By Ed Steger 
Ed Steger was diagnosed with head and neck cancer
in 2005. After 36 radiation treatments, 2 years in palliative care and 5
surgeries he is now in remission. He blogs about living with head and
neck cancer at www.hncancer.blogspot.com.
In order to give back to the medical team that saved him, Ed is currently a SPORE Patient Research Advocate at MD Anderson.
Today,
Dec. 13, 2011, is my five-year cancerversary. I was originally
diagnosed in April, at age 53, with stage III/IV head and neck cancer at
MD Anderson Cancer Center. Throughout my cancer journey, the largest
setback came five years ago today. Here's my story.
Difficult journey
Between April 2005 and December 2006, I had 36 IMRT radiation treatments, Taxol chemotherapy
and four surgeries. One surgery that I often refer to as the "salvage
surgery" lasted 12 hours and was followed by two terrifying days in the
ICU and a week longer stay in the hospital.
At the time, it was
either this surgical procedure or getting my affairs in order. After
careful deliberation, driven largely by wanting to see my 12-year-old
daughter grow up along with strong encouragement and support from my
family, I chose the salvage surgery that took place on July 12, 2006.
It
was an incredibly difficult surgery involving the removal of my left
side jaw bone, a large section on my upper esophagus, part of my soft
palate and a piece of my tongue.
If that wasn't enough, my
tibia bone was cut from my leg to replace the portion of my jaw that was
removed, necessitating a skin graft on the tibia area.
Just six months after this major surgery, I was actually feeling great. To test myself, I made a trip out West to visit friends and enjoyed a round of golf on the beautiful Monterrey, California peninsula.
There was life after surgery.
Visit with my surgeon changed everything
A CT scan followed by a clinic visit with my surgeon on Dec. 13, 2006, changed all that. The scan revealed five inoperable hot spots. Once again, I was faced with getting my affairs in order. With help from MD Anderson's Palliative Care Unit, I prepared to let go of life and begin the process of dying.
But, as one who believes in having a Plan B, I also visited my MD Anderson oncologist.
One week later, I began an intensive chemotherapy regimen. During the next eight months, I had the proverbial kitchen sink of chemotherapy agents thrown at me: Cetuximab, Docetaxel, Cisplatin, Avastin, Tarceva, more Taxol, Carboplatin and GEMZAR.
It may sound random, but it wasn't. My oncologist and surgeon were monitoring me carefully and modifying my treatment based on my responses. Ten months later and after setbacks that required two relatively minor surgeries, I was declared as having no evidence of disease (NED).
The five inoperable hot spots literally melted away. That was in October 2007, more than four years ago! Two years ago, I was reclassified as being in remission.
So, this holiday season, I have the gift of life.
I was able to see my daughter graduate from high school last May and begin the next stage of her life as a beautiful young woman and a college freshman.
It has been hard, but it's so worth it.
I intend to keep moving forward and giving back, in my own unique way, to the community who made it possible for me to be here today. I am so very grateful for the untiring efforts of my medical team at MD Anderson.
For all those who have participated with me in this journey, including physicians, researchers, support staff and my spouse, family and friends, I wish you a happy holiday season and thank you with all that I have for this generous and unbelievable gift.
Read more posts by Ed Steger.
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