Dad's neck lump is cancer but we don't know what kind yet

So sorry your dad’s been so ill

I think it’s important to get a proper diagnosis before you start wondering about his treatment. It’s a worrying time all this waiting but there aren’t any short cuts I’m afraid. 
We are all different though treatments do have a tendency....
It’s horrid being apart but maybe you can arrange regularly Skypes to keep each other’s morale up. 
Do come back when you know exactly what the cancer is and where. There are lots of people here who have survived and thrived after treatment 

Good luck

Hi Sweetie, sorry to hear that it has come back as cancer, it sure does not help with the distance issue but as Dani said there are ways of communicating via video etc. plus the coronavirus does slow things down in the UK but not sure about Canada. It good in a way as they have found the problem and are moving at a fast pace, It sounds as if he is having radiotherapy first followed by the operation, this will give them time to come up with the best of attack, i would have thought this is standard practice, most head and neck cancers have very good recovery rates. All cancers are serious but a lot is curable so try not to worry as he is in good hands and they are on top of the situation. So please re-post once they have found out a few more details. Sending hugs in this difficult time, all the best, take care.

                                                                        Chris x

Thank you for your kind reply

I’m thankfully in a much more positive ‘we’re going to fight this!’ frame of mind today and am grateful for the reassuring and helpful messages of advice and support.  All of which are helping me to be in the right headspace to support my dad the best I can.

Ref Skype - he's going to hate being dragged into the 21st Century and having to use it, but my daughter's have asked him to, soooo :) that is a positive.  I haven't been able to get him to use any technology, other than the telephone, until now!  Maybe I'll send him one of those Portal things for Father's Day, which might be slightly less 'techy' for him .

Anyway, surgery date 1 is now confirmed for next Tuesday, so hopefully it won't be too long before we know what we're dealing with.

Everything is currently X'd - fingers, toes, arms, eyes, legs, etc... ;)

xxx

Hi Sweetie 

breathe deeply I am 21 months post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes,It sound so like yiubdad Ian having a biopsy to discover what type of cancer I too had biopsy to determine what type she etc.As encouragement head and neck cancers are excellent at responding to treatment as many of us in here can testify.The hardest part is now waiting for treatment plans , I had 35 radiotherapy sessions and chemo and 8 week sessions later didn’t first bike ride ok wash only  8 km but I did it.

i have a blog detailed below when you get diagnosis’s read it and pass on to your parents hopefully it will help allay fears. I really do understand having been there but positive mental attitude got me through it . Sending hugs Hazel x

Thank you, Chris.  That's very reassuring regarding the recovery rates.  As soon as I know more, I will share the details and hopefully you all can help me make sense of whatever comes back.

Kara xxx

Aw, thanks for this, Hazel. 

I have sent the details of your blog on so they have an idea of what to possibly expect following the radiotherapy.

Hugs right back at you 

Kara xxx

Well here is the latest following dad's surgery, yesterday.  I'm not sure what it all means yet and can't call until around midday, due to time difference (they're 6 hours behind).

Update from step-mum late last night:

The surgery went as planned and they removed left tonsil, took tissue from tongue, and biopsies in throat. He has put a rush for the pathologist report and expects it next week. He will present the case next Thurs at a head & neck conference at Cancer Care which will include 5 surgeons who do his type of surgery, radiologists and oncologists. They will hopefully have the stage and diagnosis and will make group recommendations. From the needle biopsy he believes the cancer has likely arisen in the throat. They suspect it's the most common type found in the upper breathing and swallowing area. In the throat he didn't see anything really obvious but saw some suspicious areas. If it's the type of cancer they suspect it is it's very serious but treatable but they need the facts first. If the results don't show the primary source it needs to be found under a microscope. They may have to go back and do more biopsies if that's the case but it won’t hold up progress on treatment. Treatment could be radiation only, or they may choose to do a neck dissection to remove the tumour. There's pros and cons to both. Or he could need both radiation and chemo. He wants to move on this fast.

Kara xxx

Hi Kara

Thanks for the update 

It sounds as if things are moving apace 

That battery of surgeons and oncologists is called a multidisciplinary team or MDT and that’s a normal way to approach the problem. 
Scans will probably follow and a plan made 

Once you all know what’s happening it will be easier to cope with

Good luck

Lots if us here have had the same. I’m 15 months out of radiotherapy only. 

Hi Kara

thank you for sending update it all may sound scary for you but like @Beesuit says it’s par for the course the waiting is definitely the worst part but head snd neck cancers respond well to treatment. Ok treatments not the best but it’s doable lots of us on here are around to tell the tale.

any questions just message

Sending hugs 

hazel xx

Good evening Karla, thanks for this update, this all the build-up to decide which options they are going to take, it sounds as if they are on the ball. We have all been through similar so its nothing to be to worried about. I have a neck dissection with radio and chemo afterwards, but some have just radio or chemo or both. it's just waiting to see what the results of the tests come back like, As you say there are pros and cons but either way im sure they will come up with a plan of attack. Best wishes.

                                                                                        Chris x