Anxiety -( the screaming habdabs)

What you feel is normal and ok. 
If you aren’t sleeping properly see your GP. A lot of people got help with mild sleeping tablets. A good nights sleep will make you better able to cope. 
Knowing you have a 90% chance of complete remission should ease the tension. Hold onto that. 
Youve had the chance to look through the group so you will know that treatment is a challenge but most of us get through it day by day without too much fuss and make an uneventful recovery. 
I promise you will feel lots better once your treatment plan is in place and you have that to focus on. 

Thanks Dani. I think I will go see my GP. I do think about the 90% but don’t know if mine is Hpv yet. I’ve seen in here most do have it but I won’t research the odds if it’s not! Yes I do feel in limbo. My appointment can’t come quickly enough. Appreciate your advice x

Sooh4496 said:

don’t know if mine is Hpv yet.

I’m sure you can relax on that. Cancer in the lymph node as a first presenting sign is classic. 
HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer is caused by years of smoking and drinking to excess 

Thanks Dani. I haven’t smoked since 1986 and rarely drink. That’s reassuring x

Hi Sooh

Most of us, if not all, can relate to the anxiety you are experiencing, our minds are going at the speed of light trying to process the treatment info and possible outcomes....positivity is possible but requires discipline and support, low days hit all of us....thing will improve over time.

I really appreciated the films and dramas on telly...provided some escapism from the situation I found myself in...doc also prescribed a short course of sleeping tablets, decent sleep is essential...booked a short break with my wife before the heavy stuff really started...normality (new normality albeit) does return...I'm sure others on the forum will testify to this.

Take care

Peter

Thanks Peter 

First time through I was absolutely fine.  Totally in control of what I wanted out of the treatment and my treatment options.  I went on holiday 3 days after I got my diagnosis.  Best thing I did as that really is a limbo period whilst waiting for things to happen.  I arranged for all my scans 24 hrs after I landed back in the UK and so did not really have time to think!

The second time through I did more planning and preperation; especially around treatment options.  There really was not a lot of time to consider the issues, especially as we were in the depths of lockdown and busy with keeping the family together.

The third (and latest) time through I did start to go to pieces as I had done everything to plan already and knew what I wanted etc.  My brain could now wander.  I again went on holiday after my diagnosis to fill in time.  Once back there was Christmas and treatment immediately after.

That last time was difficult and probably is like many people's intital experience.  Try to plan for what is to come.  Pratical things like transport, food and what other things you may need to help you on your journey.  As my ditetitian said to me last December; eat, drink and be merry.  Go out and enjoy yourself with family and friends.  Prepare to write off the next year in return for many more years of good quality life. It is going to be tough, but that memory will fade and you will replace it with much happier times.  Also don't forget to have a laugh during your journey.   It is not all doom and gloom.  Yes, I did have some amusing times to counter the brutality of the treatment.  Banter with the staff is good and relieves the tensions of treatment.

Whatevery you do, don't Google.  Trust those that have the T-shirt to help you through this.

Very true Peter...humour does surface many times during the treatment journey...often in the most difficult situations.

Hi Sooh4496,

I agree with Dani have a chat with your GP about how your feeling .

Anxiety/Fear of the unknown is totally normal.Our anxious parts of our brain go into overdrive and for some people keeping really busy or distracting your thoughts with TV films/boxsets can help. Others need support from GP which can include talking therapies Medication for Anxiety , support groups or sleeping tablets . I still take 2 zopidem every 4/5 nights as insomnia is still an issue.

Make an appointment asap to get some help

Debbie

Thanks Debbie.   Think it’s worse as I’ve developed burning in my nose and the sore throat I had has kind of moved up towards the roof of my mouth. So I’m now thinking it’s spreading as I’m waiting to see the specialist. So hard to control.