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My Head & Neck Cancer 1st Anniversary. Pt 1. 2018.44.

Writing this post I feel a surge of gratitude for my cancer diagnosis.

Weird?

Well, for me, BEFORE I knew that there was a nasty cancer called Squamous Cell Carcinoma in my upper front gums, I was anxious, fearful and this had been building up for the 3 years since just before we left Sydney to come and live on the Central Coast. My life was reduced to managing a sense of fear any time I needed to leave the house. Whilst it was not quite crippling, because I have a very determined edge to my nature, it was not how I liked feeling. AT. ALL. Blog posts here and here tell more:

In early May 2017 after a series of medical and dental examinations, CT scans, X-rays, a biopsy for gums that were not only NOT healing after the teeth and bridge had been removed but were growing ….the news came through about WHY. The posts about my cancer can be found here.

Words are few but pictures tell much of my story. Away we go. Oh, and I AM someone who takes lots of pics and am grateful to have this record.

Part One.

: Time, Day & Date I Was Told I Had Cancer. I was alone & my husband came home within an hour of my call. Many tears shed but calls made for referrals and we saw our GP with the news before Sydney the next day!

: Despite my anxiety I was OK to be driven by my husband, the very next Day – to Chris O’Brien Lifehouse to meet Prof Clark & A/Prof Ebrahimi

: Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Missenden Rd Camperdown.

: After sharing the news, I’d go out to this fave place to think about things & still smile!

: 30 May visit to the Prosthodontist at Westmead Oral Science I saw a model of the mouth which would be added at Surgery 1. The long surgery of 11 hours – 6 July.

: Knowing I HAD cancer did invade most of my thoughts, but I went out most days as it was a 7 week wait for surgery. Every journey begins…

: In ICU the day after surgery. I felt quite OK and people remarked that I looked well.

: On my way OUT of ICU 3 days after surgery on 6 July ’17.

: Such care at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

: On my 10th Day post surgery, I went home. HOME is good!

: Such a fascinating process for my LEG to be IN my mouth (ok, parts of it.) Nursing care at home went on for over 2 months.

: Smiles have always been important for me. Some pre and post surgery.

: Kindness came in calls, gifts, cards and texts. So lucky.

: Just a few more of the kindliness of others.

: On the way home post surgery check.

: Our family visited me. Both of our kids and their kids. Lovely.

: One of the treatment sessions for my leg which healed well.

: And then I was back cooking what I could actually eat – little cakes with a spoon

: Once I had my mobility sorted (the leg being healed after July surgery, I could drive again. Where does a girl go? The Shops!

: Another image: amazing!

: Here’s my right fibula in my mouth, with the 5 implanted abutments. Wow.

: Post surgery #2. To add skin to my mouth, taken from my leg (again!) and add more to abutments.

: This was the lovely skin graft #2. Healed well!

: Water walking at the beach post surgery 2 as I was in pain and I needed distraction.

: Caring for our patio flowers helped me heal.

: On our way home after November 2017 Day Surgery.

: Old Friends visited..it was GREAT.

: The day I tried coffee and donut edges picked up with my fingers (cannot bite!) was a good one!

: Ahhh. That is better. Feet in the sand and ocean.

: Capturing nature is always wonderful and a good distraction.

: Meeting up with internet friends was fun!

: Last year I decided I could see Santa and have a pic.

: Back to COBLH for a check with Prof Clark

: How I eat a sandwich.

: More Dress With Purpose photos

: In September I was able to drive to Sydney to see my Dad.

: My Birthday Outfit of The Day. First time in a dress since I could not remember when!

: How I eat protein and red meat. With a spoon, mashed and blended veges and minced meat.

: First time with lipstick – cannot feel upper lip at all.

: Love. Love will keep us together! Best carer ever!

In the lead up to the first Anniversary of my diagnosis I had thought this post could be a ‘thank you’ one.

I did not realised until late March that I would need a 4th surgery. However, I accept that the mouth still needs more work ….and I am trying not to whinge too much about the fact I will be having the ‘mouthguard/stent’ in for much longer AND another skin graft….because whingeing is not cool. This post is going live AFTER my 4th surgery on 16 May 2018.

I have accepted that there is no real END time with cancer.

I will be having checks until mid 2022. Then, as with most head and neck cancer patients, there is more to come, such as management of my implants over time. See this wonderful Australian-based support site: BeyondFive here.

So, no “thank you and farewell post” for Part Two. Just more gratitude and let me show you who those people are and why I am grateful!

Part Two is scheduled to go live on Tuesday 29 May 2018.

Denyse.

In many ways I hope, that as I am a teacher AND a learner, anyone who knows someone with Head and Neck Cancer might find my posts helpful. It is one of the reasons I blog: to share, to learn and to connect! My page above has my other posts relating to my cancer story.