I have been cancer free for almost 6 1/2 years. I discovered a pea size lump on my neck around thanksgiving 2003. I wasn't too concerned about it and went to my nurse practioner, who after her examanation of it said the fatefull words, "let me get another pair of hands to look at this". My Dr. sent me to the ENT specialist in my town of San Luis Obispo, CA. He determind that I had cancer on my lymph node and we would need to responed quickly. In Jan 2004 at the beginning of my treatment my lump, my wife and I named it Fred, had grown to about the size of an egg. I had 35 days of radiation with 2 sessions of chemo. I LOST A GREAT DEAL OF WEIGH AND WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL SEVERAL TIMES TO DEAL WITH Dehydration. I had a stomach tubed installed, which helped me survive. In May I had a full neck disection to remove all of my lymph nodes on my left side of my neck.

I had a few other complications wich hampered my recovery. I am truely blessed to have gotten throgh it all.
I still have some challenges related to the after effects of the treatment, but I'm back in the water surfing and enjoying what a great life this is. I have to thank my wife, who is my angle, for all of her support and love, so many friends and family helped me through it all. I am very lucky man.
I feel I'm in my bonus round of life and try to give back to family, friends, and especially people who are going through this awfull disease.