My brother's CANCER report-surgery in 2 weeks NOT on the tongue

[underpants]

Man is that one tough SOB (and no he nor my Mother would probably mind me saying that) he is still working full time in a 3 to 4 star restaurant. The owners kept his job safe while he went into alcohol rehab at the beginning of the year and will save his job now-good guys though I have never met them (yes I need to).

Okay surgery in 2 weeks to remove his lymph nodes and to remove one of his jugular veins. BUT no surgery on his tongue-no massive reconstructive surgery. This is from my Mom not him, he is at an AA meeting as I type.

This is very good news. I saw him 3 weeks ago and he still had his "sunburn" on his cheeks from the radiation and his neck was basically a scab-it had been worse. On Thanksgiving Day my wife and I went to see him at the AA meeting room where he cooked the dinner and stayed for the day.

I can't believe he has done all this. TOUGH TOUGH TOUGH.
I always knew that about him but (tearing up) wow I don't know what to say.

All this is being done at UVa.

Aside from his toughness -this time last year he was crawling through knee high ice to get back into his house- my mother-in-law put him on their church's prayer list (anything that helps) and she has been fully involved and worried about him.


WHEW!!! what a relief. I hope he has the same type of news. My Mom was with him today so this should be the basic facts plus, as a Mom, she tends to frame it in a more worrisome mode than it is.

Now he REALLY needs to stop smoking-me too.

[roguevalley]

1. I am delighted to hear this. Having gone through cancer stuff

and carotid restructuring with my dad, I know a bit how you feel. Hugs to you and yours. Please quit smoking if you can, honey. Both of you. It will make you reborn. :)

HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[underpants]

10. Thanks

Probably at the beginning of the year

[southernlad]

2. I hope he makes a complete recovery...

How strong he is to handle this. Will keep him in our thoughts.

I didn't know the radiation could sunburn you though. Interesting.

Now quit smoking. I quit a few months ago.

- David
http://www.thesouthernlad.blogspot.com

[underpants]

5. It's called a "sunburn" it is really a burn

black spots from the cheek bones down.

His neck was a mess but it all healed now.

[southernlad]

8. Oh...

I never heard of such. Thanks for explaining it to me. Poor guy.

- David
www.thesouthernlad.blogspot.com

[CornField]

3. Here's hoping he beats it -- very quickly

I'm a newly reformed smoker. I have to tell you it feels really good to be smoke-free.

[underpants]

11. If anyone can he can

As I told him when he was diagnosed

If no one has before-be the first
If someone has before-there is no reason you can't

Oh and

Every meal is a banquet every day is a parade.

[tandot]

4. Best wishes to your brother and you!

I hope you and him quit smoking. I did it over 10 years ago. It will be very hard but is absolutely worth it. My life is so much better without that nasty nicotine addiction.

:hug:

[underpants]

7. Well I did quit for 11 days at one point

It is just a matter of doing it. My wife and I have quit before she gets pregnant.....so there's that.

[McKenzie]

6. heart warming news there friend

your brother sounds a real tough nut. Cancer plus booze issues...sheesh, what a combination. Nice to hear about his job being kept open too. His employers sound like good eggs.

I've had the big C twice...treatment was foul but it worked well.

regards

[underpants]

9. Thanks

TWICE.........really?

Yes his bosses hired him when they had to know he was in trouble and they stuck with him. One of them is a recovering alcoholic.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

13. Been thinking about you underpants, everytime I see a K/E sticker

here in Richmond.

Here's sending prayers and good vibes your way.

Valarie :)

[underpants]

20. Thanks

feeling it-it is working

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

22. Hang in there, neighbor.

:loveya:

[McKenzie]

14. no bullshit

testicular followed by surgery followed by 2 chemos as a precaution then 8 months clear then a small abdominal tumour followed by 4 heavy duty chemos. Been clear for 14 months. Brit health service is superb...I live 20 miles from a leading oncology unit.

[underpants]

19. Brits

what with your no competition you think you are all superior with you superior service low cost service..........

Thanks

[Fenris]

12. Wow, that's fucking TOUGH.

I hope he makes a full recovery, man. If what I just read is any indication, he will. :thumbsup:

[underpants]

24. Tough

He worked through cripplig alcoholism all those years.

He ALWAYS got up for work. Never out of work. That is amazing.

The day of his "hitting bottom" was a frozen hell and I couldn't get to him as the city he lives in was frozen over-thank (insert higher power here) for cell phones and me knowing who to call due to my job.

[candy]

15. Let him take care of his alcohol problem and forget about the smoking

for now!

[underpants]

23. Yeah that is what they say

in reality the smoking thing should have been taken care from the getgo

[DS1]

16. Where did he have the cancer? and how old is he?

and how long did he smoke?

Genuinely curious.

[underpants]

18. Tongue and lymphnodes, 40 last week, 24 +(?) years

-

[JimmyJazz]

17. I'll be keeping you, your brother and your family in my

thoughts and prayers. I really hope all of you can quit smoking. Darling, if you can't do it for yourself, do it for your
child(ren). M'kay? :hug:

Donna

[underpants]

21. M'kay

:grouphug:

[GOPisEvil]

25. Good thoughts and best wishes to the whole underpants family!

:grouphug:

[underpants]

28. Thanks buddy

:hi:

[yardwork]

26. I'm sending good thoughts for you and your brother tonight

[AlienGirl]

27. Good--tongue surgery sucks!

I must have missed the first thread about this. I'm sorry to hear about your brother's cancer.

If you ever want to talk, DUmail me. I had tongue cancer a couple years ago.

Tucker

[underpants]

29. Thanks

Did you go through the whole chemo/radiation treatment?

My brother's initially was part of a test using plutonium (I think it was) that previously had been used on breast cancer and effectively too.

[Midlodemocrat]

30. Good luck to you and your family

underpants. UVa is a great hospital. Oh, and try the prescription drug for the smoking thing. Makes cigarettes taste absolutely horrible. Works very well, from what I hear. I don't smoke, but have had several friends use it with tremendous success.

[underpants]

31. I am going with the patch

it worked for a short period several years ago I just have to decide to actually quit. Some amazing results with people I know who got accupuncture.

[Midlodemocrat]

34. The patch works great too

Good luck with it, I understand quitting can be very difficult.

[babylonsister]

32. Hugs to your brother and you.

Hang in there; positive vibes being sent your way!:hug:

[graywarrior]

33. My mother survived this for a long time

Good luck to your bro. AA is helping him bigtime.