jwes

Ok my world is about to change and if all goes well doc says 4-5 months to a recovery. My question is "if" all goes well has anyone been through this and gotten back flying 121 with first class medical?

Bloodhound

Although I have never been through it, my buddy had throat cancer (in his tonsil) and he was out for a little over a year.

jwes

Yeah I have it on my tonsil and lymphnode..... I hope to be back, I don't no what else I would do.....

Bloodhound

If you'd like, PM me your email and I can pass it on to my buddy. He was diagnosed in May '08 and came through requal in June '09.

Good luck to you.

Dakota

I too have cancer and I'm not understanding why guys are out for over a year? I've just began this journey and have no idea why I can't go back to work once the problem has been removed? The FAA has no problem with me working 14-16 hours a day -- what's the problem as long as I can pass the physical?

Bloodhound

One thing I learned is every cancer and case is different and every treatment plan is different, so some recoveries may be quicker than others. I know my buddy was out because the chemo and radiation made him very weak and there was no way he could return earlier than he did. He told me his last radiation treatment was also the day his wife went into labor and guess who was wheeled into the hospital in a wheelchair... he was, not his wife about to pop out a baby.

rickair7777

Worst case, cancer can spread to other parts of the body and cause sudden incapacitation. The FAA wants two things before you can return to work:

- All weakness or impairment caused by the disease or it's treatment to be resolved.

- A pretty good chance that you are not going to have a recurrence, which might go undetected long enough to cause sudden incapacitation.

Best of Luck

flynpig

When I was diagnosed with kidney cancer I began to do lots of research and was surprised at how much I did not understand about my disease. I don't know why I thought I should have known more but that is what struck me at the time.

Do not underestimate the emotional effects it can have on you. Looking back I am convinced that you should not fly (or make any major decisions) until it has all settled in your mind. Everyone will handle it differently and I sincerly hope you do well.

I was fortunate that I did not have any chemo or radiation. Another pilot I work with had lymphoma and with surgery, chemo and radiation he was off about one year. The pathology of the cancer and the type of chemo or othr treatment(s) will be the controlling factor in returning to flying status.

Good Luck

dojetdriver

I flew with him right after he came back. Good guy, and an amazing story. One of our APD's had prostate cancer, and his story was similar. One year from diagnosis, to treatment, to getting his medical back.

To the OP, both the XJT guys had similar stories to tell, with a common piece of advice. Certain people on here can bash ALPA all they want. But if you are at an ALPA carrier, get on the stick immediately with the ALPA aeromedical people. In both guys cases, ALPA medical handled ALL the paperwork. Pending a successful treatment, it can be the paper work being passed back and forth with errors or missing information that can hang up the process of getting the medical back ASAP.

Good luck.