My husband was treated for oral cancer in 2006. He went through very invasive surgery which kept him in the hospital for 11 days, then radiation and chemotherapy, along with a clinical trial drug. I became his caregiver for several months.  He was unable to go back to work until after Thanksgiving that year (surgery was July 12th), and then only part-time. He started back to full-time work in January of 2007 and has gradually regained his srength. In January we bought our first house, at the ages of 48 and 57.  We have been married for 29 years and have 8 children. The cancer experience has strengthened our marriage.  I felt it was an honor and a privelage to care for the person I loved.  Yesterday we found out the cancer has returned, so I will be joining the ranks of the caregivers again.  Our youngest is 5 years old, our oldest is 28.

Best wishes and prayers for you and your family in this trying time. May your love deepen all the more and may your husband be spared any suffering.

~ Heather

I'm so sorry you and your family must face cancer a second time.  My husband was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx in January, 2007 and underwent sugery, radiation and chemo.  Since then, all his scans have looked good but the fear of its reoccurrance is always deep within me. The resultant thyroid problems from the radiation and then the hernia from all the coughing and the surgery to repair it have kept him from going back to work.

I will say a prayer that he beats this disease again. 

In case you have not heard of it, The Wellness Community.org has on-line and in-person groups of cancer caregivers meeting weekly.  I discovered this site shortly after the diagnosis and joined an on-line chat group as soon as I could.  The members of my group and the trained moderator were a Godsend.  They really understand what  you are going through so you don't feel so alone.  At times I think they saved my sanity.

If you feel the need for regular support, sympathy, knowledge, etc., you might want to try it out.  There is a public Discussion Board which anyone has access to or you can become a member of a group which meets weekly and the groups have their own Discussion Boards to use in between meetings which are private to the group.

Hugs,

Pat

I am sorry to hear you will and your husband will undergo a hard time again.  I had cancer eleven years ago and almost didn't make it.  Cancer survivers never tell what the illness and cure can do to you.  I haven't been able to work since then.  I am going in for minor surgery again soon to try to correct a problem that radiation caused.  I sure wish you the best and hope for a good outcome.

this is truly a miracle.  The surgeon had David prepared for an invasive surgery and chemotherapy again.  He had so much trouble getting a breathing tube down his scarred throat (from the radiation) that he was sure he'd have to go through the neck again....

...then the results of the biopsy came through, and it is NOT cancer!!!   I am jumping for joy!

The surgeon has seen a lot of cancer.  He was 99.9% sure this was cancer.  We are giddy with joy.

Thank you for sharing your stories.  I know you all will understand how wonderful this news is.

Mary,

My husband went thru cancer treatment from Aug. 2005 to Sept. 2006.  He is cancer free now but boy, you don't get back the husband you had after all that.  The radiation caused internal burns that have still not healed.

I know that God will hold you gently in his hand as you go thru this again.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Tammie