Hello Expat. I hope you went out today and spent time with your friends from work,   I just want to say that i am recovering from tongue cancer I am not or never have been a drinker or smoker so when " they say" it is a smoker/drinkers cancer they are wrong...I was told that i was in the wrong catagory didnt tick the boxes so we will send for you again in 10 to 12 weeks but absolutly nothing to worry about returned 12 weeks later had an understudy take a biopsy  by this time i had earache as well told no nothing to do with tougne go see your doctor again about your ear its nothing to do with your tongue and again you have nothing to worry about this is NOT cancer we will have results in 3 weeks time. returned to be told we will take another biopsy as we didnt take enough so another one taken.. returned 3 weeks later no its not cancer but it could turn nasty if not treated  we will bring you back and remove it my husband said no  she has been through enough and the earache every day my wife has been coming to you since May it is now September Oh that long...ok go have a cup of tea come back I will remove it in half an hour. Brought back 3 weeks later to be told sorry it is cancer we will bring you in and operate might have to do skin graft. the point im making here is to be told you dont smoke/drink your not in the right catagory is crazy and the earache was caused by the cancer it is the same nerve from ear to tongue this cancer is more common now than ever I dont mean to frighten you Expat but if you are diagnosed with this remember you will get through it its tough but you will get through it...keep your family and friends close as we all need someone to help us when things get tough...and this chatline is a great help too...god bless D.

Hi Expat,

I put some respones to your questions. 

Results wise, I got my results quickly, my consultant sped up the results and I had them within a week of biospy. 

I don't think it would make a difference if you give up bad habbits before a biopsy. But regardless of the result, you should try to give them up anyway if you can.

I had to have time off work for the biospy half a day, so I told them I was having it but nothing more until I got the result.

Cancer does not have to relate to anything we have done, sometimes it just happens. I was 23, hardly drunk and did not smoke. That being said however, now I am recovered, I have the odd drink. You can't live in fear, more so when in the 20's/30's.

Please keep us updated, good luck.

Hi Clara,

I can understand how bad the timing is for you, but am glad to hear that you have contacted the hospital to re-schedule.

Do you not have a scheme whereby you can be driven to the hospital by a volunteer? This would save your daughter from having to take time off work every time you have an appointment. Ask at the hospital if such a service exists in your area.

I hope that your surgery goes well next week and that you don't have too long to wait for your re-scheduled appointment. I go in for surgery the week after you, but it's just for a melanoma this time.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine.

I have seen cars parked in ambulance area with Maggies cancer logo on side perhaps they are providing some sort of service, I will try to find some info. There is a patient transport provided by the ambulance service but, daughter says Im not having you wait about for hours for transport.

Oh Jolamine, the way you say "Just a melanoma". Are you not frantic about it?

Ive had AKs treated on my hands with cryotherapy "painful". I also have a Bowens patch that I have been ignoring I am ashamed to say.

 Take care and best regards xx

Hi Clara,

In our area it is a separate entity from Maggies, but it may well vary from area to area - there's no harm in asking

I can't say that I'm too happy about my melanoma, perhaps because I think that there are others elsewhere on my body which will need attention too. I've already had two bouts of breast cancer within the past 9 years and, have had a lumpectomy and a double mastectomy for these. I'm nervous yes, particularly because it is so close to the eye. I have had 5 eye operations in the past 2 years, so am not happy with anyone else interfering with that area.

I hope that you manage to get something sorted with transport.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Clara 

setting off in30 mins where are u and if we are passing will put  u in boot. 

Dont fret about stages our daughter asked my oncologist out right and he gave thefollowing  explanation  with our head and neck cancers being h p v 16+ driven there is no need to do staging only tumour size the chemo radiation will kill what it needs to kill in a targeted area so for a few years sizing has been classed in this cancer as only more worry unnecessarily  for us the patient in this case size n spread is more relevant.

mine was T2N2NM 

so sizing. T1 size of a pea

t2 a peanut

t3 a grape

t4 a small,plum.

n is number if nodes which I was 2 but eventually 3/4

nm no metatis 

all way along no one could tell me if I had my right tonsil removed so yesterday for first time I saw the consultant who did biopsy straightaway he said yes insaid are unsure my oncologist was unsure so he hesitated. Read his notes shook his head got head torch out pulled my tongue ps which is still hurting said the following 

oh ni it didn’t come out I hacked around a lot it has spread quite a bit into soft  palate interior or anterioror wall but when looking niw the radiotherapy has melted away !,, ok i said thank u .he was most shocked at himself for not removing it said it was his specialty!!!!!! Cheers I think now I niw why I has so much pain n hubby kept saying he was 7 blah blah blah when he had his out. Lol

oh well passport is calling me

please keep in touch ,do u have a Macmillan centre they may dontransport plus they can help financials of need be 

h xx

Hi clara oh to sail off on a cruise.....maybe we can all one day.... we bought a pup a gorgeous Goldendoodle last year hes the size of an adult now! so cant even pack him away! but hes such a gorgeous gentleman love him to bits!! well clara you must be running around like a headless chicken.... hope clinic have been in touch so thats a bit off your mind for a wee while...are the hospital going to sort out trasport for you??  clara i dont know very much about my cancer at all but im due back 13th feb for check up so im gonna ask more what they did tell me was they found trace of cancer in lympnodes so they removed them 14 my husband tells me....wonder why so many if it was only trace? doc told me hed thought stage 2 but because of trace in nodes was more stage 2/3  so maybe until they remove what they will only then can they tell you more? no sure clara i heard word Cancer thought right get the damed thing out!! I wish we all on here could go hold your hand in hospital clara while you go through this xo...but wer all with you in mind... keep us all posted on here help get your time in when in hospital....pity you cant jump into Hazels boot peace from all the torture...  bet youd even wear your bikini!! keep up the humour clara...your friend Dee.xo

Hi Jolamine.

I cant find the words to say how awful I feel for what you have been through and, still are going through.

You are a strong and determined lady for sure.

I hope your surgeon is one of the best. I can understand why you will be concerned after 5 eye surgeries. We tend to take our eyes for granted untill something happens. I suffer from uveitis and other inflammitory problems it comes on so sudden with no warning, so Ive become a bit paranoid about my eyes over the years.

I am so taken aback at how folks on here share and care I dont think there is another quite like it. I wish i had found this place when my husband had become terminal.

Take care Jolamine & I will be thinking of you. xxx

Hi Dee.

Your dog sounds adorable! I would love another dog but I couldnt excercise him/her so that would be unfair to any pet.I had bearded collies for many years. Daughter sent a photo last night of her wee dog and cat sound asleep together on a blanket on sofa, this is a first as they have a love/hate relationship.

I watch supervet program on tv and get heartbroken for these pets and owners,said to daughters I need to stop watching this.

I missed a call this morning from an nhs number that doesnt accept incoming calls, hopefully they will call back, but being a Friday they probably wont and I will be left wondering.

I am sorted for next week for transport. But if I have to do the 7weeks at cancer treatment centre its quite a distance and a nightmare with city traffic I will have find out about transport for that.

I do remember they took a whole lot of lymph nodes with my hubby, apparently the cancer cells can skip a few nodes and appear in another node further down so they remove more nodes as a precaution.

I made chicken soup yesterday to freeze for when I get back home(chicken soup sorts eveything lol) and made space for more ice cream as Ive ate it all. So def no bikini for me :-) Ive been wracking my brain to remember foods I made for hubby,but things changed so much with him,what he could eat one day, he couldnt the next. A lot of food got binned back then.

Take care speak soon love and hugs xxx

PS Just seen picture of your dog on your avatar. Omg I love love love him! I dont get jealous but I AM :-)

Hi Clara,

I'm sorry to hear about your uveitis. This must be difficult for you to cope with.

You are so right about taking our eyes for granted until something happens. After my 4th eye op, I gradually lost the sight in one eye and then began losing it in the other and had to stop driving.  A laser operation last year eventually restored my eyesight and I feel so humble to have got it back, but I still feel nervous of having anyone working in that area.

This site is a great help. Like you, I hadn't come across the site when my parents were terminal. It wasn't until I was diagnosed with cancer myself that I discovered it and, it has been a real boon to me.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Dee,

Just a wee update.

I got an email from breast clinic. They have cancelled tomorrows appointment.

No further info in email, so I will just have to wait and see if local clinic sends appt out for me. But I will chase it up if I dont hear anything in near future.

My daughter says I should keep fingers crossed that I dont get the German breast consultant, apparently he is every woman`s worst nightmare as a dr.

Take care my friend speak soon xx

Clara I think I got my days mixed up - I had in my head that your surgery was scheduled for tomorrow but it's today isn't it - you won't be able to read this today but please know that we're all thinking of you, I know you've been dreading this day, bless you.

Already feeling emotional, watched the Peter Capaldi /Lewis Capaldi music video ( Someone You Loved) this afternoon while making dinner - have seen it before but was unsure what it was about so Googled it  - it's about a man whose wife dies and her heart goes to a young Mum. He goes to visit the family and the young woman places his hand on her chest so that he can feel his wife's heart beat one more time. Bawled my eyes out. Then realised I'd got the days mixed up and felt even worse, I should have sent a message of support this morning, so sorry. I hope the surgeon is the best in his field and I hope you aren't in too much pain. It's really difficult to find the right words but hope you get some comfort from knowing that all on here are sending their love and best wishes xxxx

Clara I think I got my days mixed up - I had in my head that your surgery was scheduled for tomorrow but it's today isn't it - you won't be able to read this today but please know that we're all thinking of you, I know you've been dreading this day, bless you.

Already feeling emotional, watched the Peter Capaldi /Lewis Capaldi music video ( Someone You Loved) this afternoon while making dinner - have seen it before but was unsure what it was about so Googled it  - it's about a man whose wife dies and her heart goes to a young Mum. He goes to visit the family and the young woman places his hand on her chest so that he can feel his wife's heart beat one more time. Bawled my eyes out. Then realised I'd got the days mixed up and felt even worse, I should have sent a message of support this morning, so sorry. I hope the surgeon is the best in his field and I hope you aren't in too much pain. It's really difficult to find the right words but hope you get some comfort from knowing that all on here are sending their love and best wishes xxxx