Tony Triumphs

Days 68 and 69: Day 1 of Treatment #4

Days 64-67

Days 55-63

Days 51-54: Naughty Tony

13 Months Post Near-Total Glossectomy

Well, here we are, 13 months post-near-total glossectomy. (It’s been 9 months since the completion of radiation/chemotherapy treatments) Everything Looks Great Dr. Monroe, the ENT doctor that removed Tony’s cancerous tongue, continues to be pleased with Tony’s progress. From a head and neck cancer perspective, everything looks great. (Recurrences usually happen within the first two years. So far, so good.) Tony is still experiencing difficulty with exposed bone near the tooth line. He sometimes

Day 192 Post Radiation/Chemotherapy Treatments

Day 192 Post Radiation/Chemotherapy Treatments. (297 days since near-total glossectomy to remove tongue cancer) Woo Hoo! No More Feeding Tube. Tony’s weight has remained between 157 and 164 pounds during the last month without using the feeding tube, so it was time. Dr. Monroe says the CT scan looks good. When Tony shared how cold he gets now, Dr. Monroe ordered a blood test to check the Thyroid. Getting cold is common after treatments and weight loss. This is a little early after treatment to s

Day 124 Post Radiation/Chemotherapy Treatments

Day 124 Post Radiation/Chemotherapy Treatments. (229 days since near-total glossectomy to remove tongue cancer) We met with Dr. Monroe on Friday, January 5, 2018 for a follow up to the infection that took us to the ER at the SLC VA on New Year’s Eve. The good news… Dr. Monroe did not see any evidence on the CT scan or during his inspection of Tony’s mouth that would suggest a recurrence of the cancer tumor which sometimes happens with squamous cell carcinoma. The antibiotic is doing its job at w

New Year’s Eve at the Emergency Room

While doing his oral care routine, Tony discovered an infection under the flap along the left jaw bone. We sent out a Facebook request calling on our prayer warriors and headed to the VA ER in Salt Lake City just before 2 pm on New Year’s Eve. As it was Sunday, our church meetings were about to start, so we stopped in quickly to find Brother Isle and Brother Jensen to have them give Tony a blessing. There wasn’t really any other choice, even though it was New Year’s Eve. We needed to be at the f

Day 101 Post Chemotherapy/Radiation Treatments

Day 101 Post Chemotherapy/Radiation Treatments. (206 days since near-total glossectomy.) We are so grateful for all the tender mercies we are experiencing. Even the weather cooperated as we traveled to Salt Lake City on Friday for Tony’s 3-month post-treatment appointment. He met with the speech therapist who gave him some great tips on improving his ability to swallow. Tony now needs to focus heavily on strengthening exercises to keep the tissue that received radiation pliable, supple and preve

4th of July 2017 with Family

Our 4th of July was low key. I think Tony and I were still recovering from our quick trip to Salt Lake City the day before. Tony slept in late, caught up on some Facebook and puttered around the house. It was good to relax. It has become a tradition for William, (our eldest son) and his wife, Rebecca, to host a 4th of July barbecue at their house for our family and some of their close friends. Our son Will at the grill, his wife Becca and their friend, Carl. Tony quietly tested a lot of the food