Referral for tongue biopsy

Hi good morning Gill, that was fabulous news for H’ last week - just brilliant , a lift and boost always welcome and reading yours , so pleased for you both.

Something that’s become so important to me you and everyone, sharing the good news stories - Ellise looking at me saying ‘why are you smiling’, then I told her you guys good news - a great big smile broke out on Ellise’s face.

11.30am. Although I've told my mum it's 12.30pm, for reasons you can probably imagine 

Hi there, I’ve not replied on your thread before but have read  all the posts. I have everything crossed for the best outcome possible today .

My husband had his post treatment PET scan last week and our oncology appointment is on the 19th. I fully appreciate the anxiety you are feeling and the waiting for the results is agonising.

Good luck 

Debbie

Hello there Debbie!

Thanks so much for reading and commenting today, much appreciated.

Yes, I can well understand that the 19th may well feel like two years away right now. The waiting really does feel like the worst of this, because it creates gaps for our imaginations to fill. 

Will be crossing fingers for you and your husband. Did treatment seem to go well, from your points of view?

They didn't, really.  Maybe at that time, pre surgery, they didn't want to raise our hopes as the tumour hadn't been removed and that's why an emergency tracheostomy was performed.  The tumour was so big it was obstructing his air supply.  Thankfully, none of that will be pertinent to you.

We were in a state of limbo for a long time and I was loathe to push it further, terrified they'd tell us he was on borrowed time.

And then, what we were told last week by the onc, gave us hope.  He even said he'd look forward to seeing H in a beer garden for a pint in the future.  I thought, surely he wouldn't say that if the grim reaper was about to come knocking?  Who knows what the future may bring though, so we're living for today.

You look forward to all your tomorrows and the twins growing up.  I wouldn't tell them too much until the time's right.  Maybe along the lines of, Daddy's a bit poorly but the Doctors are going to make him better.  They're only six but kids are usually very accepting and don't let it overtake their every waking thought - unlike old codgers like me!

Be brave, take notes and ask a plethora of questions until your mind's settled today.

Best of luck, chum.  We're here.

Gill xx 

Hhmm … no not really tbh. He was really poorly from end of Oct, dreadful sore throat and regular bouts of bleeding (and lots of it) hence the trip to the doctors and the rush through all the tests.

I really can’t fault how quickly they moved. From diagnosis to start of treatment took less than 3 weeks and that included teeth removal.

He was diagnosed with non HPV tonsil, tongue and lymph cancer Stage 4. 

Treatment started19th Dec 2 x large doses of chemo and 30 radiotherapy sessions.

As he was in so much pain before treatment (not helped by the ENT guy taking a pair of scissors to his tonsil without any pain relief ….) he had trouble eating before treatment started

3rd week in  he was hospitalised as he had a very bad infection and they kept him in until the last RT session.

He had a lot of antibiotics before, during and after his treatment which really hammered his immune system … together with the cancer treatment.

Since completion … it’s now 18 weeks … he has had dreadful thrush, lot of difficulty swallowing anything and various other side effects that I won’t go into now.

Its been a long slog but we’re getting there now. We’re just terrified that it’s spread. I am sure all the good people on here have gone or are going through the same anguish.

im worried because they have only arranged a PET scan …. So are obviously concerned it’s not been caught but perhaps that’s just my over active brain running riot. 

Ive only joined this forum very recently but the amount of support and compassion here is unbelievable.  I’m tearing up as I think about it.

if you want any further info let me know but I suggest you get today over first, then deal with whatever comes out of it. 

Big hugs x

Crikey Moses, Deb!  That bit about Jon's tonsil made me cringe!

You're bang on about the support on this forum and that includes you.  Wish I had a magic wand ...

I'll be thinking of you all on those crucial dates and times, starting today at 11.30 am.

Much love to all,

Gill xx 

I know, me too, everything is crossed for SBG today and Nige on10th I believe.

I’ve also read your thread, good grief  you’ve both been through the ringer.  You appear to have been and continue to be, incredibly  brave but I’m sure  it is very hard. No wonder you don’t sleep!

Jon is still sleeping downstairs as well. Our sleep patterns are opposite ends of the spectrum, I sleep early for a few hours and as i wake he goes to sleep, so it makes sense at the moment to stay as we are but I don’t like it. Hopefully we will sort it out sometime soon.

I’m a keen gardener so  take the  early mornings, weather permitting,  to spend time with the dogs and my veggies. I’m trying to  remain positive and keep on doing things that make me happy but tbh it’s a struggle sometimes  to find joy in things I liked doing before the big C came calling.  Nevertheless I keep trying. 

Do you have anything to help alleviate the stress and anxiety?

Just noticed the time  thoughts are with SBJ xx

Debbie

Hi again Deb.

Yes, I thought the same at 11.30 and I've got everything crossed for SBG that nothing's brought up to unsettle him.  He might come back on to let us know when he's had the chance to digest it all.

I try my best not to let stress beat me up but unfortunately, some others have an uncanny knack of getting in the way, his ancient Gorgon of a mother being a prime factor!  Yesterday, she arrived and wittered on about her latest soirée and then proceeded to relentlessly nag H about everything under the sun.  Nothing positive or helpful, just banal chatter about hers and her cabal of old biddies' woes and activities.  I could see H was getting annoyed so I hot footed it into the garden as my violent side was rearing up.  When she left, I could have cheerfully followed and wrung her neck as our previous good mood went AWOL!  This is why I come on here as there's none of that and you guys provide a salve.  And breathe...

Sorry to digress but she's just aaagh!  I sincerely hope you don't have that kind of interference as it's not needed or necessary.

But thank you for asking and it's off my chest till the next time she rocks up.

Take care all,

Gill xx 

Wow Gill - those are the sort of visits you don’t need and certainly H doesn’t.

Here’s someone who will hopefully change you guys mood

hugs from us -

Nige