Dick:
Hello and welcome to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Survivors Network. I’m your host, Dick Foley. Today I’ll be talking with three people from across the country, all survivors of head and neck cancers. As a cancer survivor myself, I certainly understand the importance of talking about cancer issues openly and also talking about what all of us can do personally and publicly to help each other. I’d like to briefly introduce our guests and then we’ll open up the discussion as we talk about issues today such as: dealing with anger, and then the fear of cancer recurrence; the difficulty of losing the support from your family and friends, the personal power of prayer and faith, adapting to physical changes in eating and speaking, and respecting each and every day.

Our first guest is Steve A, from New Jersey. We call him Steve A because we have two Steves with us today. This Steve is a 47-year-old gentleman, married, and has a grown daughter who is nineteen. In April of 1999, during an oral exam, his dentist first noticed a spot on his tongue that was confirmed to be cancer of the tongue. He was treated with chemotherapy and surgery and over time, he has worked to coordinate the muscles of his tongue to regain flexibility as he deals with eating and with talking. Steve, thanks for being with us today.

Steve A.:
Well, it’s a pleasure to be here.

Dick:
Our next guest is Bob, from Louisiana. Bob is a 60-year-old survivor of cancer on his voice box or larynx. In 1998, he was having difficulty speaking and was very uncomfortable, so he went to the VA, where several doctors examined him. He was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist, who diagnosed the tumor on his voice box. He had surgery followed by thirty radiation treatments, and his teeth were removed. He now speaks with the aid of a prosthesis. Bob is single, is divorced, and has a grown daughter, and he moved near her after his cancer. Hi, Bob, and glad to have you here as well.

Bob:
I’m glad to be here. If I can help anybody, I certainly will.

Dick:
Well, we appreciate that. Our third guest today is from Georgia, and we’ll call him Steve S., our other Steve today. In 1999, he was having a sinus problem, and went to a doctor who put him on a prescription medication but that really didn’t work. He also saw an ear, nose and throat physician but still did not get an accurate diagnosis. Finally, the third doctor, also a specialist, diagnosed the throat and neck cancer. He was treated with radiation and chemotherapy and then surgery on his neck. Steve is married and has two grown children. How are you, Steve? …read the rest of this entry»