If you’ve been wondering where ol’ Poe has been for the past eight months, you should know that I’ve been in the fight of my life against the dreaded Big C. Last November I learned that I had a 14cm by 14.3cm tumor growing in the back of my throat. In December I surrendered my body and my life to the somewhat less than tender ministrations of a medical oncologist and a radiation oncologist. Together they made my existence one of pure misery which I would not wish upon my worst enemy. Well, maybe John Kerry or Jane Fonda; yeah, them for sure.
Because this sort of tumor is very difficult to treat and has a low success rate, they used the big guns, resulting in a badly battered Poe. They first insisted in pulling all my healthy bottom teeth as the intense radiation regimen would destroy them; this meant a liquid-only diet. Just a few radiation sessions destroyed my ability to swallow resulting in a seventy pound weight loss and the emplacement of a feeding tube in my belly. All the while the medical oncology team was pumping ol ’Poe full of poisonous concoctions targeted at the tumor which left me almost constantly nauseated and totally repulsed by the sight, smell or even thought of any sort of food.
Why am I telling you all this? Because I want you to know that throughout this ordeal I checked in and read TAH on all but my very worst days. Like some drooling, scrawny, hairless troll, I was lurking here, able to read but totally unable to formulate a cohesive comment of my own. But I was constantly invigorated by the often humorous, sometimes caustic, frequently informative comments of all my TAH friends and even those frequent critics of my writings. You guys made me smile when nothing else could, so I credit TAH with being a crucial part of my ability to endure the misery the medics were inflicting on me. You helped me pull through it, to keep slogging “all the way” to the top of that hill, and today I learned I had made it: the ENT surgeon who managed my care told me I’m out of the woods; the oncologists have killed that deadly tumor, thankfully without killing me. And lest I forget, I will never be able to repay my debt to the lovely Miz Poe who has been my stalwart, uncomplaining nurse and companion throughout this most miserable period of our fifty years together. I think maybe she’s a keeper.
So now it’s time to rehab and the best way for me to do that is get back up on my soapbox and start pontificating here and at my original writing home, American Thinker. Luckily for me there is an election coming and the Democrats are setting themselves up as juicy targets for a passel of ol’ Poe’s potshots. Dinging Dems with words is like a video game for me. Caution: You may need to bear with me for a while as I may be a bit fuzzy sometimes due to the effects of the chemo and radiation, but those are fading with every passing day. Actually, fuzzy writing may be entirely in order for a political party whose mass of followers thinking seems pretty fuzzy itself.
Damn it feels good to be back. I’m looking forward to stirring up the pot
Outstanding news brother! Keep moving forward…..
“Damn it feels good to be back.”
Damn it is good to have you back. You had more than a few prayers sent up on your behalf you SOB.
Dinging demonrats is always a fun and target-rich sporting passtime. It’ll keep you busy and entertained for a long while. Keep up with the good cheer, best wishes, and welcome back…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvk_uLnv4uo
Congrats!
But Gottamn. That got me right in the fu**ing feels.
Looking forward to you dragging our less logiced friends; over the coals, out of their safe spaces, out of their parents’ basements, etc.
Welcome back from a newbie.
Yeah, good indeed. Yep, prayers will continue.
Well, now whaddarewegonna do?
All kidding side, great to see you again. We have missed your input muchly.
Welcome back and glad you made it.
Airborne!
Well Done
I kept wondering when you’d pop up, Poe. No warrior like an old warrior.
I hope you get new teeth and a steak bone to gnaw on. 70 lbs??? Dammn, man, that is a lot of space to lose.
Just glad you’re back and still kicking.
Welcome back… In several ways.
Poe, glad to hear your back. Prayers for your continued recovery.
Welcome back. My grandfather went through much of what you described over a couple year period, surgery radiation liquid diet and eventually the feeding tube.
The good news was I was on active duty and didn’t see him on a daily basis, only when I could make it home on leave. Given what little I observed, you are a braver man than I. I don’t think I could do it.
Good luck and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Amen Brother! My Wife was dx with similar, We are 4 yrs out of the woods. I know tx was very hard; well done Sir!
welcome back, old friend. sending prayers up for you. keep us informed, please.
FWIW, im sure the fuzzy mutterings will be at least as humorous as they are on point. post ’em up. you at your fuzziest are still going to make loads more sense than those you target.
WELCOME BACK, PT!! Glad to hear the good news and YOU ARE CLEARED HOT, have a ball roasting the moonbats! I nearly lost my Mom to that dreaded beast a few years ago and I’m always glad to hear of others beating it. I myself am not that worried about this year’s elections since the D-rats have chosen to go against all of President Trump’s successes, the economy growing as well as the job market, clipping fatty Kim-Cheese’s wings and forcing him to the bargaining table, rescuing American Citizens being held hostage while SEIZING terrorist kingpins instead of giving them up,…
Glad you gave ’em hell Poe. Good to have you back and always look forward to reading your missives.
I have enjoyed your writing, from the days of Bill Faith and “Old War Dogs” to the present, here at TAH. I have been up close, but not personal with the Big C, and have somehow dodged it for my near 78 laps around the sun. I love success stories like yours. and feel a little better knowing that another one of us has faced the beast and conquered it.
Missed your sage words, PT. Welcome back!
That evil got my mom a dozen years ago, I’m glad you were more successful in your fight Poe, welcome back, and give em hell!
PT is back?!!!
This is the end of the “blue wave”!
Welcome back, Poe!!!
Thanks for the uplifting message. You made my day.
Welcome “Home”!!
You’ll only get stronger now, you’ll love life more now, you’ll find everyday the sun is brighter and the grass greener. You’ll love more, you’ll forgive quicker and most importantly you will now lead by example of how a life should be lived.
For some, they grow to thank their cancer…
Nine years on and everyday is (as the old saying goes) another day in Paradise!! Fo
“Like some drooling, scrawny, hairless troll, I was lurking here, able to read but totally unable to formulate a cohesive comment of my own.”
so you were just like the rest of us that read these pages Po’ Po’! have no fear, while you were away from eating food and drinking booze i filled in fo you am glad your doing better and looking forward to more of your ramblings in the future
Welcome back PT. Glad to see that you beat that harsh bitch called cancer. My Father-in-Law survived Korea and the Viet of the Nam only to be taken from us by throat cancer. Glad to see that you kicked it’s ass.
Twist, throat cancers are not uncommon among Vietnam vets and there is some research linking it to Agent Orange exposure. In fact, the VA recognizes certain cancers as likely attributable to service in areas where Agent Orange was used and cause for awarding of full disability, among them cancers of the airway, including cancer of the larynx. Unfortunately for me, my tumor was less than two inches above the larynx, in the pharynx, so I do not qualify.
My doctors and I intend to fight this.
Thanks Poe. I’ll have to research this and talk to my MIL. I have no idea how much, if any, exposure he would have had to Agent Orange in the Viet of the Nam since he was a Chinook mechanic (Which after years of being here and seeing all the embellishers, I’m proud to say that he was proud of what he did there and never claimed anything more, even though the entire family still has no idea what he did in Korea because he refused to talk about it further than just saying he was there).
Well…You da man! 🙂
Welcome back Poe, you’ve been missed! Now crank up that laptop, the range is clear, you may fire when ready!
Just an aside, I’m curious how many cancer survivors we have among our merry band of dickweeds.
Welcome back Poe!! Looking forward to your evisceration of the Dimocrat lefties. Congrats on beating Big Casino👍🇺🇸
Damn, Poe. Sorry to hear of the short term misery. Hope you are feeling better and are becoming better. A lot of people thinking about you and rooting for you and yours.
Keep your head up and glad to see you back.
Cheers,
MrFace
Congratulations and God’s blessings to you Sir! I’m so glad you made it and I give a big hand to your wife as well.
Poetrooper, good to have you back and congratulations on kicking big c’s butt.
Welcome Back.
YAY for PT and TAH.
FUCKIN’ A!!!!!!!!
While you were gone, the The Wall of Insults®™ has grown to the The Tower of Insults®™ and then The Mountain of Insults®™ and is now The Continent of Insults®™ .
It is now at the top of page 6 and is 3,275 words long.
I an glad you’re back and looking forward to you seeing pages 7-8 when it should be upgraded to the
The Hemisphere of Insults®™
Feel better and get well soon Poe.
You’re a far tougher and braver man than me, Poe. I don’t think I could have endured your ordeal and come out the other end. Good to have you back!
Welcome back, Poe… looking forward to your pontifications and postulations!
Great to hear. Hope the cancer stays gone.
I enjoy reading you insights.
Dang, Poe, I’m sorry to hear about what you’ve been going through. Cancer can be a monstrous SOB so I’m glad to hear that you’ve kicked its butt. Welcome back, and best wishes for future good health!
Good to have you back Poe. You are a far stronger man than I. And kudos to your bride for all the aide she ministered.
Just got good news that the biopsy from my nose showed only sun damage and no “C”.
Poetrooper,
Glad to see you back! Looking forward to reading more PT Commentary.
I didn’t know they made a radioactive version of motrin and water PT. Did you remember to change your socks?
Glad to see you back. We have been collectively dumber without your insight.
“Welcome back my friend, to the show that never ends”
“We’re so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside”.
“Soon the Gypsy Queen in a glaze of Vaseline, will perform a guillotine, what a scene, what a scene.”
Seriously Poe, great to have you back.
I know how you feel after dodging the big bullet. Mine was heart failure in 2010 that put me on a heart transplant list and gave me six months to live…
I’m still waiting for my six months to be up.
I’m just very happy that you came, you saw and you kicked it’s ass !!!
Stay away from the brown acid when you watch this…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2zurZig4L8&ab_channel=UnionSquareMusic
Wishing the absolute best, brother!
WELCOME BACK POE!
Recovery is tough, but it sounds like you’re on the right track. I can happily report to you, from first-hand experience, that your weight will gradually return to homeostasis … even if you try to keep it lower!
I also underwent treatment for throat cancer in April 2016, but had it better than you did: “Col. C” occupied “Tonsil 1” and had sent out patrols to various objectives in its AO; because of the active infiltration, the situation elevated to Stage IV. I called in an ARC Light and the enemy was easily (!) destroyed. Recovering from the throat surgery was the worse pain for 2 weeks.
I was lucky enough to participate in a study, so had no chemo … but a ton of radiation (twice on Fridays!) — all pain (except tonsil/throat) was muted by gabapentin, so I was in a cloud for 6 months. Lost my taste for that period … and also lost 30 lbs. but have — unfortunately — regained it.
Other than a little dry mouth, my only visible reminder is that my right neck doesn’t need to be shaved every morning! (^__^)
Hang in and and get busy writing more articles for us!
Welcome “home”!
Welcome back, Brother. Will send up prayers to The Man that your cancer is completely and permanently cured. Blessings.
Yikes, Sarge! That was a tough fight. Sounds worse than getting dropped off in the jungle with a broken leg! You’re one tough guy, and we love you. ❤️💕
Poe, speaking as a fellow TAH DickWeed to a fellow Dickweed, welcome back!!
Best of wishes & prayers for your full recovery.
As a three time survivor of the “C” word myownself, I can attest that my outlook on life improved appreciatively. I slowed down my pace and REALLY began appreciating & enjoying life, learned to laugh longer & harder and not take myself so seriously, and love the circle of friends & family in my life.
Do what you need to do, let the doctor do his thing, and may the Big Guy in the sky watch over you.
Hugs to your wife.
Welcome back, Brother! That was a major win, thank You, Jesus!
Welcome, good sir.
I’m glad your prognosis is good. I’ve lost far too many friends and family to that bitch to not get emotional about it.