Hello

Hi and welcome 

You’ve  done the right thing stopping consulting Dr Google. 
You never know you have cancer till you know. 90% of fast track referrals are not cancer. 
So try to relax. I know it’s hard but your consultant won’t know any more than you till I investigative results are through. It’s all out if your control now  Try to keep busy. Take yourself out for a long walk. Do some gardening. 
My blood pressure is sky high in similar situations. They will know that’s exactly how folk react. When you go for your MRI the radiographers will really be kind and look after you. It’s a long scan ( half an hour) and sometimes these scanning rooms can be chilly so wear something warm with no metal in it. It’s noisy but they give you ear phones and sometimes music. 
Anaesthetists are great at relaxing you. You won’t feel a thing with your biopsy and likely you will just have a bit of a sore throat for a few days. 
It might be an idea to see if your GP can give you something to help you sleep. 
Come back when you know what’s wrong. 
With a bit of luck you won’t need to. 
Best wishes 

Thank you so much for the reassuring words , Dani.  I will certainly take your advice on calling my GP about providing something to help me sleep .  I was awake nearly all night and lay there thinking is this what the rest of my nights will be like .  My other half being disturbed by my restlessness too .  Bless him , it has took him aback too as 6 weeks ago life was ticking along and then suddenly all is not smooth and we have such chaotic lives at the best of times.  I totally agree with the gardening idea , Spring is on its way and there is much to do in our garden and we even took time off work and spent the day in the garden before the afternoon ENT appt yesterday , and it certainly helped me AND  the weekend is scheduled for a woodland walk too (uncanny your suggestions are part of our lives when time allows) 

My biospy is under general anaesthetic but oddly I think I would  rather be awake  . I had read on others posts , most had their throat biopsy done under local.   I guess there is that niggle or my overactive mind is thinking the consultant knows more than he said and thats why my biopsy is being done under a general not local  .    The MRI itself does not worry me as I have been with my daughter when she had hers  on her leg , but its more a reminder of why you are there having one done for those 30 minutes .  

Thanks again , Dani

Jo 

Hi please keep off dr Google you’ve scared yourself  once why put yourself through it. This time is the worst time as Dani says keep busy potter in the garden go for walks watch crappy box sets. The 2 weeks referral is the quickest way to be seen ,you don’t say how old you are ? Most biospsies are done under a general to be honest it’s the best way for surgeons to look at the inside of our mouths and throats and the most comfortable. After mine I was allowed hime same day and ate a bowl of soup no,problem just keep on top,of pain with medication that you’ll be given I found paracetamol was sufficient for me. Remember very few referrals end uo as cancer. If you are unlucky enough to join us there’s lots of us in here who’ve completed treatment and happily living our lives. Oral cancers are eminently treatable and curable.

Let us know how you get on m yes if yiu aren’t sleeping see your  g p. 
Hazel 

Hi Hazel - absolutely i will stay off google .  I havre only been on this forum and avoided general google searches since freaking myself out last week following urgent referral from GP.  I am 52 years young .. Generally fit and healthy (on the outside)  , I was an almost daily runner up to 2 weeks ago but was worried I was worsening my throat condition so I have put it all on hold for now ..

Don’t worry about the GA. Your consultant wants to do that not because he’s not telling you everything but because he will need to have a really good look around. It’s called a panendoscopy. It’s what I had and I was pleased my surgeon had a good look to make sure there was nothing else. There wasn’t 

Hi If yiu feel up to it  keep exercising its  good for the body and soul. Plus another distraction. I bike ride and did it on indoor trainer unail   where treatment started. 8 weeks after I was  Over in Spain and at 10:weeks did my first outdoor bike ride. If that give you any encouragement if you are indeed diagnosed.

Hazel

Hi Jo and welcome to the forum.

I too had a general anaesthetic for my biopsy. 

Well done for recognising that googling for possible diagnosis is not the way to go!  Neither would  ENT speculate on what the swelling might be - they would want the biopsy results rather than possibly misleading you with an incorrect diagnosis. Try not to overthink things!

Walking and gardening definitely help me with my mental health as well as helping to keep you supple and reasonably fit.

You'll find plenty of support and advice here so just ask away if you need to.

Take care.

Linda x

Hi JustJo and welcome to our group.  Glad your off Googling, it never helps unless you can find and understand the correct clinical papers.  Few can on here.

My BP is always sky high when I have it checked in the hospital.  I feel I can control my emotions around my cancer, but it is always off the chart and nothing like when I take it at home.  The nurses call it "white coat syndrome" and are well used to it.

Stress at this point in your journey is normal.  When you get your diagnosis it will be much easier.  Nothing we can say will really help you, but maybe seeing the success stories and knowing others understand what you are going through will help.

It sounds like your ENT surgeon will be doing a panendoscopy on you - a posh name for having a good root around your mouth and throat when you're asleep. Personally I've had a few and never had any issues recovering from them, even when they have taken biopsies.  Assume at worst it will be 2 weeks of rest and you will be fine.  Most of that time will be recovery from the anaesthetic.  However, try to keep active during the recovery period.  Gentle walking and fresh air really help.

To reinforce the statistic Dani quoted of 90% not cancer last week I thought I had a reoccurrence in my tongue (I am relatively high risk due to my unusual treatment path).  It showed all the classic signs.  I was in within 24 hours and the oral surgeon confirmed that it was almost probably a cyst that would not cause me any problems.  We could have biopsied it but agreed to wait and see with further checks in a couple of weeks.

I hope you don't have to wait too long.  In the meantime shout if you need anything.

Hi

i had a lump between hard and soft palate and had my biopsy under local, not offered general, was ok though, but like being at the dentist, 

Maybe if your pretty anxious about stuff which is understandable as most of us are, probs best to have a general. 

the waiting is by far the worst thing. Lots of good support on here from people who have gone through it.

I found listening to relaxation/mindfulness recordings helped me sleep and relax. I’m not normally into that kind of thing but listened to the same hypnotherapy recording and found comfort from it. 

whatever the results, it will be a massive relief to know then you can move forward. Think positive and stay strong, it’s not easy but will help you going forward 

good luck 

Elaine 

Hi Elaine,  thank you so much for the advice.  I did actually have the Calm app on my phone and after reading your message decided to give it a go when I went to bed and it was a huge help and I fell asleep listening to soothing sounds and words.. I think this will be my go to option when anxiety rears its head .. thank you ️