A benefit for Candor, N.Y. resident, Nick Wilding, who is battling stage IV tongue cancer, is planned for Sunday, Nov. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Candor Fire Station located at 74 Owego Rd. in Candor, N.Y. A firefighter who has served in both Candor and Owego fire departments, Wilding currently travels multiple times per week for cancer treatments in Syracuse, N.Y. <\/p>\n
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, tongue cancer is one of several oral cancers, the majority of which are found in the late stage. Wilding\u2019s case falls into the \u201cunder seven percent\u201d category, or those patients that get oral cancer from no identified cause. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe diagnosis took me by complete surprise,\u201d shared Wilding. <\/p>\n
Wilding\u2019s emotional journey began in April this year. He hopes by sharing his story it will help others as well as bring much needed attention to the subject of oral cancer research.<\/p>\n
Wilding, age 33, had just completed one month as an assistant manager at a new job when he began experiencing pain on the right side of his head near the ear. A procedure with an ear, nose and throat specialist in June did not solve the pain, nor did visits to a neurologist. On July 1, Nick\u2019s tongue began to swell and he found himself in the emergency room. Blood work at that point ruled out cancer, although Nick\u2019s wife, Christina, had suspicions.<\/p>\n
A small tumor protruding on top of his tongue was found by Nick\u2019s primary doctor in early July, and by July 29, with a tongue about three times its normal size, a biopsy was scheduled. A cancer diagnosis was confirmed on Aug. 3. Nick had been unable to eat solid food or talk, and had dropped from 203 pounds to 143 pounds during late May through early August. <\/p>\n
Referred to the Upstate Cancer Center in Syracuse, Wilding had induction chemotherapy in August and September, where good results allowed him to eat foods orally. Unable to have surgery, Nick traveled to Chicago\u2019s Cancer Treatment Center of America in October for another round of treatment, and following those results, a coordinated treatment plan was put into place. Nick can now get the same treatment in Syracuse that he received in Chicago. <\/p>\n
As of this writing, Nick was scheduled to undergo two more chemo rounds plus radiation on the left side of his neck on Friday, Nov. 11, considered the most advanced treatment method. <\/p>\n
Wilding shared, \u201cI have full confidence that I am now on a progressive path,\u201d and added, \u201cMy doctors say I am a \u2018miracle case,\u2019 and only the second patient they\u2019ve had to go through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The news gives Wilding hope. A future goal of Nick\u2019s is to eventually be able to return to work. <\/p>\n
Wilding wishes to thank the community for their outpouring of support, along with family and friends, fire service personnel and law enforcement.<\/p>\n
Wilding shared, \u201cMy parents moved up here from Florida to help.\u201d Wilding himself, a \u201cFlorida transplant\u201d as he described, has lived in the area for ten years. Nick\u2019s wife, Christina Shaylor-Wilding, a 911 dispatcher at the Tioga County Sheriff\u2019s Office, has been by his side throughout the course of his extensive treatments. <\/p>\n
The spaghetti dinner benefit at the Candor Fire Station will include music, gift baskets and raffles, along with other activities. A suggested donation of $5 per dinner or $17 for a family of four with a $2 extra per person in family is appreciated. All money raised will be used toward Nick\u2019s travel back and forth to Syracuse as well as for general expenses.<\/p>\n
To keep up-to-date on Nick\u2019s journey, visit www.christinamwilding.com<\/a>. For additional information, or to donate items for the benefit, contact Julie Cornell at (607) 280-2910 or Joyce Shaylor at (607) 972-4426, or visit the Facebook page, \u201cPrayers for Nick Wilding.\u201d<\/i> <\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A benefit for Candor, N.Y. resident, Nick Wilding, who is battling stage IV tongue cancer, is planned for Sunday, Nov. 27, from 4 to 7…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":53225,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53224","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n