1. It ends and begins, here… My Story

2. What’s Wrong with My Voice? The summer of 2010 was good but I seemed to have lots of trouble with my allergies or that is what I thought it could be. The school year started and despite my efforts in seeking help my symptoms worsened and I knew I wasn’t myself. My voice was unable to last the day, I was very tired, and well to be honest I could not shake this thing that was ailing me.

3. Doctors, tests, and more tests Could be asthma Could be allergies Could be dust mites Could be acid reflux Could be an infection But what it is, is not what you want to hear.

4. The Phone Call January 24, 2011, after a week of waiting for results of a biopsy, I found out I had a tumor, squamous cell carcinoma…it’s bad. “You need to get to a specialist but first you need a PET scan.” Everything happened as quickly as we could make it happen.

5. Treatment Was Rough It happened the way it happens for most Head and Neck cancer patients. Seven weeks of radiation five times a week with 3 rounds of chemo thrown in to help the radiation do its job. Everything went pretty much according to plan thanks to the great team of doctors at Fox Chase Cancer Center. I was always tired, lost weight, and basically could not eat due to the damage to my throat.

6. Recovery It was slow. It was rougher than treatment. It was more work than treatment. It was never going to end or so I thought. A year has gone by and my doctors say that is a good thing but two years is better.

7. What are the signs and symptoms of oral cancer? Swellings/thickenings, lumps or bumps, rough spots/crusts/or eroded areas on the lips, gums, or other areas inside the mouth The development of velvety white, red, or speckled (white and red) patches in the mouth Unexplained bleeding in the mouth Unexplained numbness, loss of feeling, or pain/tenderness in any area of the face, mouth, or neck Persistent sores on the face, neck, or mouth that bleed easily and do not heal within two weeks A soreness or feeling that something is caught in the back of the throat Difficulty chewing or swallowing, speaking, or moving the jaw or tongue Hoarseness, chronic sore throat, or changes in the voice Ear pain A change in the way your teeth or dentures fit together – a change in your "bite" Dramatic weight loss

8. Important Lessons Know your own body and then fight like hell to get the answers you need. Seek help and be thoughtful about what you want in the end. See yourself well and then do everything you can to make it happen. Gather support and know everyone is pulling for you…REALLY!