Background

In April, 2008, John had surgery removing the right parotid gland and surrounding tissue, after a lump was discovered in his right cheek.  When the pathology came back, it indicated cancer, so in May he began 6 weeks of radiation, which ended in July, 2008.  He suffered major fatique, as well as greatly diminished saliva production and tastebuds.  Nothing tasted as it should and it was extremely difficult to swallow.  The fatique issue resolved within a couple months, but the other issues took 3 - 4 months.  By Christmas, we thought we could get back to life as usual.

That thought didn't last long.  In April, 2009, a 2nd surgery removed a BB-like bump from the same location, which also was cancerous.  As they were able to remove the entire thing, no additional treatments were indicated.  And then we had 2 years of no additional issues.

In January, 2011, our family doctor noticed a lesion, again at the same location.  At first it was thought to possibly be a radiation-related skin cancer.  We were referred to a plastic surgeon, who removed it and, yes, it was a recurrence of the cancer.  All treatments up through this point were in Youngstown, however, we always planned that, if there was a recurrence, we would quickly be in Cleveland. 

And so, in February....during an absolute blizzard....we headed to University Hospital/Cleveland (connected w/Case Western Reserve University) to see an ENT oncology team.  After much testing, the answer seemed to be an extremely radical surgery, which would include removal of his lower, right jawbone, which would be replaced with a titanium plate and also tissue and skin grafts from his thigh to his cheek.  Surgery would have been approximately 12 - 14 hours with a very long recovery time.  The last PetScan about a week before the scheduled surgery indicated 3 smalls spots on his lungs.....too small, in fact, to even get a biopsy.  It was decided he should have a VATS procedure done (video-assisted thoracic surgery), where they were able to remove one of the nodules and pathology indicated it, too, was cancerous.  As a result, the major surgery was cancelled.

He began chemotherapy in the spring.....one treatment every 3 weeks....with the last one being September 1.  Those treatments were pretty intense and had us in the hospital on those days for 6 - 7 hours.  Thankfully, though, those treatments were also very successful...tremendously reducing both the lung spots and the parotid issues.  As we were told by one of the oncologists, chemo does a great job of reducing, but you need radiation to eradicate.  So, we were referred to a radiation oncologist at UH and it was planned that John would receive 30 radiation treatments over a 6-week period, to begin November 17.  This would require that we basically move to Cleveland for the rest of the year.

Thank God for the American Cancer Society.  They have the Hope Lodge one block from the cancer center at UH where we will be living for the next 6 weeks free of charge.  A much better option than the 1 1/2 hour commute to and from Cleveland everyday or staying in a hotel.....and so we move to Cleveland!!!