Poetrooper’s duty status
A number of people have asked where Poetrooper has been lately. He is actually fighting that bitch, throat cancer, these days. He sends this message last night;
Initially I thought I was a goner with an untreatable tumor based on what my GP had told me, but that stupid bastard was totally wrong about everything.
I’m now under the care of an ENT surgeon who is really good. He thinks we can beat it without disfiguring surgery so I just had my first chemo this past Tuesday and will begin targeted radiation after New Years. I’ll lose my hair and some teeth but not my tongue and vocal cords as the surgery might have done.
I’ve lost thirty pounds and we’re just getting started but the tumor itself, being in the back of my throat killed my appetite weeks ago and now the chemo is making me too queasy to eat anything but ice cream. The painkillers have kept me too spacey to organize my thoughts enough to write anything worth reading and overall, I just don’t have any strength at all, mental or physical. The best news we’ve had lately is that it hasn’t metastasized which increases my odds considerably.
It looks like it may be a while before I get back to writing but I’ll be back. So far though, I haven’t even felt like sending you any old pieces like we discussed previously. Tell everyone I said Happy New Year and that I look forward to getting back into the discussions.
The NVA couldn’t get him, so I doubt that cancer can. I’m sure he’d appreciate your prayers, though.
Category: Bloggers
Prayers up for you, Poe, and your family.
Wishing you a good recovery and a happy New Year.
I enjoy reading you commentary Peo.
Hope you get over this quickly and easily.
The Dick Weed family will assemble a batch of ‘ole school Irish prayers to the Virgin Mary for Poe.
That is all.
Poe, I have enjoyed your commentary over the years, and hope to enjoy it for many more. prayers, and fair winds, Brother.
Prayers are with you, Poe; looking forward to you returning to TAH and reading your words of wisdom.
Keeping you in my prayers, Poe. Your commentary and writing here have been, and will continue to be, excellent!
You have this Poe.
Lighting a candle tomorrow for my fellow old geezer.
Casa OWB is also sending best regards and adding ‘Ole Poe to the prayer list. We look forward to your return to regular programming, after you take as long as it takes to heal.
Mrs. AW1 and I miss your wit and humor, hope to see you back in the saddle soon.
Poe, you’re the best ever. You can beat this thing, hands down. Enjoy the ice cream, and remember that everyone here has your back.
Prayers out P.T.
Get well soon, Poe!
I’ll put in a word with the Man Upstairs on your behalf, PT.
Get well soon, amigo.
Praying for a fast recovery Poe!
Hang in Poe, you’re going to beat this.
prayers to you poe
Keep fighting, you can beat this!
Prayers out!
You beat Charlie, you will beat cancer…
Best,
Combat Historian
Prayers for you and your family, Poe… stay strong!
carry on, Poe, carry on
I been fighting a bad form of prostate cancer for about 5 years now but with a help of a clinical trial everything seems under control. I had surgery, targeted radiation and hormone treatments before that but cancer research is advancing so rapidly that it can find a new treatment procedure even while you are being treated. So keep your spirits up and if one thing fails there will still other options for you.
Prayers out for you and family, PT!
Poe, my prayers are going out to you and your family. I really enjoy your posts and look forward to your return. I too am fighting that vengeful bitch cancer. I beat prostate cancer and have been fighting bladder cancer now for four years! I understand what you are going thru and wish you and your family a quick recovery!
Take care my friend,
Willy
Prayers out, Poe.
Prayers from the skippy clan
Godspeed to you Poe. Hoping the best for you Brother.
“but that stupid bastard was totally wrong about everything.”
Stay angry.
It’s my personal opinion that hate and discontent are your very best weapons in a fight like this.
Warn your loved ones, then begin distilling your anger in to a fine crystalline powder. Compress the powder with hate until you have a dagger like object to lash out at the world with. Destroy everything until the threat is gone. Apologize to family.
It may sound like horrible or crazy advice. Dig some crampons into the angry train and ride that fucker all the way. Anger is the one and only emotion in the stages of grief that is not equal to surrender.
When the suck meter pegs out; the only thing left to keep you warm will be stoking the fire of hate and discontent in your belly. Keep it burning. 5 more klicks to go right?
Wishing Poe, Wilted Willy and others fighting this damned cancer all the best.
Prayers up, Poe. Don’t let that bitch (the big “C”) get the best of you.
Keep on fighting Poetrooper, prayers sent up and praying that 2018 is a good year for you.
I’ve done the chemo thing and I’m a wimp. If I can get past it, I know you can. Try to get as much water down as you can.
Many prayers for your full recovery!
Alice
Well, shit. I disagree with you on pretty much everything, Poe, but I hate to see you battling cancer. Hope you kick it’s ass and recover fast.
Maybe this can help you Old Poe, hope you get well.
Hang in there! My dad had this at least 15 years before we lost him, and treatment is better now. Will also pray, of course 😀
Just lost an old Cav buddy far faster than this to the same thing – glad the doc is wrong. Remember, 50% of the docs graduated in the bottom half of their class! If you’ve made it this far, consider yourself immortal and beating it.
Prayers for you, brother. Let us know if you need anything.
Love your writings Poe. Mostly because I agree with them. Thanks for sitrep and fight like you have an Army behind you.
We are praying for your recovery, Poe. I have especially enjoyed your articles on “American Thinker.” Keep up the fight.
In my prayers.
Poetrooper, I’m a kidney cancer survivor. The only way to deal with that bitch cancer is to laugh in its face…after spitting in it.
And I was amazed at the level of support I got from TRICARE when I was going through my treatment. 100% on my side.
You got this.
Prayers and a speedy recovery, Poe.
Poe, I honestly empathize with you and know what you are going through. I survived throat cancer last year. Fortunately for me, I needed only radiation [participated in a study] and that killed off all the cancer that the surgeon didn’t cut out.
Your care team should include a speech therapist to ensure you do proper exercises so your throat does not close up. If they do not have a speech therapist, ask about it! Some people’s throat will slowly close up and will require further treatment to fix. They’ll measure your open-jaw distance as well … sometimes the mouth won’t open enough and the patient needs to exercise the jaws as well as the throat.
Your saliva production will most likely decrease so that you need to carry a water bottle everywhere — I still need water throughout the day, but my saliva production feels normal (but it’s not).
The post-op pain will eventually decrease and one day you’ll notice it’s not there! Hang in there!!
If you’ve lost your taste, it will likely come back — I lost taste for the period I was undergoing treatment, but it came back a month after my final radiation. [The throat still “cooks” after radiation … it takes time].
So I’ll pray a rosary for your complete and quick recovery.
“Sergeant Death” can be delayed —
The Russian and I send prayers your way, Poe.
Prayers up for you, Poe.
Prayers to ya Poe, hang tough!
Thoughts and prayers for you, Poe. Missing your posts. Looking forward to hearing of your full recovery and remission!
Prayers headed up for your recovery, Ole Poe. You got this.