Trueloo

I was diagnosed in October 2007 with tongue and neck cancer (stage 4). Now, I didn’t understand why or how. I was not a smoker, I really didn’t hang around people that smoked and I didn’t use drugs. So how could this happen to me? I am an extremely neat and clean person Well, what you see on the outside doesn't actually reflect what is on the inside and according to the doctors I had an infection from bad dental work that went unchecked for years. I kept getting abscesses in my tooth but figured it was just a cavity. Over time it turned cancerous and grew to the size of a golf ball. The Doctors had to remove all the infected tissue from under my jaw, half of my tongue and my lymphoid in my neck. They had to use a muscle from my arm to replace tissue that was removed from my neck. All in all the operation took 11 hours. I was out of work from December 2007 to March 2008 and probably should have stayed out longer. I could quickly get back on track with what I mentally needed to do but verbally I could not express myself in a manner that the job required. I was let go in June 2008. After meeting with my doctors and speech therapist, it was suggested that I apply for permanent disability. I was in disbelief because I have worked all my life. I could not imagine not being able to work and relying on disability, I was really scared.

I found it hard to believe that all the knowledge I gathered over the years would go to waste. So I decided to do something about it. Sharing my story with others who have cancer would hopefully give people a sense of hope and determination. Also for those who feel they are cancer free. Have some test done early detection can save your life,..It did mine.