- Oct 6, 2006
- 12,155
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA
- Engines
- 3116 Caterpillars
I know many of you have missed Rusty from Club Sea Ray for a while. Part of his absence was due to a very successful business start up and a really busy year, but then in August, he noticed a bump on the side of his neck that required a visit to his doctor. Then, for no good reason other than an incompetent office staff and a lack of a sence of urgency, the search for a better and more professional treatment approach put Rusty in the office of a top head and neck surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville and being scheduled for a biopsy a few days later.
The biopsy results were positive for a small cancerous lesion on the back of his tongue. Surgery to remove the lesion and a nearby lymph node that was enlarged was scheduled. The surgery was successful and Rusty was released to recuperate at home.
The follow-up visit to the surgeon went very well. The initial surgery was successful and Rusty is cancer free. He has decided to do a short course of radiation therapy just to be sure there is no re-occurance. That means he will be “red-shirted” until about Christmas
Rusty went back home and started the healing process in preparation for relocating to UNC in Chapel Hill, NC. Where he will stay with his daughter and her family while under going the radiation treatments at the hands of the radiation specialists at the UNC hospital.
The first treatment was Wednesday, 10/5/22. Rusty has a positive attitude. He realizes this is a safety measure worth doing, but he is ready to get back home and on the water again.
There are a couple of reasons Rusty has not shared a lot of the above with his friends. Rusty is a very private person. Any of you who have been thru a situation like this with an uncertain outcome from your treatment and future at the hands of someone you don’t know personally, realize that you don’t really know what to say to well wishers. Add to that the fact that your treatment leaves you with a sore throat from hell plus hoarseness that makes it hard to communicate.
Rusty will be back around Christmas time, but the toughest part of his recovery will be between now and then as he nears the end of his radiation treatment. Radiation creates a burn at the site of treatment so swallowing and talking will likely become even more painful and difficult. I am sure those of you who know Rusty will hear from him as he begins booking deliveries near Christmas. Until then he will probably continue not answering his phone except for calls re: his treatment.
Lets all keep Rusty in our thoughts and prayers……………...
The biopsy results were positive for a small cancerous lesion on the back of his tongue. Surgery to remove the lesion and a nearby lymph node that was enlarged was scheduled. The surgery was successful and Rusty was released to recuperate at home.
The follow-up visit to the surgeon went very well. The initial surgery was successful and Rusty is cancer free. He has decided to do a short course of radiation therapy just to be sure there is no re-occurance. That means he will be “red-shirted” until about Christmas
Rusty went back home and started the healing process in preparation for relocating to UNC in Chapel Hill, NC. Where he will stay with his daughter and her family while under going the radiation treatments at the hands of the radiation specialists at the UNC hospital.
The first treatment was Wednesday, 10/5/22. Rusty has a positive attitude. He realizes this is a safety measure worth doing, but he is ready to get back home and on the water again.
There are a couple of reasons Rusty has not shared a lot of the above with his friends. Rusty is a very private person. Any of you who have been thru a situation like this with an uncertain outcome from your treatment and future at the hands of someone you don’t know personally, realize that you don’t really know what to say to well wishers. Add to that the fact that your treatment leaves you with a sore throat from hell plus hoarseness that makes it hard to communicate.
Rusty will be back around Christmas time, but the toughest part of his recovery will be between now and then as he nears the end of his radiation treatment. Radiation creates a burn at the site of treatment so swallowing and talking will likely become even more painful and difficult. I am sure those of you who know Rusty will hear from him as he begins booking deliveries near Christmas. Until then he will probably continue not answering his phone except for calls re: his treatment.
Lets all keep Rusty in our thoughts and prayers……………...
