Flynt's Cancer Treatment
Donation protected
I had sore throat –a sinus infection I thought. It wasn't what I thought, turns out it was cancer which as aggressively moved into Stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma (oropharyngea carcinoma).
On the Wednesday before last Thanksgiving (in 2015) I was diagnosed with throat cancer which had metastasized into at least one lymph node (Stage 1/2).
By the time my surgical biopsies were done it had moved from tonsils toward base of tongue and into 2 lymph nodes. Thank God that MD Anderson has accepted me as a patient afterwards. By Dec 17 at MDA they have said it is now in 3 lymph nodes and on cells now on both right and left sides of throat as well as in the middle under base of tongue. [STAGE 4]
They cannot safely/easily operate on it. They can only treat with daily radiation (5x/wk) and weekly chemo (1-2x/wk). The Oncologists have placed me into the control group of a Proton study. I have been assigned into the Photon group with IMRT (Intensity Modulated Photon Therapy) and with the new findings of the spread and size of the tumors they say this will be a more effective treatment plan. Proton is theorized to be the safer long term option but the IMRT gold standard is preferred by my radiation oncologist and team to be best for my particular treatment, esp in light of side effect resuliting from the FNA biopsies taken on 1/08/16.
The BAD: With Photon I will can loose upto 80%+ of my salivary glands, have permanent bone damage to both sides of my jaws, if not entire bone loss, 25-35% likely loose hearing in left ear. Will loose a much of my ability to taste. Can suffer damage to my voice box. Permanent swalling/eating concerns, there is some spinal/neck concern, loss of thyroid, and something else I can remember.
The GOOD: With Proton they could better control, restrict the radiation and hopefully cause less damage to all surrounding areas. I would still loose some salivary but less likely to loose voice and much less risk to hearing. Overall I would have greater prognosis for recovery/treatment. There would still be affect to eating and swallowing. My thyroid would stand a better chance.
THE GOOD GOOD: IMRT has a long history of success at MDA with my type of cancer treatment.
The GREAT NEWS: God is in control.
In either case I will still require daily flouride treatments for the rest of loooooooong life to come.
I've given this all over to God and so I am a little reluctant even to place this request on this goFundMe site. But if you are led to help then I and my family will graciously accept that. My church, Houston's First Baptist Church, has a couple of programs that support cancer patients and their caregivers. On a wristband I have from one of these ministries it say's, "No one fights cancer alone," and it states:
Jerimiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
I can confidently say this:
I don't know entirely what God has in mind for me, or from me, in all of this cancer treatment and recovery.... but I do attest that I trust in Him completely and want nothing more to come from this but to be obedient to His will, to bless Him, and to exemplify and share His love to all those I meet at MDA during this process, to my family and my church. I pray that I remain strong and faithful, positive and optimistic and do not waste any opportunity that God places before me to show others His love and grace.
I am uncertain as to the trials that will come from my treatment. I hear it can be a bear. I ask that you pray for me to be strong and to be agreeeable and cooperative to my family and caregivers and that I glorify Him at all times.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read my message. You can also help by sharing my gofundme post on your Facebook and Twitter; please click the share buttons on this page.
With God's grace,
Flynt
MD Anderson Page on Oral Cancer
On the Wednesday before last Thanksgiving (in 2015) I was diagnosed with throat cancer which had metastasized into at least one lymph node (Stage 1/2).
By the time my surgical biopsies were done it had moved from tonsils toward base of tongue and into 2 lymph nodes. Thank God that MD Anderson has accepted me as a patient afterwards. By Dec 17 at MDA they have said it is now in 3 lymph nodes and on cells now on both right and left sides of throat as well as in the middle under base of tongue. [STAGE 4]
They cannot safely/easily operate on it. They can only treat with daily radiation (5x/wk) and weekly chemo (1-2x/wk). The Oncologists have placed me into the control group of a Proton study. I have been assigned into the Photon group with IMRT (Intensity Modulated Photon Therapy) and with the new findings of the spread and size of the tumors they say this will be a more effective treatment plan. Proton is theorized to be the safer long term option but the IMRT gold standard is preferred by my radiation oncologist and team to be best for my particular treatment, esp in light of side effect resuliting from the FNA biopsies taken on 1/08/16.
The BAD: With Photon I will can loose upto 80%+ of my salivary glands, have permanent bone damage to both sides of my jaws, if not entire bone loss, 25-35% likely loose hearing in left ear. Will loose a much of my ability to taste. Can suffer damage to my voice box. Permanent swalling/eating concerns, there is some spinal/neck concern, loss of thyroid, and something else I can remember.
The GOOD: With Proton they could better control, restrict the radiation and hopefully cause less damage to all surrounding areas. I would still loose some salivary but less likely to loose voice and much less risk to hearing. Overall I would have greater prognosis for recovery/treatment. There would still be affect to eating and swallowing. My thyroid would stand a better chance.
THE GOOD GOOD: IMRT has a long history of success at MDA with my type of cancer treatment.
The GREAT NEWS: God is in control.
In either case I will still require daily flouride treatments for the rest of loooooooong life to come.
I've given this all over to God and so I am a little reluctant even to place this request on this goFundMe site. But if you are led to help then I and my family will graciously accept that. My church, Houston's First Baptist Church, has a couple of programs that support cancer patients and their caregivers. On a wristband I have from one of these ministries it say's, "No one fights cancer alone," and it states:
Jerimiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
I can confidently say this:
I don't know entirely what God has in mind for me, or from me, in all of this cancer treatment and recovery.... but I do attest that I trust in Him completely and want nothing more to come from this but to be obedient to His will, to bless Him, and to exemplify and share His love to all those I meet at MDA during this process, to my family and my church. I pray that I remain strong and faithful, positive and optimistic and do not waste any opportunity that God places before me to show others His love and grace.
I am uncertain as to the trials that will come from my treatment. I hear it can be a bear. I ask that you pray for me to be strong and to be agreeeable and cooperative to my family and caregivers and that I glorify Him at all times.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to read my message. You can also help by sharing my gofundme post on your Facebook and Twitter; please click the share buttons on this page.
With God's grace,
Flynt
MD Anderson Page on Oral Cancer
Organizer
Flynt Burgess Higginbotham
Organizer
Keefer, TX