Ok..this may not be my best writing people. I've been thinking about this one for over a month. I still cannot come up with a creative, respectful, or playful way to put this information into words. I can, however, promise it WILL be informative. If you are struggling and are considering going to a state provided insurance ..PLEASE read on.Hi everyone. Debbie here. If you are coming to this site looking for some answers because you or loved one just got news about Head, Neck, or Oral Canc... Read Full Story

Hi everyone!! Debbie here.I've been trying to decide how to write this next blog. Many days I would watch my brother stare off into space as tho trying to find something that only he could see. When I'd ask him where he went..meaning what was he thinking about. He'd reply..."just bloggin in my head". When John first was diagnosed with SCC (squamous cell carcinoma), the information coming at him...and the family...was OVERWELMING!! I've worked in the medical field for... Read Full Story

Febuary 10, 2009Ever think about life?How is seems to catch similaries of things we normally would not consider.When a poker game is played....the player can change his/her hand by asking the dealer for different cards. Notice I didn't say better. Sometimes different does not always mean better. But..You never give up hope on winning the game. It's just not natural. If you loose a hand in poker....you want it to be on YOUR terms by folding...turning in your cards..willingly. NOT by lo... Read Full Story

Hello all.This is John's sister, Debbie. First and foremost...John does apologize for the long delay in updating his blog. There had been some technical difficulties accessing the site. ( most likely by me trying to access it hehe )John continues to improve after his last set back.He had been in the hospital the very first of January. He had been getting sick and not able to keep anything down for about a week or two. He had couple of trips to the emergency room to boost him with flu... Read Full Story

Hello everyone.My dad has asked me to provide everyone with a brief update for his blog. Since his last update my dad has been in the hospital twice. The first visit was due to extreme stomach pain from an ulcer. He had a small surgery to fix the ulcer and then was released just a few days later. Shortly after arriving home we took him back to the hospital so they could watch him more closely for simple precautionary reasons. He has been home for a week now and is beginning to regain som... Read Full Story

Well, At 615 this AM I was able to swallow water for the first time in over 8 weeks. Now it is only little tiny bits of water. Nothing like what you all can swallow. BUT, I'll take it. for the first time in a long time, my throat feels moistened. When I took some water into my mouth and tilted my head back, I swallowed. I could feel the water go all the way down. from the back of my throat to the bottom of the belly. Man I tell you, the things we all take for granted.I can remember... Read Full Story

When you have such a serious suregery such as this, is does take a lot of time to get over it and try to get back to normal. This surgery is a very difficult and most serious one that will put you on your butt for weeks and will take months to fully recoop from it. It is very hard phycologicaly on you. Some people need antidepressants to help them through it. Nothing shamefull about it. I almost did myself. But I am making it through it without them. I was fortunate to have a lot of fam... Read Full Story

Well, I am finally back home from the hospital. When I first got oral cancer I never thought this would have happened to me. It is one of the cancer stories you hear about but never get or hope you never get. The kind of story when you read it you think......That poor sun of a gun!I started off having my left tonsil removed. Thought that would be that. Then they say, NOOOO, You had tonsil cancer and now you have cancer of the tongue. So I think about surgery to have part of the tongue removed... Read Full Story

First off, let me thank all of you who supported, thought of and prayed for me. It really helps way more than you all can realize. I am coming home this wed. for sure. It has been a really rough ride. It totally sucked, but I am getting through it all. I read all the emails my sister brought and it really lifted me up when I was really fealing down.My voice box was saved so I will have a voice. Oral cancer may have kicked my butt a time or two. But I am planning to win the war.Till next... Read Full Story

E-mail from John's sister, Debbie, can be found at this link on my blog: www.assertivepatient.com/2008/10/johns-update.htmlYou can leave comments on that post which Debbie will print out and take to John, or you can e-mail me and I can forward your e-mail to Debbie. Send to: jeanne.sather@gmail.comComments left on John's blog will be held until he is able to get back online. Thanks, everyone for the messages of love and concern, and for the financial donations to help John pay for his... Read Full Story