Newly diagnosed

Hello Private Penguin. Great name. 
Can you contact your cancer nurse to make sure you have enough analgesia. If you take your pain killers by rote rather than wait for breakthrough pain they are more effective. Have you got some Difflam mouthwash? You can get that OTC and that’s quite good at relieving mouth discomfort. 
Maybe using a toothpaste without SLS might help, something like Oranurse? 
I might suggest trying to avoid fruit and tomatoes which are astringent. Try soft foods you don’t need to chew. 

It’s not the news you needed but your team will be on top of treating you and you’ll feel better about it once a plan is in place. 
Best of luck and come back as and when you need more help. 

Thanks Beesuit

At the moment the biggest problem is bleeding. The hospital staff keep saying not to worry about it, and to just use a gauze swab for 15 mins.... oddly until tonight it hadnt bled after the biopsy but its now been bleeding for the last hour or so. 

They are probably right. But if you’re still bleeding tomorrow just ring them. 
when do you find out what your treatment will be? 

PS make sure you’re not taking aspirin or ibuprofen because they will stop clotting 

The ibuprofen (that they said to take to help the swelling) probably isn't helping then. I'll try coming off it and just using paracetamol, and give them a ring tomorrow. 

They're going to get me in for a scan in the next few days apparently, so should know treatment plan after that I guess.

 Its all very scary and the waiting is thr hard part at the moment. Keeping myself busy sorting out work stuff (I run my own business) so that one of my employees can be in a position to take everything over for a while. 

It doesn't help that my partner keeps having panic attacks. I understand that having lost her dad to cancer its scary for her, but calming her down isn't really helping me stay calm. 

It’s difficult. In a way we as sufferers have the easier ride. Our carers feel their pain as well as ours. 
I have a friend who is in her late 70s

She sat on a tongue ulcer for a couple of years. She responded very well to simple surgery and is fit and well 2years later. 

Good evening Private Penguin, sorry to hear the results of the biopsy but you are now in the system so things should start moving pretty fast, the success rate for head and neck cancers are very good with people making great recoveries. Hope the scan will show no sign of spread and just be in the one area. I agree that you need stronger pain meds,i remember when i had a biopsy done on my gum and it was the worst pain i had during my dealings with cancer, i was put on oxycodone with pain patches as the pain was getting me down. Maybe its worth having a stitch where you had the biopsy to help stop the bleeding as again i had a similar and they just did a bit of needlework and all was fine .

       I can understand your partner's feelings but it sounds as if yours has been caught early which is always good as there is a better chance of the team getting the results we all want to hear. Pleased you are keeping occupied /busy as this will help you to forget about for a couple of hours. I know its testing times at the moment with the COVID but im sure it will all go ok . Wishing you and your partner all the best , stay strong and positive, take care .

                                                                                           Chris  

Thanks Chris. 

Ended up speaking to the on call Max Fax doctor last night and popping in for a quick check. She thinks the bleeding was because the consultant had been prodding and poking during the day yesterday, gave me a stack of gauze swabs in case it happens again. At least living 10 mins drive from the hospital its easy enough just to nip in for appointments. I've always wanted to live in a remote rural area but for now I'm grateful to be so close to the hospital. 

Today I've got the lovely (not) taste sensation of spitting out little clots of dried blood. Yum. 

Hi Private Penguin. Sorry you are here, joining the club as it were, but you have already received some great advice.

With regards to the pain and eating - just take it slowly and avoid those acidic things Beesuit mentioned. Eggs and anything eggy (puds etc) are great as they contain protein and slip down really easily. It’s a very tricky time - waiting for scans, results, more info and a plan. Try to keep busy, don;t google stuff - stick to Macmillan or Cancer Research UK  sites if you must delve. And if you find sleeping difficult (I really struggled in the early days after diagnosis) do ask your GP for sleeping tablet. UNtil you know the plan you need to be able to function as a human being for family and friends -and maybe you are working too? Being a sleepless zombie is terrible. Take heart from all the jolly souls here who have been through the ravages of treatment and come out of the other side, sense of humour intact!

Good luck

Hilary

Hi Private Penguin

Great moniker !bybthe  way .Cant add much to what others have said m but if its any consolation the waiting is the worst part.All of us in here have been there and done it no matter what anyone says until you have your treatment plan your brain goes into overdrive.Sounds like yours has been caught early and head and neck cancers are imminently treatable.Hooe the bleeding and clots have stopped ,Pop back in when you have had results or anytime .

Hazel

Spoke to the cancer nurse on thr phone yesterday morning. She emailed my GP surgery to arrange a prescription for prescription strength co codamol.

Finally got the first decent nights sleep in over a week last night and feel far more human today. Small amount of bleeding so far today. 

Fortunately (never thought I'd say this) Lockdown 2.0 means I'm not working properly at the moment... just a couple of hours a day on my laptop from home. 

Scans are booked for next Tuesday, so should know late next week whats to come.