Vincent’s Cancer Journey
Read about an inspiring oral cancer journey. Vincent credits his survival to his skilled specialists, excellent care and indomitable hope.
30 Stories in 30 Days™ // April 2023
I first experienced severe jaw pain and a “popping” sensation in my jaw during the summer of 2021. The jaw pain felt so severe that it kept me up at night. My family recommended I visit a trauma center after spending three months seeing an oral surgeon. And so, I visited a trauma center near my home, spent five days there, and was diagnosed with a metastasizing cancer in my mouth, extending from the buccal area up to my ear.
Fortunately, on the same day I received a diagnosis at the trauma center, I was referred to a head and neck surgeon in New York City, who gave me an appointment right away. Once I visited this head and neck surgeon, I scheduled surgery within a month, and I left this initial meeting feeling incredibly comfortable. This head and neck surgeon put me at tremendous ease, and even after just one meeting, I immediately had great confidence in his abilities.
Several months later, I underwent surgery. I had full faith in my surgeon and his team. My tumor, however, grew worse than expected, as it had entered my chewing muscle and lymph nodes. So the procedure became a bit more involved than originally planned. I spent around one week in the ICU, where I had a feeding tube placed and remained mostly immobile. I received incredible 24/7 care and attention from ICU nurses, and I am so grateful for their care.
Throughout this entire journey, I stayed calm and fully trusted my doctors during every appointment.
After my surgery, my surgeon recommended I undergo radiation therapy. As a result, four months later, I went through six weeks of radiation. By the end of my course of radiation, I experienced loss of saliva and taste. However, my physicians told me exactly what to expect after radiation, so I felt fully prepared to handle the side-effects.
I also went through speech therapy, during which my speech therapist taught me how to swallow again. She was incredibly personable and accessible—I always received quick responses to the emails I would send her. I truly appreciate my speech therapist for helping me overcome the side-effects of radiation.
I want to remind anyone reading my story that oral cancer is survivable, and to always stay hopeful!
Today, I follow-up with my physicians around every three months. So far, everything has looked great, and I even recently had my hardware removed. Looking back, I received the best possible care and supervision from my head and neck specialists. Throughout this entire journey, I stayed calm and fully trusted my doctors during every appointment.
I want to remind anyone reading my story that oral cancer is survivable, and to always stay hopeful! I received amazing care, which I partly attribute to working closely with the right specialists early on. I received careful medical attention from wonderful staff, and as a result, I never had to worry that my cancer would get worse. Put yourself in the best hands possible to receive the best treatment!
Interested in Sharing Your Cancer Journey?
For someone recently diagnosed with cancer, reading the stories of other caregivers and survivors can inspire.
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