Still in shock

I am in the post op recovery stage after surgery for mouth cancer. Like you I never smoked and I only drank modestly. I’m older (in my fifties) but the diagnosis was still a shock. I have been treated swiftly and effectively and I am now more optimistic about the outcome. 

In many ways the initial diagnosis stage is the hardest to handle. Once you have a treatment plan in place things start to look more positive.

I wish you all the best on what will be a challenging journey, but there are some very good outcomes possible with mouth cancer.

Come back and let us know as you find out more. You will get plenty of support and understanding on here.

Welcome to the Club.  Sorry you have to join, but this is a great place to be when faced with our type of cancer.  Unfortunately we are seeing these cancers in younger people.  Almost certainly you have done nothing wrong in your life to get this.  Often it is the luck of the draw.

In most cases these cancers are curable.  The treatment is very tough for most people, but at the end you should regain a quality of life that is quite acceptable to you.

As Cathy... says you're in the toughest stage at the moment.  Once things have been thought through about your treatment plan and you have agreed to them, then things will move swiftly into place and you'll be on a different emotional roller coaster.

You've made a great first step in posting on here.  Hang around and ask any questions you like.

Hi, MaiT It is a shock when you first get the news you never wanted to get. However as CathyLovesFlowers and Peter have said the treatment is challenging but doable, and the outcomes are good. Many of us on this forum have had the same, and are here to tell the tale. No matter what it is you want to ask, just ask away someone will always come back to answer if they can, we are here to help. Please stay off Google, it will not help it will make you feel worse, as most things are outdated and not right. I wish you all the best, keep us posted.

Regards Ray.

Hi MaiT, I got my diagnosis (ACC if the submandibular gland) about 2 weeks ago, and waiting for bone biopsy results to determine the scope of the surgery. There are so many people getting this news every day and its only when it involves ourselves or one of our loved ones that it really hits home. Looks like we will be following a similar journey........good luck to you and stay strong.

Hi MaiT as others have said welcome to the club that none of us want to be in. This part the waiting is the worst part we’ve all been there. Once you get your treatment plan everything falls onto place .depending on where your cancer is depends on treatment. 3 years ago I was in your place now I’m living life to the max cycling and hiking and I’m a 64 years old now. All I can reiterate is keeo off dr google the stats are way way out us date and in our cancers include smokers n drinkers. I was given a survival rate of over 90 % so thank you I took that. Now am 3 years post treatment. One thing to k ask is are you h p v positive that has an outcome on the tumours response. Remember cancer is no longer the scary thing it was even 20 years ago. 
whrn you’ve more info let us know my csncer was in my tonsillar crypt who knew our tonsils had crypts! 
Hazel x

Hi MaiT

I joined this group just over a year ago before my diagnosis. At the time a tumour had been found in my nasopharyngeal area and I was petrified to say the very least. We had just gone into our first lockdown and I was advised to shield until I had my diagnosis. I found the help and advice that I got from this group so helpful. Everyone who answered my concerns were so encouraging and explained everything to me. Obviously it didn’t stop me worrying but everyone who gave me encouragement made me feel that I wasn’t on my own. 2 ladies in particular (Hazel &Dani) helped me a great deal right from the start. They were always there to answer my concerns and both had blogs that I read and reread over the following couple of months. It gave me an insight on what treatment was available and their step by step progress.

when I eventually got my diagnosis it was Lymphoma and so I joined the Lymphoma group and no longer post in this group.

You have come to the right place for help and support and I wish you well as you go forward x

Hazel & Dani - If you read this I still read your blogs to see how you are doing and I would love to let you know how things are going with me as I promised but not sure how to message you individually x 

Hi Theresa. You’ve sent me a friend request and I’ve accepted so you can pm me. I remember all too well your early postings. 
It’s great to hear from you. From what I understand treatment of lymphoma is with chemotherapy, yes? So you have avoided RT? 
Anyway I look forward to an update. 

Hi Mait. Welcome to our little community. I can just echo what everybody else has said. Oral cancer is eminently curable. When you know what the treatment will be and get your schedule through it becomes much easier to cope with. I promise. There are lots of people here who have survived what you are about to experience and are living wonderful almost normal lives. I am over two years clear of a tongue cancer for which I had radiotherapy and I am enjoying life in splendid isolation on a small holding in Wales with husband, hens and bees. 
Keep the faith, lean in your family and us here. 
Best wishes. 

Hi Raffferty. Yes am still like Dani active in here and in real life. Lol. Must update the blog  again soon. 
Glad to hear you are ok I have a friend whose 10 years into remission for lymphoma. 
ive accepted your friend request .Pleased we were able to help you last year scary times  

Hazel x

Hi Ma iT

So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Like you I had never smoked and had hardly ever, almost never drunk alcohol. I was in good health and was hardly ever sick so when I got my cancer diagnosis in 2013 it was a bolt from the blue as yours was.

Takes a bit of getting your head around and it is early days but you do eventually come to terms with it as we have all had to do. You have to go with the emotions in the meantime which can be a hard process.

This forum is such a help and you can post any questions no matter how small and will get understanding answers from the group as they have been just where you are.

Head and neck cancers are very treatable with good rates of recovery as I can testify.

Wishing you all the best during your treatment.

Lyn