An Awkward Intro

Hi friends & family! I decided to start this blog a few weeks after we discovered I have Cancer Of The Tonsil, of all the ridiculous things. I mean, really? I've never heard of such a cancer before & what the heck is the color of the ribbon?

It is getting unwieldy for me to remember who I told what to & when I told them or even if I told them at all ~ and I don't even have a large circle of friends (but they are all Very Choice Friends). I hate to think of Phil & Craig being my medical transcribers, the poor things:)

I've always dealt with things by writing down my thoughts; ever since those pre-teen diary days. Remember those little "pleather" books with the flimsy lock & key? Oh, how I wish I would have saved those gems! After I married Craig, I got rid of all but one page where I had written, after dating Craig for about a month, "I think I met the man I want to marry". So, here I hope to write down everything you wanted to know, but were afraid to ask, because, lets face it ~ cancer is... awkward.

Go pour yourself a glass of wine and hear my tale. This is what I'm having as I write this:

(Lemoncello, Pellegrino & Crystal Light, in a tall water bottle)

Here's the email I sent to my brothers:

I've been having a sore throat for a while ~ since March of 2011, as a matter of fact. Got tested for strep; clean. My family doc couldn't see anything so she sent me to an Ears/Nose/Throat doc that June of 2011. He had a CT scan taken and said I had calcification of my throat ligaments (officially making me an Old Fossil, I guess). This past June, it started to hurt worse so I went to the ENT doc again, who ordered another CT scan. He still couldn't see anything but thought the left tonsil should come out. Last Thursday I woke up from the tonsil operation to find out the doc just took biopsies of the tonsil because he found cancer. Rats! The pathology reports confirmed it and off I go on a series of doctor appointments. Today I had a PET scan and this Tuesday I go to a head & neck specialist at University of Penn who does robotic surgery ~ cool, huh? I keep picturing R2D2 from Star Wars workin' away on my neck, beeping and chirping...

I've discovered Valium, which acts like wine, but without the calories  :~D    Craig is the Optimist, as is Phil. Me, I'm waiting to see what the PET scan reveals and poppin' Valium with a glass or two of wine, a No-No, but screw that! :)

It's all good though, whatever happens. I'm determined to retain my sparkling sense of humor.

I'll keep you in the loop & as Monty Python says: "I'm Not Dead Yet!"

Then I sent this one out to a few other folks a few days later. Hopefully the links will work if you want to know more about the Who & What stuff:

Hi Everyone! 

Thanks so much for all your concern & prayers ~ they sure are working:)

After 40 minutes of circling the sprawling University of Penn complex ~ in typical "Country Rube" Craig & Susan fashion ~ we finally made it in to see Dr. Bert O'Malley this morning.

Scheduled two operations: One for Sept. 5th to remove the lymph nodes in my neck & the 2nd one on Sept. 21* to robotically (TORS TransOral-robotic-surgery) take out my left tonsil & any other, er, nastiness. 

This Thursday, a big team of doctors all get together to discuss tumors (What snacks are served at THAT meeting; cream-filled donuts?). I'm to call Dr. O'Malley this Friday for the lowdown on my condition, after he has read all my various discs, scans & tests & discussed my case with the TT (Tumor Team). 

There may be a combo of surgery, radiation & chemo prescribed, so I just might have one heck of a scary Halloween costume planned... just sayin'.

With bottom lip a-quiverin' and eyes a-leakin', I asked him if I would live to see Phil graduate. Doc smiled & said he hoped I would see my grandkids graduate :) 

Thanks for all the thoughts & prayers ~ I truly appreciate them.

Susan

* Happy Birthday Jill!

There! Now we are all caught up. When O'Malley said I'd live to see my grandchildren graduate, I felt much better about this whole thing, but it hasn't stopped me from cleaning out a few drawers & stuff ~ just in case:)

My hope is: to soon be up and about, trailing after Phil's golf team with camera & bug spray.

I'll post with anything I think you may find interesting or that is new. Feel free to leave a comment with ribbon color suggestions:)