Newbie with a couple of questions. (Possibly base of the tongue cancer with secondary in lymph nodes.)

Ah many thanks Rowan. I will absolutely bear that in mind. It's an independant school and they are all very nice so I am sure there wont be any negative action but it's very good to know my options just in case.

I hope your recovery is going well.

Many thanks.

John

Wonderful. Thank you.

Hi there, I feel for you. My husband found a lump on the side of his neck back late August, which was growing rather fast, we got referred to ENT, then had a biopsy, were it got confirmed it was a form of throat cancer ,not to forget that we discovered a growth on the base of his tongue.Not knowing what your diagnosis is,if you have been given one yet, it will properbably read something like T..N..M..(which indicates stage,size and if it has spread),depending on the number following each letter,will tell you the stage of the cancer,if this makes sense. After several MRIs, ct scans and xrays, my husband started 30 rounds of radiotherapy, 6weeks Mon-Fri and in-between he had 2 rounds of chemotherapy which took most of that day each, he finished NewYears eve, recovery for him his cruel, in and out of sleep, very fatigued, can't swallow any solid food, gets food through his PEG, still without a voice,but the cough is the worst.Anyway all through these appointments we had hospital transport, they picked us up from home and dropped us of at the Cancercentre,so that would be something you could request. Hope this is of help. Stay strong and positive.Best wishes Mel.

Hi Mel, I’m so sorry to hear about your husband. I hope things get easier and that he makes a full recovery. Thank you so much for taking the time to say hello and share your story. John

John

Rowan’s advice re your contract is spot on.  Appreciate you need this like a hole in the head at the moment, but you do need to make sure you understand your rights in all this…and a bit of independent advice while you’re able to deal with it wouldn’t go amiss. I’m sure your employers are principled people who will do the right thing, but, harsh as this will sound, the person you need to be putting first is yourself.  
Good luck.

Liz

Thank you Liz. I will make sure to look at it all properly before I go off. 

Hi oral cancer staging is different to normal cancer staging remember that. I had tonsil cancer with by time   treatment started and am still here. 
it’s no unusual for the primary not to be found if that’s the case it may have burnt its self out already the treatments still the same chemo radiotherapy. Our tyoe of cancers do respond well to treatment. Remember that fact. It’s hard treatment I was 61 and I’m almost 68 now and living a great life. 
inpersonally didn’t/drive I relied in my husband once treatment gets into week 3 were often in cocodom9l and ir opiates where driving’s not advisable. My drive some days including traffic was over 90 mins I wouldn’t have been able to do the drive, it’s possible you’ll have chemo either weekley or once every 3 weeks if lymph nodes are involved again I wouldn’t have been able to drive. 
Re work I would think yiu woukd nee at least 6 months off with a phased return.  Am sure yiu have rights with a cancer diagnosis take advise in that. 

any questions just ask

Hazel x

Hi John

Agree with what others have said about staging and making sure you understand your rights about your employment status. I would get that sorted now - ie consult your union - before you start treatment. Just in case you don’t feel up to it later on. 

like you, I had a neck lump and no known primary. I had surgery and was told it would be followed by CRT. But they were happy that everything was removed with really good margins so I dodged the CRT. It’s always a possibility, but I’ve parked it at the back of my mind. Recovery from surgery was much quicker than CRT. 

what I’m learning from this forum is that no one’s cancer or treatment is exactly the same. 

Fingers crossed for you. 

Thank you Hazel. Really appreciate you taking the time to message.

Hi Woodz.

Thank you so much for taking the time to message. I hadn't realised that there was any possibility of dodging the CRT so that's cheered me up a lot. Fingers crossed.

I hope your recovery is still going well.

Many thanks.

John