck Disecction 3 weeks ago, they took out the remainder of the lump since rads didnt get it all. Doc says He got all The cancer and things are looking good. However, Im in another healing process. Im so sick of being sick. I just want my life back. Have you regained yours?? I need some GOOD stories, Im on a mental roller coaster with all this.
Elena
Hi Kim,
Ive been looking for you. where are you? I would love to know how yuo are doing. I havent seen you blogging and its making me a little nervous. I hope you are doing good. you were my inspiration with all your positive energy. I need some of that these days. Im in a funk. It seems my healing process is worse than my treatment process. This stuff stinks. write me, I will pray for you. I hope you are OK
elena
Hi Kim,
I have the same cancer you do. You got diagnosed on my birthday. Jun11th which is pure coincidence but i always think there is a little sign from God in there.
Anyway i went through a similar radiation treatment as you did last year.
It was real tough. iF you have any question feel free to ask away, or read up on my blog for some insight.
Sleep as much as you can, and stay on top of your pain killers.
God bless,
Jacques
Hi Kim,
Just checking in…How are you doing? Hope all is well. I’d love to hear from ya. Im 11 days from no rads and man its still mega pain. Im dealing though. The big relief is not having to drive to the hospital. but every day there is a new pain from somewhere. And this mucus is driving me nuts. theyve given me the liquid morphine, the patch—Im so scared of all this stuff but ive learned to alternate what works. Doc said Ive been beaten and battered and now its time to heal. So Im ready to “HEAL”
anyway, hope all is going good with ya.
talk soon
elena
Hi Kim,
I know what you are feeling right now and that’s why I haven’t bugged you to add to your blog. Just give it 4 weeks and you will be amazed at the difference. You are going through the worst right now—it gets much better very soon. We miss you and are holding good energy for you.
Big “Its Over” Hugs
Anna
Hi Kim,
How are you?? I think of you all the time. When I read your blog about your shirts and hear the positiveness in your blogs—you give me inspiration. You have a great sense of humor. At one point I wishing to be roommates..LOL Cali or NJ…HhhMmmmm I’ll start packing. hahaha
Anyway yeah its funny but its like your body learns to manage the pain—-but the discomfort is soooo frustrating. But I was handling the rads so well, then they changed the fields and Oh man. and this constant mucus build up- I cant even open my mouth without a ton of mucus. That drives me in sane. But Im onto week 7 and he changed the field and said its a smaller target. Im hoping that means smaller pain.LOL—I have NOT had any nausea which is BIG—cuz that I couldnt deal with AT ALL! If you have any questions ask away. But it sounds like you are kicking butt. AND WE WILL!
Stay Strong…and you are in my thoughts and prayers ALWAYS! Elena : )
Hi Kim,
I forgot to ask. Have you used the peg at all? How does it feel? I tell ya I feel great without it, but Im sooooo scared Im gonna be needing it. Im trying not to focus on it..It stresses me thinking about it. But Doc says play it by ear. we will do what we have to when its necessary. But how have you been feeling? STAY STRONG!
Elena
Hi Kim,
Great to hear from you. Yep week 4 was a lil tough. Im really down to liquids, I do lipton noodle soup and carnation Bkfst. I was told to definitely take the time to do lots of rinsing. Doc says its worth it in the end as well.
Ive been doing salt & baking soda, Caphosol and he gave me this mouth medicine that numbs my throat to help me eat.
My 2nd chemo went OK…it made me tired. Maybe thats why this week 4 is a lil tough. You sound like you are in great spirits…KEEP it up…cuz yes together we have to conquer this beast.
Next week radiation told me they will strengthen the fields in my throat and its possible I may start with the skin discoloration! YIKES!! But anything to get this OUT OF ME!! And hopefully I will start to notice the lump disappear. Crossing my fingers…Well have a great weekend and Good Luck next week…..we are almost at the home stretch..Take care..My thoughts and prayers are with U.
Elena
Hi Kim
Good to hear from ya….You sound great..Keep smiling. I didn use the baking soda rinse yet cuz I kept forgetting whether it was powder/soda..
And Im learning why they are so adominet about Nutrition. I didnt know this, but I think the actual radiation kills the calories as well. There I was eating steaks by the bundles and still losing I couldnt believe it—Go figure
They say do lots of greens, fibers, ANYTHING CALORIES..ANYTHING PROTEINS.they tell me to add ice cream to ensure to make it from 250 to 500 Cals.
My mid-end week 3….started my pain as I swallow feels like a knife…Warm tea soothes it for me. I cant take the “Killer” pain meds cuz with nothing SOLID in me—-I just get so nauseas. So now Im depending on Motrin…not sure how long thats gonna make it.
I did round 2 of chemo today—going for the flushing tomorrw—-so far so good—no nausea. YAY
have a great week…Hope all is well! STAY STRONG!
ttyl,
elena
Kim,
Just wanted to pop in let you know I am thinking about you. I hope you are fairing through with the radiation & chemo. I will continue to pray for your complete recovery.
Big hug heading your way!
Monica
Hi Kim,
WE CAN DO THIS….My thoughts and prayers will always be with you and everyone on this site….Love you guys…Be well to all
So happy to hear from you. I think of you alot. So yeah….you are almost finished with wk 2…Yay
I know I hated the nausea and they keep giving me anit nausea scripts….none work. Its now wk 3 and Thurs….rads are kicking in now…I feel sore when I try to swallow. Today I had a meet with docs and nutritionist who keep telling me how valueable weight/calories—-where was everybody last year when I was told to lose 50 lbs..they shoulda told me to WAIT…LOL—OKK well stay strong
Elena : )
Hi Kim,
Hope all went good. Im learning every minute is different. Im enjoying the weekend. Im still hating the PEG though….Im not even using it yet and its causing me grief. LOL well you hang in there. HAve a great rest of the weekend….talk to ya soon… Elena : )
Just checking in on ya. So, your first week is DONE!! YAY
Hi Kim,
Yes, I had alot of trouble with the PEG placement. I overdid the eating, should have stayed with applesauce and yogurt for a few days. By day three I was fine but I made sure to take an antacid before I ate. You will get used to the PEG very fast. When you start to need it make sure you get at least 4-5 cans of food in each day and several bottles of water. I made the mistake of not paying attention to the water and got dehydrated. The PEG is a godsend when your throat is sore and swollen. As you can see from my blog, I accidently dislodged it and now my GI will not put it back so I am struggling to eat enough orally. Yesterday, I finally stopped losing weight. As for the treatment, I was given Erbitux once per week. It creates and acne like rash on face, head, back and chest and itches. It does not contain heavy metals or make your hair fall out. Cysplatin is totally different from Erbitux and has different side effects. You may want to check with Heidi or Dennis on the side effects for that treatment. I am glad to see you are moving along and ready to get going. It goes by fast. I wish you all the very best and here is one more big hug.
Anna
Oh yes, nausea. I actually had nausea mainly the first two erbitux treatments. After that, not really much. I vomited mostly from the mucositis which will make you gag and when your stomach is weak well there she blows! The anti-nausea drugs work very well. I know people who take the cysplatin chemo have alot of nausea but I don’t think Dennis has had it so bad. Just trust the anti-nausea drugs. You really just have to deal with each issue as it comes up and that’s how you get through. (also with the help of Heidi!) We are all here for you. I am sending a big warm hug and good wishes
Anna
Hi Kim,
To answer your questions, I’d like to say the PEG tube placement was not that bad. I just ate a burger the day I had it done and the acid irritates it for the first two days. Just eat a liquid diet then. I had trouble at first with the strong nutritional supplements and had to take anti nausea meds first thing in the morning. After a few weeks, that problem went away. I am glad I had the tube and wish I still had it.
I was able to drive to the first 4-5 weeks of radiation. My mother was here and I was afraid to let her drive but near the end she did all the driving. My husband took me to all the chemo and drove. I had chemo on Fridays and radiation all five days. Are you going to get cysplatin or erbitux along with the radiation?
I am now 6 weeks post and am feeling very good. I have dry mouth and my tongue and throat are still sore but this morning I ate a piece of bread with butter and jam with milk and tasted everything. The mucositis went much lower in week 4 post treatment but I still cough up when I drink my supplements. Now I need to go back and see what else you asked. I’ll do another post to cover what I missed.
Hugs
Anna