Kevin's Cancer Fund
Donation protected
October 01, 2018 - That's the day my life changed...
I had an appointment with my primary care physician...routine check-up, in fact, I was going to blow it off and reschedule...for the third time, but I needed maintenance prescriptions refilled so I figured I'd just go. On arrival, doc was his usual jovial self. We looked over some blood work and discussed other issues that needed to be addressed. He asked me to sit up on the table and he performed the usual head and neck exam, palpating for any abnormalities. "What's this?" he said, as he ran his fingers around the left side of my neck. I shrugged my shoulders. "What's what? I don't know." He said I had some sort of mass in my neck and he wanted to get the thing imaged right away. That was a Monday. That Tuesday I had an ultrasound, Thursday a CT Scan, and Friday I was visiting with an Oncologist. Turns out, I had a neck mass that was most likely cancerous with involvement of the left tonsil.
You can't imagine the shock and surprise...especially in light of not having ANY symptoms whatsoever. Though, in retrospect, I did have a severe case of sleep apnea which required the use of a C-PAP machine, but which has resolved completely since surgery. The feeling is the mass in my neck was so large it was compressing parts of my breathing mechanics while I was sleeping.
Oncology scheduled a biopsy 10/30/18 and the pathology came back as positive for squamous cell carcinoma. Surgery was scheduled for 11/14/18, the mass and both tonsils were removed along with 15 additional lymph nodes in my neck...5 of which also came back as positive for cancer. Surprisingly I was discharged the next day with a drain attached to my neck that would stay with me until after the Thanksgiving holiday. It was discussed with oncology at a subsequent follow-up that I would need both chemotherapy and radiation to completely eradicate the cancer, as the deep margins still suggested some remaining diseased tissue.
My chemo and radiation began on 12/26/18 and will take a little more than 7 weeks to complete. My regimen consists of a 10 minute radiation treatment Monday through Friday, with a four hour chemo treatment on Wednesdays. Needless to say, I have been unable to work since my surgery, and will remain off until treatment is completed...possibly longer depending on cumulative side effects, which I have been warned tend to get worse as treatment comes to an end.
Through all of this, my family (especially my ROCK of a girlfriend - Debbie), my AWESOME medical team, and a small group of friends and co-workers have been extremely supportive. I cannot thank them enough...in fact, without their support I would be lost. I was hesitant about going full-on public about this, but I know recent posts on social media have raised some eyebrows...and a NEED for reaching out has arisen.
However unfortunate this entire mess has been, I remain hopeful and optimistic about the outcome. My worries of course revolve around finances, which are coming to the point of being depleted. I've exhausted all my sick time at work, and I've maxed out on what I was able to withdraw from my 401k. I was hoping to avoid a public appeal for help, but with rent, car payments, medical bills, etc. I have decided to reach out in this manner and ask, with deepest humility and appreciation, for whatever you might be able to offer in order to help me with my condition. Know that with whatever you can spare, you will have my eternal thanks and gratitude...and I will keep you updated on my progress. To all who have already given support, words cannot express my thanks and appreciation. Know that you all are in my thoughts always and you have my eternal thanks!!! ~ Kevin
I had an appointment with my primary care physician...routine check-up, in fact, I was going to blow it off and reschedule...for the third time, but I needed maintenance prescriptions refilled so I figured I'd just go. On arrival, doc was his usual jovial self. We looked over some blood work and discussed other issues that needed to be addressed. He asked me to sit up on the table and he performed the usual head and neck exam, palpating for any abnormalities. "What's this?" he said, as he ran his fingers around the left side of my neck. I shrugged my shoulders. "What's what? I don't know." He said I had some sort of mass in my neck and he wanted to get the thing imaged right away. That was a Monday. That Tuesday I had an ultrasound, Thursday a CT Scan, and Friday I was visiting with an Oncologist. Turns out, I had a neck mass that was most likely cancerous with involvement of the left tonsil.
You can't imagine the shock and surprise...especially in light of not having ANY symptoms whatsoever. Though, in retrospect, I did have a severe case of sleep apnea which required the use of a C-PAP machine, but which has resolved completely since surgery. The feeling is the mass in my neck was so large it was compressing parts of my breathing mechanics while I was sleeping.
Oncology scheduled a biopsy 10/30/18 and the pathology came back as positive for squamous cell carcinoma. Surgery was scheduled for 11/14/18, the mass and both tonsils were removed along with 15 additional lymph nodes in my neck...5 of which also came back as positive for cancer. Surprisingly I was discharged the next day with a drain attached to my neck that would stay with me until after the Thanksgiving holiday. It was discussed with oncology at a subsequent follow-up that I would need both chemotherapy and radiation to completely eradicate the cancer, as the deep margins still suggested some remaining diseased tissue.
My chemo and radiation began on 12/26/18 and will take a little more than 7 weeks to complete. My regimen consists of a 10 minute radiation treatment Monday through Friday, with a four hour chemo treatment on Wednesdays. Needless to say, I have been unable to work since my surgery, and will remain off until treatment is completed...possibly longer depending on cumulative side effects, which I have been warned tend to get worse as treatment comes to an end.
Through all of this, my family (especially my ROCK of a girlfriend - Debbie), my AWESOME medical team, and a small group of friends and co-workers have been extremely supportive. I cannot thank them enough...in fact, without their support I would be lost. I was hesitant about going full-on public about this, but I know recent posts on social media have raised some eyebrows...and a NEED for reaching out has arisen.
However unfortunate this entire mess has been, I remain hopeful and optimistic about the outcome. My worries of course revolve around finances, which are coming to the point of being depleted. I've exhausted all my sick time at work, and I've maxed out on what I was able to withdraw from my 401k. I was hoping to avoid a public appeal for help, but with rent, car payments, medical bills, etc. I have decided to reach out in this manner and ask, with deepest humility and appreciation, for whatever you might be able to offer in order to help me with my condition. Know that with whatever you can spare, you will have my eternal thanks and gratitude...and I will keep you updated on my progress. To all who have already given support, words cannot express my thanks and appreciation. Know that you all are in my thoughts always and you have my eternal thanks!!! ~ Kevin
Organizer
Kevin Shebby
Organizer
Mount Laurel, NJ
