Gary's 55 now and had a cancer spot on his tongue 33 years ago. Surgery removed a spot about the size of a quarter and 3 months of radiation before they were finsihed with him. It left him unable to produce salvia and a turkey neck. He has to constantly drink water to keep his mouth moist but has adapted and operates a successful lawn care business.
A couple of months ago he started losing weight and after all kinds of test they finally found his thyroid was out of whack and started treating that condition. One of the things they had him doing to help with the weight loss was to drink 8 Ensures a day besides his regular meals. After a week, I asked him how the Ensures were tasting and he said terrible. I gave him some honey to maybe improve the taste but it got to where he just couldn't drink them because they burned his tongue.
His doctor sent him to an ENT who did a biopsy of a suspicious spot on his tongue and as Gary feared, it was cancer. I spent all day with him yesterday at the Kirkland Center in B'ham talking with doctors. He has two options: First option is to remove the cancer which will get over half his tongue, part of his jaw bone and maybe lymph nodes on that side. The doctor said he would just have to see how bad it was once he got in there to know exactly how extensive the surgery would actually be. He would have to have a feeding tube until the mouth and throat healed and maybe even for the rest of his life.
He told Gary the surgery would affect his ability to talk and swallow but through rehab that might be overcomed. It all depends on just how extensive the surgery has to be. Since Gary had 3 months of radiation last time the doctor doesn't think he'll be able to have any this time.
Second option is to treat the pain the growing cancer will cause and have maybe a year to live.
He goes back next week to discuss the options with the surgeons.
Gary is depressed as anyone would be and needs your thoughts and prayers. I would appreciate it very much.
A couple of months ago he started losing weight and after all kinds of test they finally found his thyroid was out of whack and started treating that condition. One of the things they had him doing to help with the weight loss was to drink 8 Ensures a day besides his regular meals. After a week, I asked him how the Ensures were tasting and he said terrible. I gave him some honey to maybe improve the taste but it got to where he just couldn't drink them because they burned his tongue.
His doctor sent him to an ENT who did a biopsy of a suspicious spot on his tongue and as Gary feared, it was cancer. I spent all day with him yesterday at the Kirkland Center in B'ham talking with doctors. He has two options: First option is to remove the cancer which will get over half his tongue, part of his jaw bone and maybe lymph nodes on that side. The doctor said he would just have to see how bad it was once he got in there to know exactly how extensive the surgery would actually be. He would have to have a feeding tube until the mouth and throat healed and maybe even for the rest of his life.
He told Gary the surgery would affect his ability to talk and swallow but through rehab that might be overcomed. It all depends on just how extensive the surgery has to be. Since Gary had 3 months of radiation last time the doctor doesn't think he'll be able to have any this time.
Second option is to treat the pain the growing cancer will cause and have maybe a year to live.
He goes back next week to discuss the options with the surgeons.
Gary is depressed as anyone would be and needs your thoughts and prayers. I would appreciate it very much.
