elenacuomo's Cancer Blog
March 22, 2010
Hi All,
To all you tonsil, tongue peeps….I have to post this for the ones coming down the pike. I truly and literally never thought It would end. I mean to horrible mucus, pain and everyday blahhhhh…BUT IT DOES….I mean aside from my swallowing issues (which I soon will conquer) I FEEL FANTASTIC… I really was worried that I’d never feel good again. BUT DONT WORRY! You will be back. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. STAY STRONG!
Dont get me wrong, I am dying for a GOOD slice of PIZZA.LOL But that will come for me in time. However, Im feeling great. I have lots of energy and I feel SO BLESSED! PRAISE GOD! I just want to give you guys HOPE… This weekend in NJ we had 70’s weather. I BBQ’d had lots of family over and I was back to ELENA again…
I pray for all of you. You can FIGHT and WIN! Im in your corner all of the time…
My love to you all,
BE HAPPY,
Love,
Elena
Thanks for those encouraging words, Elena! you’re right. It does get better. God does answer prayer. I don’t know what I would have done without him.
David Craig
Posted on Thank you, Elena, for your wonderful, positive, uplifting post. It’s so great to see our friends come out from under the cancer war in one piece. You’ve been one tough cookie through your treatments!
Enjoy!
Posted on You sound great. Im glad to hear you are doing so well, keep it up and you will be eating that pizza in no time.
elena…
great news your over the hump and starting to feel better…
before you know it…the pizza will be a possibilty…
god bless…
dennismcgn
Posted on Elena—
I’m so glad you are doing great! Keep up the good work, girl! You’ll be eating pizza soon.
Hugs—
Martha
Posted on I’m always secretely celebrating each time I read a blog from a friend who is making headway in their fight against cancer. In some small way, it gives encouragement and hope to all of us. It’s your accomplishment, but somehow feels like ours too. Congratulations, and thanks for lifting my spirits today.
Posted on Hey Elena,
It’s been said that encouragement is like a pebble thrown into water. While there is always an immediate impact, the ripples continue indefinitely. So glad we have someone like you on “our team” to inspire and encourage others.
You know, it seems like once you get past that 2- to 3-week post treatment phase things progressively start getting better faster. It helps when you have faith, a vision of healing and the ability to focus on the many blessings in life.
This week marks 8 weeks since I completed chemo and radiation treatments and to commemerate this I had my little friend the PEG tube removed yesterday. There are many milestones and blessings on this journey and I am learing to appreciate them all. But most of all, I appreciate people like you who inspire and encourage the rest of us as we travel this road together.
The more we reach out to other people with needs, the smaller our fears become.
Peace, hope and love to you Elena.
Greg
Posted on Thank you so much for your wonderful post,like Greg said it so well about the pebbles and ripples. I am so glad you are starting to feel like yourself it gives us all hope who are in the midst of all this.
I am at the point where I am feeling everyone ( medical) wants a peice of me, and I just want to stay home and not go to any more appointments.
But with posts like yours I know I can keep going. Hugs to you!
Val
Posted on Elena,
I am so happy for you. It’s about damn time you started having some great days!
You have been and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
((Hugs)) You are winning the battle and that is so important. Your beauty, strength and yes… complaints make you the incredible person you are!
I’m just so thankful that we could share your good news!
Many hugs & blessings,
Elana Rose
Posted on Hi Elena,
It so great to see you happy and bubbling with optimism. You’re at that point where now you can begin to look back at that incredible journey, which will become almost surreal as time goes on. You are a stronger person now, and your attitude on life shows it.
Love, hugs and more prayers,
Enjoy the sun and warm weather and don’t forget to put on the 50 sunblock all on your neck and face all the time.
Jacques
Posted on Elana,
So happy to hear you are so much back to your old self! You don’t know how much you have helpe me on my own journey. I am now almost 4 weeks out of treatment and am feeling about 50% back to being Chris. Still get very tired after an hour or 2 of activity. I see my RO Friday and MO on Monday for my 1 month check up and will post to my blog afterwards.
So happy for you – thanks for posting – it gives me hope that 50% back will soon be 75%, and so on!
Love,
Chris
Posted on Hi Elena,
I’ve been away from the blog for a while. Losing Cheryl was devastating, we communicated so much during her last 6 months.
I was also thinking about you and was wondering if all is back to normal. I recall you having difficulty swallowing. Has that issued been resolved?
Just wanted to say hello and say that I was thinking of you.
Warm hugs,
Ron
Posted on Elena,
I know your words will isnpire others to keep their faith and get through the ordeal. I finished rad/chemo in Oct. 09, and it took a while but yes, you will get your slice of pizza! The non-stop mucus for me was followed by dry-mouth, which I still have but not as severe. You are so positive and I agree with you you have to believe it will get better, even though like my docs told me, while you are in it it is tough to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Bless you and your great family. If you (or anyone else) has questions contact me.
Aloha from Hawaii! Sean M.
Posted on March 17, 2010
Hello Everyone,
I want to thank you all for your support and prayers. The past 2 weeks have been a nail biting experience. You all know I was awaiting the results of the MRI bcuz the PET scan lit up in the tonsil area. Well Today FINALLY Doc confirmed there are NO TUMORS, LUMPS or evidence of “C”
Hallelujah! PRAISE GOD! I was really trying so HARD to remain calm. I wanted to rely on my FAITH in GOD and stand firm with the fact that the “C” WAS NOT back….but in the same sense I was worried why doc was taking so long to get back to me. We all know an idle mind is the Devils playground. So I kept my self on the move.
Today was yet another Happiest Day of My life. THANK YOU LORD! ANd many thanks to all of you who have stuck with me and reached out to me with encouragement. You are all always there for me. I am honored to be a part of BFAC. You are all filled with Courage, inspiration and warmest wishes all of the time. You are in my thoughts and prayers always.
With lots of love,
Elena : )
hi, elena. i am so happy your MRI came back NED. i can imagine that must be a huge relief. time to celebrate some good news. i am continuing to pray for you… that you will always be NED. God bless you. debby
Posted on Amen.
Hi Elena,
What wonderful news! Everytime we get good news it is like another birthday….at least that is how I think of it. I wish you all good news from here on out. Keep us updated on your continued recovery.
hugs
Nancy
Posted on Elena I am so happy for you. I hope you can hear me scream with happiness for you, YEEEEAAAAAHH WOOO HOOOOOOOO!
Pat
Elena-
Congratulations…you’ve been a strong warrior fighting all the way to victory. Others will now need your inspiration and help on their new journey’s to victory.
Great news, you deserved it.
Hugs and love always
Ron
Wonderful news! Big relief – whew!
Anna
Posted on xoxoxoxoxoxo Val
elena…
great news !
god bless
dennismcgn
you are such an inspiration. tonight we celebrate
Elena, There’s a book you should read, The China Study. Great news that you’re recovering.
That’s awesome news Elena! I’m so happy for you. We have a big God – even when it doesn’t seem so, he still cares for us. Love him back . . .
Hey Elena. Thank you so much for answering my questions so quickly. I’m so sorry that after almost 7 months you still can’t swallow. To be honest with you, that scared me since I still can’t swallow a month after treatment. Your answer about what you will have to go throgh woke me right up.
Today I have been taking very small sips of water and keeping them down, so I know my throat is open; maybe barely but it’s open. It hurts like hell, but I don’t want to have to go through what you’re going through now.
I’m going to continue taking small sips until I can hold down a real swallow of water. Then I’m going to try some soup.
I will see my radiation oncologist on Apr.5th. I’m going to let him know the problems I’m having with swallowing. I really think my throat may be restricted from the radiation to the back of my tongue.
I’m so glad you wrote me. You really brought me to reality. I hope I can continue to take bigger and bigger sips of water. I’ll let you know how I’m doing. I so glad you are now cancer free. I hope that opening up your throat is successful. Fondest regards, Frank
Posted on 
07.08.09 
Thanks for your support - 
