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Mike’s Story

Site created on April 28, 2023

It all started in February 2023. We went to Washington DC for a hockey tournament for our daughter, Lizzy. While we were there, Mike had a spot come up on his tongue, almost like a blister or a place he'd bitten. On the way home, he was in so much pain that he couldn't eat or drink. We stopped at a truck stop and I bought him some oragel and motrin. Once we got home, the pain subsided and we went on with life.

A few weeks later, this same place on his tongue began to hurt again. He went to the walk-in clinic at our PCP's office and the doctor put him on steroids and antibiotics, and was told to follow up with his primary if no change.

A few weeks after the steroids and antibiotics, and no change (except for it getting bigger) and endless nagging by me....he went to see his PCP, who said "I don't know what that is, let's get you to an oral surgeon for a biopsy.

So, on April 20th, he was sedated, and they took biopsies from 3 areas along the left side of his tongue. Apparently the tongue is one of the hardest things to biopsy....who knew? Anyway, they said they'd see us on May 8th for results.

We got a phone call on Tuesday, April 25th, saying that the oral surgeon wanted to see him the next day. When we got there Wednesday afternoon, the doctor came in and said he was so sorry, but the biopsies were cancerous. He said he had already sent Mike's information to a head and neck surgeon, and we should hear from them soon.

The surgeon did say that this is a beatable cancer, but it will be a long, drawn-out, difficult journey.

We've been told to expect head to toe scans, an MRI of the tongue, surgical removal of parts of the tongue (which can be rebuilt down the road), surgery to remove lymph nodes in the neck, possibly feeding tubes, radiation, and possibly chemo.

As you can imagine, this has been a lot to take in, and I honestly don't think it has fully sunk in for any of us that this IS happening. It still feels like a bad dream.

We will be seeing the head/neck surgeon on Monday, May 1st. I will be able to update after that.

~Susan

Newest Update

Journal entry by Susan Eldridge — Nov 2, 2023

The scans yesterday were CLEAR!!! Nothing lit up. Dr. Hughes said that there is "NO evidence of cancer"!! HALLELUJAH!!! PRAISE JESUS!! Mike's fighting spirit and every one of your prayers has helped him to kick cancer's nasty butt.

Dr. Hughes did say that the highest chance of recurrence would be in the first 2 years, so he will have rechecks every 3 months for 2 years, and then he will have visits every 6 months until the 5 year mark.

We are praying for no recurrence, and for healing to continue. We are so thankful for every one of you who have prayed, donated, and walked this journey with us. It isn't over yet...we still need those prayers! There is still healing to be done....increased eating, increased energy, stamina, speech therapy, get the feeding tube out, and hopefully he will be able to return to work at some point in the future.

Love, Susan

Read More of the journal titled "November 02, 2023--PET SCAN Update!! "

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