Ripper3455
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2017
- Messages
- 14
I am a Cancer patient. I have been fighting this crap for 15 years. I went to Vietnam in 1971 and did 32 months with the 2nd battalion 75 Infantry Rangers and 5th Special Forces MACV SOG. My Cancer started as Skin Cancer caused by over exposer to Chemicals (Dioxin). It has morphed over the years and now has become a very aggressive Tumor that attacks Muscles, Nerves, Lymph Nodes, and Tissue. I have had two major surgeries since August. The first they opened me up from the temple in front of my right Ear and cut down along the front of my face to my Adams Apple. The removed my Lymph Nodes, Saliva Glands, Nerves, Muscles, Tissue, and inner Ear. They replaced all of this with a section of my left Thigh. It left me with the right side of my face paralyzed. The corner of my mouth was stitched up so liquids won't spill out but they still do if I am not careful, ad my right eye paralyzed which they sewed weight into my eyelid so I can close it. Of course I lost the hearing in my Right ear but that was injured in an RPG (rocket propelled grenade) strike in Vietnam and I could hardly hear out of it anyway. In The first week of November I noticed a Lump coming up in the same area they had removed the Cancer in front of my Right Ear on my Temple. PET Scan and Biopsy showed they had missed some. In November I had virtually the same surgery done but up higher and moving aroubd to the rear of my Ear and back of my head. They used my right Thigh this time and some of the back of my head to put it all back together. Before putting it back together they laced the area with Radioactive pellets to supposedly kill any Cancer they may have missed. It has made the area heal much slower and I still have a hole and scabbing along the incision lines. Two weeks ago I had a very bad infection. They treated me and as I was cleaning the wound one day noticed a Lump. Then another. Yes the Cancer has returned. PET Scan and Biopsy's have confirmed a new more aggressive type. Yesterday I had a Cat Scan and today I see my Pain Management Doctor, then tomorrow my Surgeons in Philly at Jefferson Memorial Hospital where I have been having these surgeries done. We will decide what to do next which will probably consist of another surgery then Chemo. I have never done the Chemo before just Radiation. So why am I here?
I have had many MOHS surgeries and direct Radiation sessions of 20 or more treatments. I have been on and off pain killers the entire time. Started with Percocet but I soon learned of the stuff put in there to make you sick if you took more than prescribed so made the doctor switch to oxycodone. Over the last 15 years I have taken 25mg fentanyl patches, and 5, 10, and 15mg Oxycodone tabs for pain. I currently take 2 15mg Oxy Tabs every 3 to 4 hours and am not wearing the patch. I perform my daily activities better on more Oxy and no patch. I am retired. My Pain Doc suggested Medical Marijuana and am currently waiting on my card. I have been given the "We wil make you as comfortable as possible" speech last week. They will give me anything I ask for. I am going to ask for an larger Oxy dose. 20 or 25 so I only need to take one pill. If they come that big. I have taken Oxycotin but need to have an instant fast acting pain relief at times. The Pain is terrible. Cancer never stops like other pain. I earned two Purple Heart Awards in Vietnam and am no stranger to pain. Wounds will go up and down and give you times of relief if you sit in a certain way or remain motionless for a period of time. Not Cancer. It just keeps eating away at you. Pounding away and never stopping. The only relief you get and it is never total is from medication. It is relentless.
Well that's my story. I will be 67 next month. Have a wife of 37 years who is suffering badly crying herself to sleep each night watching me dwindle away. 5 loving children and a grand child. I was a General Contractor on the Jersey Shore for 35 years and retired in 2005. I built Custom Homes. We left the beach area in 2009 and moved out here to the country. We had a Farm for 6 years but as I got sicker and taxes soared we had to give it up. We are still in the country but on 3 acres now where my wife and myself have one small home and my Daughter has a larger one.
I have had many MOHS surgeries and direct Radiation sessions of 20 or more treatments. I have been on and off pain killers the entire time. Started with Percocet but I soon learned of the stuff put in there to make you sick if you took more than prescribed so made the doctor switch to oxycodone. Over the last 15 years I have taken 25mg fentanyl patches, and 5, 10, and 15mg Oxycodone tabs for pain. I currently take 2 15mg Oxy Tabs every 3 to 4 hours and am not wearing the patch. I perform my daily activities better on more Oxy and no patch. I am retired. My Pain Doc suggested Medical Marijuana and am currently waiting on my card. I have been given the "We wil make you as comfortable as possible" speech last week. They will give me anything I ask for. I am going to ask for an larger Oxy dose. 20 or 25 so I only need to take one pill. If they come that big. I have taken Oxycotin but need to have an instant fast acting pain relief at times. The Pain is terrible. Cancer never stops like other pain. I earned two Purple Heart Awards in Vietnam and am no stranger to pain. Wounds will go up and down and give you times of relief if you sit in a certain way or remain motionless for a period of time. Not Cancer. It just keeps eating away at you. Pounding away and never stopping. The only relief you get and it is never total is from medication. It is relentless.
Well that's my story. I will be 67 next month. Have a wife of 37 years who is suffering badly crying herself to sleep each night watching me dwindle away. 5 loving children and a grand child. I was a General Contractor on the Jersey Shore for 35 years and retired in 2005. I built Custom Homes. We left the beach area in 2009 and moved out here to the country. We had a Farm for 6 years but as I got sicker and taxes soared we had to give it up. We are still in the country but on 3 acres now where my wife and myself have one small home and my Daughter has a larger one.
