Please help

why dont you speak to you own GP first and get them to help

How can they help? I’m asking cause I’m assuming people on here can share there experiences with me. 

Hi F11 and a very warm welcome to the Macmillan Community but sorry to hear about your stepdad.

A cancer diagnosis like this can be such a challenging and stressful time.

Further tests like MRI and PET Scans are often done just to get a complete picture as to if there is any progression from the main site.

You will find getting support from others who are dealing with the ‘exact same' cancer type or support challenges will help you a lot……. I have a completely different type of cancer and treatment journey.

This New to Community area is like our reception desk where we look to direct you to the best part of the Community for you to get support.

The Community is actually divided into dedicated Support Groups (Discussion Rooms) so can I recommend you look to join and post in our…….

        Head and neck cancer

……. support group.

This group is a safe place to talk to others who may have a similar diagnosis, treatment experience, to ask questions and get support from family members who are navigating the same support journey.

As for the practical and emotional challenges of supporting your stepdad and indeed yourself you may benefit from joining and posting in our……

     Family and Friends

     Carers only (if you are their caregiver)

……. support groups where you will connect with a wide range of members navigating the exact same support challenges.

To connect with a group click on the “Bold Italic Links” I have created above …… then once the group page opens click in the [Black - Click to Join - Banner] that appears at the bottom of the page and this will then confirm that you have joined the group.

When you are ready……. you can introduce yourself by putting up your very own post by clicking [+ Create new post] or [+] in the top right of the group page.

You can copy and paste the text from this post into your new post.

It is an emotional time supporting family so you might find this Macmillan information your feelings when someone has cancer helpful as well as this link getting help with your emotions.

The Macmillan Support Line is open between 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00…… this service provides cancer information, practical information, emotional support or just a listening ear.

Do get back to me if you need further help navigating the community ((hugs))

Thank you very much that was very helpful x

Hi  F11

Sorry about your stepdad. My cancer was different from your stepdads but everything you describe sounds normal to me. I had an MRI ,CT and a PET scan. I'm not a doctor but as I understand it the different scans show things in different ways, the PET scan they inject you with a radioactive substance ( I think it's sugar) and then on the scan the cancer turns orange, that's a very basic explanation. The MRI is more like an X ray I think. Don't know if that's any help or not. Xx

That is of great help I feel a lot better now as people are saying it seems normal. I’m just a bit confused as to why they are planning surgery in the next 4 weeks when his PET scan isn’t until 28th of March. Why would they arrange surgery if they don’t know the results of the scan xx

From what you've said the biopsy has confirmed it's cancer. The scans will help them grade it and also check there is no spread. For example with me my initial biopsy and what they could see they said I was stage 1 no spread but after scans they changed it to stage 2 and lymph nodes. That's not to say your stepdads has, but it's better that they check that way when they do surgery they will be able to get clear margins. Xx

That makes sense thank you very much for answering that for me you have helped me a lot. How are you doing now ? Xx

I'm OK finished treatment beginning November last year and got told last week no active cancer at present. Few bits on scans they want to keep an eye on but they think its just radiotherapy damage.Have 5 years of 3 monthly scans now and then hopefully get signed off. Thanks for asking. Xx