Anxious re diagnosis

Hi Clodagh, this is Dani

The government is urging people who suspect cancer to visit their GPS as there is capacity for diagnosis. So I shouldn’t worry on that score. I read a piece in a radiologists’ publication how diagnostic and treatment machines are standing idle because people are afraid to come forward. 
I think you can rest assured that if you have diagnostic procedures necessary you will get them , similarly surgery. What might be affected is chemotherapy in some places. 
HPV driven oral cancer is very sensitive to radiotherapy and chemotherapy is belt and braces, really, improving cure by around 5%. Some early cancers do well without it. It will be an oncologist’s shout though there are NICE guidelines. 
Having said that I know three people having chemo along with their RT right now. 
Imbalance I think you have nothing to worry about. 
You will probably have to attend your appointments without your partner and some will be done over the phone ( results) 

I hope this helps and drop back in as problems arise. There are lots of folk with personal experience who are thriving and back to a normality to help you. 

I’m 15 months post RT for T2N0M0 base of tongue cancer, Six weeks RT no chemo.  

Thanks Dani, that’s quite reassuring. I like your blog too. I’m absolutely terrified about what’s about to come but this forum is good proof that issues can be overcome

Hi Chlodah

I know exactly how you’re feeling right now as I just had the last of my tests last Wednesday. Testing and treatment are continuing as usual. I started having tests on the eve of the lockdown and onwards. 
The hospitals are quieter than they normally are and no crowds of patients, so I have found things moving quite quickly. All precautions are being taken against Covid, and I have seen a change from my early tests when PPE was not so apparent to now that everyone is fully protected.

There is never a good time to go through what you are experiencing, but you will find that all diagnostic services are functioning well. You will almost certainly be informed of any results by phone/letter as I have been.

Good luck and I hope all your results come back clear and you can put this all behind you.

Thanks for the reassurance Stef. I know we all have different coping methods but do you mind me asking what ones you found best? My anxiety is through the roof and I just can’t sleep or focus on anything, I don’t know how to manage tbh 

Although I am post surgery now I feel that most aspects of head and neck cancer services are starting to come back on line - probably in quite a different way to the way they previously were delivered.  I think you will see a lot more phone/video appointments (I've a 3 month follow-up by phone next week).  Personally with 120 mile round trip I'd loved to have had that previously when the appointment is "just" a discussion rather than some hands on work!

I did not go down the radio/chemo route - just surgery - so cant form a opinion on those services.  Staffing wise, they should be OK except for staff sickness.

I am confident that the PET/CT scan that I am due will be booked in the next couple of weeks, and don't see that as a risk due to the existing social distancing caused by the radioactive tracer you have!

Good luck, and remember there is lots of great people on here with experiences that may help you on your own unique journey.

Hi

Welcome to the group although I’m sorry you’ve found yourself here.

As you say in your post, everyone is different and that is certainly very true in our household. 
I cope best with my anxiety by reading, researching and talking about my cancer. Whereas my husband is the complete opposite and prefers to know nothing and just deal with each issue as it occurs.

If your anxiety gets unmanageable then you might consider seeking advice from your GP. My hubby was prescribed an anti depressant before he started treatment and still takes them now and he is 16 weeks post treatment. He’s ready to come off them now but they certainly helped him get through everything.

I wish you well on your journey and please keep in touch. 

Treatment us no walk in the park and there’s no disguising it. But it’s doable. I was 67 when diagnosed and this is a girl who routinely suffered Girl Flu. 
If it indeed comes to that your team will discuss all the side effects but not everybody gets all of them by any means. 
They don’t all come crashing down at once. They creep up on you so you do cope. You must. There is no alternative. 
Remember it’s just a few months out of your life, don’t be brave. Take your meds and give your life over to healing. As for coping, the most difficult thing I found was being out of control but you just have to try to be positive and focus on the end. 
Waiting is awful so you just have to try to be busy. Once you have a plan and a calendar of events you’ll settle down. 
it really is doable. 

Thanks for reading the blog. 
MikeO has a good blog here  

And 
Have a look at Hazel’s blog  RadioactiveRaz it’s much better than mine and when you get to the stage of being able to laugh a bit there is Penrod who has a brilliant diary 

Let us know how you get on  and fingers crossed

OH and stay off Google 

we can let you know everything you need that you won’t get from your team. 
Yoh can send a friend request if you want to chat privately. 

Hi Chlodah

I cope by talking. I don’t keep it in as I would not cope that way. It’s the reason I joined this forum and probably why you have, because you’re prepared to ask questions, so you’ve already taken a step forward. 
More people will come forward to offer there experience on all levels and I focus on the ones that are relevant to me at the time. I’ve already found that taking on too much information at the same time can create the very anxieties you are experiencing, because your outcome is unknown. 
Please focus on here more than on google, which I did and most people do. The real answers are from people you meet on this Forum. They’ve been there, seen it and done it.
Talking to these people will bring things into prospective and should reduce your anxiety levels. Just keep asking, keep talking and focus on what you find most helpful.

Ive also started a Face book group and I don’t do social media. It consists of a small group of friends I have, who I want to keep updated and share my experiences with ( this does not include my mother-in-law ) so that they can offer their support to me and my family.

I am now waiting to start treatment and so much goes through my head but since having my diagnosis I am less anxious, just because I have my answer and there is no more waiting for an answer. From speaking to my group I know it has to be done, there is no way out of this for me and they’ve all been through it and are coping. 

Keep sharing your fears and concerns and we will respond. I hope that not before too long you find you have no need to be on here but if you do, then we will be here for you.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I don’t have a partner but I’m very close to family and friends, I hope to rely on them later down the line if need be. Well done to you all for your bravery and diligence, it’s so reassuring to see you can come out the other side of this fighting 

I was very anxious during the testing phase Clodah but once I had a diagnosis and was told by an oncology registrar that their expected outcome for me was "complete cure" the anxiety left me. I just put myself completely in my teams' hands and had complete faith in them. I wasn't interested in things like staging and to this day I don't know whether mine was caused by HPV; that's not the right approach for everyone of course, some like to know every detail they can get hold of, and if that's the right approach for them them/you then great.

For me, ignorance was bliss (still is if you ask my wife).