New Diagnosis

Hi Eds and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.

I'm sorry to read about your recent diagnosis and it's perfectly natural to be feeling as you do. 

The online community is divided up into different support groups so I'm going to recommend that you join the very supportive head and neck cancer group which is a great place to ask questions, share experiences and get support from others with the same or similar diagnosis. 

To join just click on the link I've created and then join and post in the same way as you did here. You can also join in with conversations by clicking on 'reply'.

It would be great if you could pop something about your diagnosis and treatment so far into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.

If you have any difficulty navigating the community just drop me a reply and I'll be pleased to help

x

My heart goes out to you. I was diagnosed yesterday and waiting on CT scan. I think I'm more terrified of not knowing what's going on in my body. But I'm taking it one step at a time. That's all we can do. I'm keeping everything crossed for everyone. X

Keep in touch, hope you/we get through this x

Hi Eds - I'm in a very similar position. First Biopsy 3 weeks ago found mourth and jaw tumour. CT scan was clear, but MRI scan found "something" on the other side of my mouth, for which I've just had a second biopsy. Like you I'm both terrified and have massive waves of uncontrollable sadness/despair. I know that I have to have both a tumour removal and neck surgery to remove lymph nodes, as a precaution, within a short while. You're not alone, I'm right here in this too. Don't beat yourself up about not being "strong" all the time, this is extremely scaty stuff to have to deal with. I've joined the head and neck cancer group here, so maybe catch up with you there? Anyway I wish you all the best, and hope we might find people who have been through similar situations and can give us some advice or support. Sheilagh x

In there with you too. Sheilagh x

Hi Bodi

thank you. This is a lovely group and it’s so sad we are all here but so lovely that we can share our feelings. I’ll post what happens to me along the way and let’s hope we get through this

I'm exactly where you are my lovely.  I don't know where to turn. But I do believe in being positive and take each day as it comes. We've got this!! Xx

Thank you so much.  My head is all over the place, I'm scared the CT will show more, I know I'm jumping ahead of myself. I had an MRI before I had the endoscopy nothing flagged up, but there is a mass in the back of my nose and biopsy confirmed cancer. Where do you all get your strength. Your all amazing x

Spice Girl ---not even sure what strength I do have any more. I get results of my second biopsy on Wednesday, on other side to first confirmed cancer. I felt similar fear to yours re my CT Scan, but it did come back clear. At the moment I really do have to be taking it one day at a time, because throughout the day I'm often petrified, by which I mean I freeze in the middle of what I'm doing for minutes on end, and then resume trying to do everyday things whilst trembling and with shaking hands. I think the uncertainty of when the op will take place, whether I'll be "just" having radiotherapy or now possibly chemo also, how to tell my daughter and grandchildren (only family they or I  have), and trying to keep a brave face on for my husband (who also has cancer) is pretty overwhelming. Still, like you, I wake up in the morning, remember IT, and then push on into this one day, doing my best to take every precious moment in while I can. Having this group here helps, and people like you also help me, with your honesty. Where the strength comes from ? I honestly don't know. Am with  you in spirit and here online. We will just keep going and we will get through this. Stay strong - love Sheilagh x

Hi Spice girl

I hope you will be ok and everyone else on here too. I have always been the one people come to for help, I've never turned to anyone for help but I feel that this group is giving me a little bit of strength by each message I receive, just hearing survivors who have made it through is enough for me at the monent, I know nothing about cancer or even my illness yet but the people I have been messaged by on here are so supportive so in the last couple of days I feel a little bit stronger to face stuff day by day. It's hard, it's hard not knowing where this will end up but I will take it as it comes now. Try and gain strength from people, it's not easy I keep having massive emotional replapses but I'm trying to not give into them as much. :-)