Background* In early October, he was diagnosed with stage 2 tongue cancer: invasive-moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma.
* After meeting with many doctors and trying many herbal, natural treatments, he settled on a treatment plan with three doctors in Bakersfield. The ENT (ear, nose, & throat) doctor, Trang, is overseeing the group. Dr. Gorla is the radiologist and Dr. Shambaugh is the chemotherapist.
* By early February, after an endoscopy, the diagnosis increased to stage 4. His tongue had become so swollen and infected that the doctors offered surgery as an option, and a combination of radiation/ chemotherapy as another. He does not want the surgery as it will take out his entire tongue, voice box, and perhaps more.
* Because of the swelling and difficulty breathing and swallowing, he had to have all of his teeth removed (to prevent future infection), get a feeding tube, and a trachea tube put in surgically. This process left his body weak, although not his spirits!
* Early March - he was in the hospital for 10 long days after the surgeries. We all visited and hoped he would get out sooner but they kept pushing things back because of fevers and increased heart rate, etc.
* The plan is for him to have 35 radiation treatments (once a day Mon.-Fri. for 7 weeks) and 3 concurrent chemo treatments while he stays at The Harris house in Bakersfield (his hometown) with Staci, Dion, Derek, and Erin (and all of the animals!). The wonderful support team also includes his siblings: Diane, Linda, and Bob, as well as other family members and friends in the area.
* After the treatment he wants to return home as soon as possible to Bishop.
Posts
