Chad G. Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 3 hours ago, William said: Oh my Gosh, I just now got the phone call regarding my biopsy. This is in regards too the tissue they took last Friday because it showed up as a potential "hot spot" during my PET scan. Patty isn't awake yet so I can't tell her (wore out from the dig yesterday), but I can't contain my emotions! Test Results came back Negative! Totally Benign! Inflamed Tissue! My Friends....I Am Totally.... CANCER FREE!!!!! Wahoo! Amen Brother, a new outlook & a second chance. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Posted October 12, 2022 Report Share Posted October 12, 2022 That's awesome news my marble friend, 😃 Congratulations 🎊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted October 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 13, 2022 Thank you again for having my back, my friends! Or, I should say, my "Extended Family!" 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted October 20, 2022 Report Share Posted October 20, 2022 William I just read this thread! WOW! you sure have come along way since April! OMG ! I am so happy for you ♥ God bless! and keep taking the creative, awesome marble pictures for us! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted October 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 More news...Speech Therapy at Gundersen Hospital reached out to me Thursday too let me know that there will be some group meetings with fellow laryngectomy patients coming up in November and December. Dates aren't scheduled as of yet but I'm looking forward to it! It was also discussed with me about taking on the role of being a Peer Counselor. This would require that I work personally, one on one, with patients who are preparing for the surgery, have had the surgery (and are still in the critical care unit), or ones that close to going home. It's a challenge that I readily accepted. If I can help anyone that's going to go through or has gone through what I did and still am, I'm their man. It's one hell of a journey filled with fear, doubts, anger, sadness; one huge rollercoaster of emotions. Situations will vary with each individual. And having been a caregiver since the 90's, and now a patient, that experience will be tested for sure. A caregiver IS the most challenging occupation out there. Anyone who would scoff at that only has too put on the scrubs and be prepared to eat crow. On top of this, I'm potentially returning to my old job in the coming weeks...I meet with Human resources and management this coming Monday morning! I could end up being a busy boy! 👍😊 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 Congratulations, William. Fantastic that you will get to help people. And I couldn`t agree with you more about caregivers. I was my bedridden mother`s caregiver for 5 years while working full-time (museum) and teaching a class a week at night (university) and it very nearly did me in. And I was much younger then . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted October 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 2 hours ago, ann said: Congratulations, William. Fantastic that you will get to help people. And I couldn`t agree with you more about caregivers. I was my bedridden mother`s caregiver for 5 years while working full-time (museum) and teaching a class a week at night (university) and it very nearly did me in. And I was much younger then . . . I was in a hard place also with my wife. She was diagnosed with COPD in 2010 and it slowly and steadily went downhill from there. I worked from 3:30pm until 2:00am and found myself assuming an ever growing responsibility with household duties, daily errands, etc; especially when the brain cancer diagnosis came in 2015. At that point, I became full time caregiver and full time factory worker. I had too keep my 2nd shift job as a supervisor, so getting off at 2am and not going to sleep until 4-5am became a normal routine. About 3 hours of sleep a day on average. I did go through an agency and acquired hired help for when I was at work. Did that until her passing in May of 2018. Guess my last 12 years was just God's way of "toughening me up" for what I am dealing with now? It's all good, because life finds a way. 😊 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ann Posted October 22, 2022 Report Share Posted October 22, 2022 20 minutes ago, William said: . . . because life finds a way. 😊 Somehow, it does. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted November 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 On 10/7/2022 at 8:08 PM, William said: Overall, a great day, although a long one! After it was all said and done, I am cancer free! Just one little tiny spot by my collarbone lit up during the scan. A few things it could be...irritated flesh from radiation....a "floating" surture...or possibly a few stray cancer cells that "flipped" too the front during my April surgery. Dr. Ringstrom poked me a few times in that area too numb me up and took a sample for the lab. He feels confident that it's one of the former possibilities, but has too be sure. If it's the latter, under the knife too cut it out I guess. Will know next week! A pic of where the area of concern is(the little stitches) This damn spot where they took that sample back on the 7th of October, the past couple weeks it's been really sensitive and getting discolored. It started weeping blood Monday night. Now I have to go in Friday at 2pm, Dr. Ringstrom wants too see it... 😐 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steph Posted November 16, 2022 Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 oh no! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad G. Posted November 16, 2022 Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 Hang in there William, were pullin for ya Brother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gladys Posted November 16, 2022 Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 10 hours ago, William said: This damn spot where they took that sample back on the 7th of October, the past couple weeks it's been really sensitive and getting discolored. It started weeping blood Monday night. Now I have to go in Friday at 2pm, Dr. Ringstrom wants too see it... 😐 Prayers being said♥ So sorry you have to go through this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted November 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 Thanks everyone...nothing is concrete yet, he just wants to look at it. It's had a month and a week too heal, wouldn't think it should be breaking down and bleeding after that amount of time... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akroorka Posted November 16, 2022 Report Share Posted November 16, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted November 18, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2022 Came early to do a little "reminiscing", visit my old hangout...my old room 6868 (same year I was born coincidentally 68')....the front of Gundersen Health System, taken from the 6th floor window of the little visiting area where I used to go to get away...the hills on the western side of the Mississippi River, the way home through there....and that chair, I would sit in too watch for Patty too come see me or watch her go when it was time too leave. I try too come up here every time I have an appointment. Call me nuts, most folks probably wouldn't want too see these floors but it makes me feel better about myself and reminds me about how far I have come... 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted November 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Late update! Turns out that the bloody biopsy site is ok...my doctor is sticking by his diagnosis of cancer free... And guess what the culprit was...today the scab was really loose so I carefully removed it and guess what was clinging to it? A near half inch long suture! Working it's way too the surface and causing problems lol! Turns out that this surture must have also, IMO, been the reason my PET scan lit up in that spot! All good! Don't see anyone until February. Yay! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carowill Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 1 hour ago, William said: Late update! Turns out that the bloody biopsy site is ok...my doctor is sticking by his diagnosis of cancer free... And guess what the culprit was...today the scab was really loose so I carefully removed it and guess what was clinging to it? A near half inch long suture! Working it's way too the surface and causing problems lol! Turns out that this surture must have also, IMO, been the reason my PET scan lit up in that spot! All good! Don't see anyone until February. Yay! Awesome news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad G. Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Great news Brother, GOD is good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akroorka Posted November 22, 2022 Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 2 hours ago, William said: A near half inch long suture! What a drag--I have had that happen as well. Too bad it was not a staple--a lot less stress for you for sure. Marble--On!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
William Posted November 22, 2022 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2022 Interloper!!!! 🤣 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chad G. Posted November 23, 2022 Report Share Posted November 23, 2022 10 hours ago, William said: Interloper!!!! 🤣 Garrr ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now