Hi Garf,

Thanks for your reply and thanks for answering my question.  My doctor has told me I won't look any different after my operation. I did feel vain asking that question but he assured that it was normal to ask! However that is based on the info he has so far as I still haven't had my scans so he can't confirm everything for sure.

I haven't contacted one of the nurse on here yet, I have a very good nurse at the hospital who I can contact with any questions but I have read the link one here, sent by Jane, about tongue cancer which was very useful.

Thanks again for your reply and I will keep everybody posted.

Nicola

Hi Jane,

Thanks for the welcome and for the information. Your link was very useful. No doubt I will be needing that phone number at some point but for now, I have a very helpful and friendly nurse at the hospital who I can call during the week.

Thanks again,

Nicola

Hi again Nicola,

I have just read your update and I have to admit to feeling more and more nervous for you the further I went.

I have an idea of how you felt having a camera fed through your nose as, when I was about 18 I had a cycling accident and underwent the first of three operations on my nose.  Two days after the first op' the nurse arrived to remove the packing which I didn't realize was a long length of gauze that had been packed into my nose almost to the back of my throat. Very painful and eye watering.

The confusion must be so difficult with some people seeming confident about your case and others who can't seem to look you in the eye.  There is every chance that the ones who don't look you in the eye have just trained themselves that way so as not to become emotionally involved with patients.  Then again I may be talking nonsense, after all I am no expert.

I will be keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you next Tuesday.

Good luck.

Garf.

Hi everyone, I got my scan results today and the cancer has not spread. Thank god!!

My cancer is stage 4 as the tumour goes quite deep into my tongue so it seems that 50% of my tongue will be removed. A little worse than I expected, I was originally told it would be about a third of my tongue but as it's now half I will definitely need reconstruction. This will be muscle and an artery taken from my arm and the artery joined to an artery in my neck, then a skin graft from my thigh to cover my arm.  I will also have the lymph nodes removed from one side of my neck, as a precautionary measure. I will be in hospital for about two weeks and fed via a tube in my nose for the first few days. The speech therapist is optimistic that after a few days I will be able to try swallowing some water then food.  Recovery is expected to take around four months but I'm determined I can get myself back to work before then. Radiotherapy is still a possibility but my doctor says they can't confirm that until after the operation.

Strangely, I feel some relief today. I was expecting worse news, perhaps that the cancer had already spread and as I already knew the details of the tongue operation involved, nothing was much of a shock today. It's going to be a tough few months ahead but it's got to be done so I will just have to get though it.  I have a wonderful team of doctors and nurses and a speech therapist who are all going to help me through and they are going to put me in touch with a another young lady who they treated two years ago for virtually the same cancer. She is now fit and well.

So operation is either going to be on 12th or 19th September. I feel as though I should be on a countdown as life will never be the same again. I'm planning to eat lots before I go into hospital! I already only weigh 7 stone so losing weight after the op will not do me any favours. I still can't quite believe this is all happening. I'm such a sensible person, always had a healthy lifestyle and would never dream of doing anything to impact on my health, but this has still happened to me!

I'm positive and determined and I will get through this. I'm aiming to eat Christmas dinner! But most of all, I'm grateful that it was not worse and that I have a good chance of recovering well so that I can continue a happy life with my daughter.

Hi Nicola,

I have been reading your post on here and have caught up with todays message , thanks for the update.

You have quite a journey to go through in the next few months, and I wish you all the best on that journey.

Have you got someone who is going to look after your little girl? that is so important for both of you.

You sound very positive after todays meet with your team, it's always good to know when they are going to start your treatment.
I love the determination to eat Christmas dinner. I hope someone else will be cooking it for you!!! lol.

Well we will be here for you as you go through your procedures, Ready to chat online offer support or just an ear to bend.

Best wishes, loads of hugs

Annabel. xx

Hi Annabel,

Thank you for your reply. It's amazing how much this chat forum helps and I was eager to update my post today.

I do have a tough journey ahead but I have no choice but to face it. Since finding out the facts at today's appointment, I have told some more people about my cancer and I plan to make it public knowledge over the coming days.  I have supportive family and friends and my daughters father will also be very helpful in terms of child care.

My mum will be cooking the Christmas dinner but I'll actually be very glad to do it, I'll feel blessed to be well enough to do so as today's news could have been so much worse.

How are things with you? I have read a little about your encounter with cancer, how are you coping post surgery? I can imagine its an emotional time, as I will also find out.

Speak soon,

Nicola xx

Hi Nicola,

I am so pleased for you that there were no extra horrible surprises in your test results.

The fact that you are so optimistic and upbeat given what you are about to face says a great deal about your strength of character and I have no doubt that your daughter will end up being massively proud to have you as her Mother.

In the meantime take your own advice and eat what you like for the next few weeks, after all if anybody has an excuse to go on a "see food" diet it's you. I am sure it will also help you build up some extra strength before the operation.

Please let us know the confirmed date of the op' when you get it as I for one would like to send out good thoughts on that day and definately get in touch once you are back home.

Wishing you all the luck in the world Nicola.

Garf. x

Thank you Garf, I will keep everyone updated.  I have now told everybody the news and I am overwhelmed by their support, especially people on this site.

Hope all is well with you too, your good thoughts are massively appreciated.

Nicola x

Hi Nicola,

Although we've not 'spoken' before, I've been following your story on here. I see Annabel and Garf have replied to you. (They were both kind enough to reply to me when I first posted on here some months ago. Two, lovely supportive people!)

I was really pleased to read that your scan results showed that the cancer had not spread! I know you've got a long road ahead, but your positive and upbeat approach to your situation, plus your determination to get back to work and eat Christmas dinner is admirable! (Echo Garf's message)

I recently had my scan results back (bowel cancer) and like you, I had been expecting the worst, so when the surgeon told me that the cancer was still 'contained' and hadn't spread, his explanation of the operation I would need, seemed 'manageable' to cope with!

I wholeheartedly approve of your idea to eat lots before your op. Garf's 'see food' diet made me laugh!

Have your hospital given you high protein drinks to have before the operation? Mine have given me a high protein diet sheet to follow for the week before, and these special drinks to have the day before. (They gave me them at my pre op assessment which I've had way ahead of my op date so I can have a holiday) But I'm going to adopt your approach and start eating more in the run up to my surgery ( although I feel positively 'beefy' alongside you as I'm 8 stone!)

I'll confess to already having a pecan and maple syrup Danish pastry with a coffee this morning! (My partner was delighted as I'm usually a 'no snacks between meals' sort of girl!)

Good luck with everything, Nicola, do keep us posted on how things are going,

Take care, Meerkat xx