Greetings to my Cancun friends and to readers of this forum who may only know me through this medium. I did not want to make this post but now the word is out and I am getting lots of messages, calls, notes, emails, etc. My family and very closest friends knew from "Day 1" but now that the word is out, I feel ok posting this, as opposed to answering lots of wonderful and caring messages. I will however continue to answer any emails, PMs etc. I am not that lazy. Bottom line is that I had a cancer diagnosis and on Friday I had surgery in Orlando, where I will remain until early January. I will most likely return to Orlando around Jan 18 for radiation. The only thing that will be different in my life is that I maybe will drink a little less and I will have a nice scar on my neck, coincidentally it looks like a giant "T". The short version details that follow, is from a message I sent to my buddy Cancun Canuck, in reply to her "I did not know, but" message I got from her today. Hi Kel, Thanks for the sweet note. Home from hospital after surgery on Friday. Very sore in throat. They cut out a lump on left side of my neck which I found 10/30. No way it was there before that day as it was too obvious. I saw a doctor immediately and had biopsy, and many follow up tests in Cancun. Showed an aggressive cancer on a lymph node. Well, it is not as aggressive as I was. I had every imaginable test in Cancun-ultra sound, blood, xray, CTs etc. One thing was not available so it was Orlando or DF and I chose Orlando for the PET/CT Scan. This is the Mackdaddy of scans. I was getting 2 opinions every step of the way. Along the line they found another bad spot on my left tonsil. Biopsies of the surgery work will determine which came first and what follow up treatment will be needed. Nothing else was found but there could be some microscopic stuff and I will probably be getting radiation in mid-late January, after the surgery is all healed. I have a great medical team, love, prayers and support from family and friends and positive energy, like from you. I got excellent treatment and advice from my doctors in Cancun, most of whom were with Hospital Galenia. I came to Florida because the PET/CT was available and because my daughter and sisters insisted. Plus, I know what to expect in terms of health care. So here I am. My faith is strong and I had a sureal experience in church with my daughter one night after arriving back here in Orlando. There was a song and they display the words on video screens. If there is an instrumental part, they flash a Bible verse. The song was called Grace and while it was going on, I closed my eyes and said a silent prayer. When I finished and opened my eyes and on the screen was a true answer to my prayers. I just lost it but I knew I now had the big guy in the fight with me and all would be well. That is what led me to now adding scripture to my posts that I change once a week, starting with that one. This could not be explained away as coincidence or in any other way. Psalms 138:3 - When I asked for your help, you answered my prayer and gave me courage. I am 100% certain that I am healed and all will be fine and there will be no recurrance ever. Read this again. 100% certain. Thanks and love, T.J.
I am sorry you have to be going through this. My thoughts are with you, and here's to getting better and making a full recovery.
Great to hear you're on the mend already. Take it easy though, dont rush back into the throng too quickly.
God be with you, TJ.......I'm going to the fridge right this minute for a cold Canadian beer - to toast your full recovery.
