Mouth Cancer

Hi Mondo. Welcome to our little community. Sorry you’ve had to find us but there are lots of helpful people here who really know how you are feeling and will help you through if you need it. Don’t be afraid of asking anything. 
Where is your cancer? And what is it? What operation are you having? 
Once we know we can help you much more effectively. 
Hear from you soon. 
Best wishes. 

Hi Mondo

welcome to our small  community. Like DAni says  if you can pop on a few details we will be able to pass on some of our knowledge.At this  stage your minds in a whirl it’s the not  knowing what the future holds .once  you get a plan in place things do get clearer. I am now 33 month post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes and am living my life to the max 

Hazel 

Hi Mondo1970

Welcome and just ask all the questions you want to.  Someone is more than likely to have an experience that will relate to your personal situation.  Probably if you can tell us a bit more about the cancer we could start there.

Hi, the cancer is in my mouth on the rear of the tongue, carcinoma insitu. I'm  concerned that my wages will not be far from only getting half pay. I know that I am entitled to employment support allowance and pip. Is there someone who could advise/assist me in this process?

Hi Mondo

To discuss potential grants and financial support speak to our Macmillan's Welfare Rights Team. They’re available on freephone 0808 808 0000 on options 1, then 2 and then 2 again weekdays 8am – 8pm and weekends 9am – 5pm. They’ll be able to do a full check for you to let you know everything you’re entitled to, they can also discuss any help and advice available 

Hope this helps

That's great thanks for the information

Dani has pointed you to the help line.  I am sure they will be able to ensure you get what you are entitled to.

Not everyone has surgery and many that do will go on to have radiotherapy and possible chemo subsequently.  I've now had 5 surgical procedures relating to my cancer which they think is similar to yours in location.  My problem is almost always when the look for it the tumour disappears - I think I am somewhat off the normal trajectory for this.

The last operation has caused me more problems than the previous ones. 

Generally I have found that it is 10 to 12 days of pain followed by a rapid improvement.  A few longer term issues, but nothing life changing.  The key is to keep hydrated and get calories into you by whatever means possible. Swallowing will be sore, but I found liquid food generally acceptable.  Avoid anything with a high sugar or acid content - I promise you it elevates the pain more than you could imagine.  Most importantly is to keep up with pain medication, even if you feel pain is not a problem as it will come up and bite you!

Mine have been a mixture of day surgery and a single overnight stay.  

They will let any surgery heal before any further treatment and it is always a worrying time as you wait around 2 weeks for the histology to come back which will set up the course of further treatment.

Whatever you do don't use Google to see what the operations look like!  Most information of Google is so outdated that it is dangerous.  Surgical techniques have improved vastly over the last few years.  For example, I've had 2 neck dissections and you can barely see the scars.  Look on Google and you will see horror stories.

Ask questions here and you will get real experiences.

PFJTHS said:

Look on Google and you will see horror stories.

Absolutely Peter.......This should be a pinned quote at the top of every section

Hi Mondo. Some doctors call this pre-cancer so it is really superficial which is great news. The surgery hopefully should be minimal, with frozen sections being done as they go. So Peter is probably spot on,

PFJTHS said:

Generally I have found that it is 10 to 12 days of pain followed by a rapid improvement.

PFJTHS said:

They will let any surgery heal before any further treatment and it is always a worrying time as you wait around 2 weeks for the histology to come back which will set up the course of further treatment.

............and in a couple of weeks you should be pretty comfortable. I guess though you will be kept a close eye on for the future and if you smoke or drink they will tell you to stop straightaway....for ever.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.