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Just diagnosed with throat cancer?

Old 08-06-2009, 06:14 PM
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Default Just diagnosed with throat cancer?

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?
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Old 08-06-2009, 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by jwes View Post
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?
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.
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Old 08-06-2009, 06:32 PM
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Yeah I have it on my tonsil and lymphnode..... I hope to be back, I don't no what else I would do.....
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Old 08-06-2009, 06:36 PM
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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.
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Old 08-06-2009, 09:25 PM
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Default Why so Long?

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?
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Old 08-07-2009, 04:10 AM
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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.
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Old 08-07-2009, 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Dakota View Post
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?
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
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Old 09-25-2009, 10:43 AM
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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
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Old 09-26-2009, 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Bloodhound View Post
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.
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.
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Old 08-02-2010, 10:32 AM
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Well I thought I'd give a quick update as of today. On Aug 24th 2009 I had a 7 hour surgery in Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. The doc removed a 5 cm tumor in my throat and 28 lymph-nods on that same side. I had quite the prison shank scar! (it's healed nicely though) followed by 6 weeks of chemo and radiation therapy. I'm normally about 185 lb. at 6 feet, but bulked up to 210 lb. on docs recommendation because they knew I'd lose weight during chemo/radiation. After the chemo and radiation I dropped down to 137 lb. in mid November. It sucked to put it lightly, I almost went on a PEG feeding tube but got through it. I feel I had the best doctors all around. Dr Eric Genden was the surgeon ENT who is leading the way in Micro-Robotic surgery and as odd as can be his father is a retired American Airline pilot. So we bonded quickly. This last week I had my second PET/CT scan in the last 4 months showing CANCER FREE!! I'm about 165 lb. and am trying to gain another 10 lb. of muscle. I sent all the paper work to ALPA on the results of my first PET/CT scans with hopes of getting back to work. FAA is mandating a year from last chemo. I'm OK with that because it really did take a lot out of me. Although I feel I could go back to work right now, I'm just happy that I'll be going back at all!!
Dr. Genden tells me that throat cancer is rising to almost epidemic proportions for people like myself that are non-smokers! Our cure rate has been in the 90% group but 10 years ago I would have had a 50/50 chance of survival with hopes of a normal life very low!! I have 2 other friends in my airline that had the same cancer. One caught it even earlier then myself and is back online enjoying a normal life. The other has not been so lucky because he waited to long to get it checked out and his radiologist fried his throat to much he could not dilate his esophagus. He had to be on a feeding tube for 2 years where the cancer has now spread to his lungs. My advice to anyone who feels that their body doesn't feel quite right should always get it checked out sooner rather then later.
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