March 1, 2004
In the spring of 2004, returning to the US from our cruise to The Bahamas, I discovered a lump on the left side of my throat. I was eventually diagnosed with metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary.
The story of my successful treatment follows.
The prognosis was not especially rosy.
To deal effectively with the disease I needed to remain upbeat. To do so I’d need the support of family and friends. I decided to be extremely open and communicative about my situation to avoid awkward interactions with those folks. What follows are the series of e-mails I sent to friends and family to keep them up-to-date.
The good news … as of this update, March of 2013, I’m still in complete remission and I feel great!
It is my hope that my story will be read by others in similar situations and that it will help them face the ordeal.
Finally, I want thank my family and friends, my physicians and their staffs and especially my wife, Sandy. Without their support I may not have made it through the ordeal. Their cards, their prayers and their understanding support all helped immeasurably.
Bill Stine
Addendum: May, 2022
It’s been more than 18 years since my last update. I remain in remission and feeling great. Still cross country skiing, camping, biking and looking at the grass from the green side!