Posts by mellowcanyon36

dustyranger11, my dad underwent surgery three weeks ago. He had cancer at the base of his tongue, just below the larynx. I’m not sure where your father’s tumor is located, but as we learned, doctors often can't know the full extent of what needs to be removed until they actually open him up. Our doctor was blunt with us, and honestly, there were moments when I thought he wouldn't make it. The surgery itself was grueling, though somehow less intense than the medical team had anticipated. So, you just have to keep your head up and pray that everything turns out okay. When he first came back from the operating room, it wasn't much to look at—he had a tracheostomy tube in his throat to help him breathe and a feeding tube through his nose. But once the initial shock wore off (which is something he shouldn't see), things stabilized. After two weeks, he started talking a little, and soon enough, he'll be eating on his own and hopefully heading home.
But that was just the surgery. The pathology reports aren't good at all, so the real fight is only just beginning. Our doctor mentioned that chemotherapy isn't effective for his specific type of cancer, so radiation is the only option. That said, we are currently working on getting second and third opinions from a few other specialists to figure out our next move.
If it offers any small comfort, the doctor did mention that the lower the tumor is in the throat, the more difficult the procedure becomes, so perhaps your father's surgery might be less complicated.
Stay strong and make sure he knows you're right there beside him; it's incredibly hard, but isn't it amazing how much strength a person can find in moments like these?
Reading this thread has been a massive help to me, even though I don't post very often, so I wanted to say thank you to everyone here. You are wonderful people; if I hadn't stumbled upon this forum, I don't think I would have half the strength I have now.
I wish you all the very best and nothing but luck in your own battles.
Best,

Hi everyone.
I’m new here; I’ve spent the last two days reading through everything, and honestly, I feel like I know you all better than some people in my actual life. Every time I read about someone passing away, I get this knot in my stomach. My heart goes out to all of you, and I just hope you find the strength to keep moving forward.

I have a story of my own. A few weeks ago, right around Christmas, 😢 my dad was diagnosed with throat cancer at the base of his tongue. At first, they thought it was just localized since he was having trouble swallowing, but they were wrong. His neck is already full of metastases on the right side... 😢 This coming Monday, January 21st, he’s headed into surgery in Seattle over at Tacoma, though we have no idea what to expect. Apparently, he has those old metal fillings in his mouth, and they say the metal interferes with the CT scans, so the doctors can't get a clear look at the outlines or determine if the cancer has already spread toward his pharynx. I can't even begin to tell you how terrified I am, especially after seeing how many people pass away just months after their diagnosis. Still, I keep reading, trying to stay informed, hoping the surgery goes well so that when Dad comes home in a month, we'll be ready—fully geared up and prepared for whatever comes next.
He’s always been a strong man, but he’s terrified of illness; he’s a total hypochondriac, and I worry that kind of anxiety might hinder his recovery. He’ll be 54 in a month and is in pretty good shape; he’s eating like crazy because he knows there will be a period where he won't be able to, so he's putting on weight, which I'm taking as a good sign...
If anyone here has dealt with cancer in that specific area, please share any advice you might have—especially MOREMAL, who mentioned her father recovered.

Beti