Dear Coquest23,

It is *absolutely* my heartfelt desire to share Kathleen's story with head and neck cancer health practitioners, patients, and caregivers to give others not just detailed information about one survivor, but to encourage others to have hope.

When Kathleen was diagnosed with high-grade bone cancer (osteosarcoma) in her maxillary sinus, her chances for survival looked bleak. The doctors informed me--without her knowledge--to prepare for a funeral. I am here to tell you: head and neck cancer is not only treatable, in many instances, it is curable. Head and neck cancer is not a death sentence. You can beat the odds!

As Kathleen's caregiver, I teamed up with the doctors to be an *active* participant every step of the decade-long medical journey; And the doctors appreciated my (and our) intense involvement in their critical work. One of the major takeaways of the book is to actively participate in every detail with every member of your care team. Yes, it is overwhelming, but it essential to advocate for the patient. Surgeons and oncologists must see you as a person and not just as a disease to be treated. You must share your way of everyday life with the doctors so they can see you as a whole person; REMEMBER: you are not just *data* in an electronic medical file. Do not be afraid to challenge the doctors. Some people in the medical profession will balk at this approach (doctors, especially surgeons, have HUGE egos -- as well they should if they are going to be cutting and drilling in their patients' heads!), but there is no *one* person who has all the answers, and active participation in your own care (or your loved one's care) is empowering and in Kathleen's case, it was transformative.

Happy reading!

Warmly, Joy