Hello

Hi Rosie and welcome to the community. It’s great that you feel you can support your mum and keep her company, in soul if not in body at present. Your mums attitude will help her and you tremendously along the road she has to take. You don’t say how much surgery she has had but you have any idea of when she might be home? If I were you I’d make sure you have her consent to talk to her medical team and that you have her Clinical Nurse Specialist contact details. 
Finally, stick around. This community is full of knowledgeable folk with personal experience of head and neck cancer and is a mine of information. Stay off Google. 
Best wishes 

Hi

Thank you for your message, it's lovely to know that someone has taken time to read my post and respond. My mum has been in hospital for a week now and had major surgery last Wednesday to remove 4 tumours from her cheek, jaw area and neck and throat. She is able to text message me as obviously she can't speak right now, however she is pretty tired so I'm not overdoing the messages or questions. She said today that they are hoping to remove more "tubes" and she is sitting in a chair for a while. I'm able to contact her ward (when I can get through) and speak to a nurse but I'm not really sure how much they can tell me. I don't know how long she will be in, when she can have visitors or what the next steps are yet. I'm definately staying away from Google! I saw your blog and will take a longer look later today when I have more time, thank you. Wishing you all the best X  

Hi Rosie. The blog was just for me as I felt it was the only thing I had control over. I have made many friends all over the place through it. 
Stick around here. There are lots of friendly helpful people in this community. No question is daft or silly. Hold on to the fact that your mums team are doing their best for her and they are good at it. 

Hi Rosie. Welcome to our small community group sorry you’ve found yourself on here. We’re a friendly bunch will help if we can. Hope  mums  home soon. I too had the attitude right it’s got to be done just get it done. Well that was after I had cried buckets and thought I wouldn’t live to see my next birthday well here I am 3 years post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer loving my life to max hiw old is your mom I was 61 when diagnosed. 
keep  off dr google line we all say. 
Hazel xx

Hello Hazel

Thank you for your kind message, I'm so glad to hear you're 3 years in the clear and fingers crossed it remains so! My mum is 67, she is taking a very practical approach to it all and said she hasn't cried at all.. I've had a couple of moments but generally coping okay so far. I'm not sure how that will change once she gets home and starts Chemotherapy. I'll be there for her whatever may come.

X

Hang on to that. I was 67 when I was diagnosed and 68 going through treatment. I’m chasing Hazel with that three years which is in January 

Hi kerp popping in on here we will all help as much as we can. Is she having chemotherapy and radiotherapy? 
Hazel 

Hi Rosie and welcome to the forum.  I finished my treatment (surgery and radiotherapy) for base of tongue cancer in August 2018.

Glad to hear your mum is coping well mentally. 

I agree with Dani that it would be good to have a discussion with your mum when she's out of hospital to see if she's happy for you to speak to her medical team and clinical nurse should the need arise.  It's so much easier for her to have the support and another pair of ears.

All the best.

Linda x

Thank you Linda for reaching out. Glad to hear you have finished your treatment. Yes I agree about being in touch with mum's team and this is how we have worked it so far. It's good to be in the loop and also remember things she may forget or not understand.

Best wishes x

We don't know yet whether she will need both chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she is still in hospital recovering from her operation. All going as planned so far x