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Roger's Cancer Surgery And Recovery

Sometime in June of this year I noticed a little tingling on my tongue, where I thought I may have bitten the side of my tongue, or I had eaten a sharp chip or something;  It mainly hurt when I ate spicy things, or things that are super sour. During the month of July I started noticing that the sore had turned into a little indentation with a painful center.  So, then I started researching mouth sores and found lots of resources on this subject. I basically diagnosed myself with what I thought was a bad canker sore (and I started to treat it like a canker sore). I have now become a canker sore expert.  I can identify, and have most likely used, every over the counter medicine and even a few home remedies for canker sores. Let me be very clear - do not under any circumstances put Alum on an open mouth sore! Black-out-style pain people! Don't do it! During this time I was trying to sign up for health insurance because I had a change in my household income (divorce was finalized).  Meanwhile, the sore was getting worse and became a hole in my tongue.  I finally went to see my primary care doctor and he suggested it might be a pressure ulcer, and referred me to an Ear Nose and Throat Doctor for a second opinion.  By this time I'm taking the maximum daily amount of Tylenol and ibuprofen, and when I call the ENT they are months out. Months!  So, I go see my dentist and he thinks I should probably get a biopsy done, and refers me to see an Oral Maxillofacial Doctor (also a month out). I started calling all over the PNW to find an open office to visit. I finally found someone to see me, but they wanted to put me under to preform the biopsy, which would be $1,000 (remember, no insurance, and payment is due the day of the procedure). I have already spent hundreds of dollars in office visits, and still haven't gotten the biopsy or pain meds,  am barely eating because of the pain, talking is a real chore,  and I only sleep on and off between pain cycles. By now it's been two months and I've gone back to my PCD, have asked for something to help with the pain, and asked if he could help me find an ENT doctor that can see me as soon as possible - not in a month. Fortunately he was able to find someone and they did the biopsy and a few other tests (at a much reduced cost because they did not put me under anesthesia).  The biopsy came back positive for Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I was referred to U.W. Medical Center, and have a plan for surgery and recovery. The surgery consists of cutting open my tongue and removing the cancer, as well as opening up my neck to remove twenty lymph nodes that may be infected. In addition, my surgeon will perform two grafts;  One consists of removing tissue, a vein and an artery from the area right above my left wrist,  and grafting in onto my tongue, and the other will be taking skin from one of my thighs to put on my arm.  I will be in ICU for a day or two and then moved to a regular room for at least a week.  I will be on feeding tubes for a few weeks, unable to swallow, and then will start radiation treatments.  I am asking for help to cover my monthly living expenses while I recover. My surgeon said I will be off work for three months.  He also told us that it is rare for non-smokers to get oral cancer..."unlucky," he put it...but is hopeful to getting me back to speaking and swallowing close to 100%.  I have been asked by a few of my coworkers to set this Go Fund Me site up, and while I see the need, it's just really hard to put one's pride aside and ask for help.  Yet, here I am.  At some point in the future, I would love to repay my debt to you if at all possible - so if you have some projects coming up down the road, I would love to be included in them. Thank you in advance for your support! Sincerely, Your friend, Roger
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Donations 

  • Eddy Kouthong
    • $10 
    • 5 yrs
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Organizer

Roger Rhodes-Southwick
Organizer
Mukilteo, WA

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