| | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) |  "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | What you are going through is HIGH ANXIETY type stuff and perhaps you either need to be candid with your general practitioner or you need a different G.P.!!! I would think some anti anxiety meds would benefit you greatly with what you have gone through. Wow. Over here in "the colonies", as well as in the U.S., prescription of anti-anxiety meds is pretty routine with cancer patients. Maybe you need to outright ASK.
Good luck.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Hi Brenda,
Are you certain they are doing this under a local? When I had my excisional biopsy, I was out cold. Took about 30 minutes and maybe an hour in recovery. True, you are very woozy, so no driving or walking around on your own. You'll go home and sleep it off. Doctor gave me the results in hospital about 2 hours after biopsy. I had no pain with the surgery but everyone and every surgery is different. Hopefully your procedure will be more like mine than your previous experience. Have you asked the doctor what type of anesthesia you are getting and do you have the option of not doing local? The info you have before the surgery, the less worrying you will do.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | Hey Bren.while i am in the air ,you will no doubt be chewing your fingers to the bone!!!I arrive home on the 16th at 6.20 am so if you need someone to talk too my mobile will be on early.
Good luck and hope to see you soon.
love liz
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 221 | Hi Brenda,
I hope you will be able to have some peaceful time between now and the 16th.
Hugs,
Joy
CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 346 | Hey,
Glad you finally have an answer but I know the waiting is horrible! I think I just stay anxious all the time. I have actually had doctors say that I am just an anxious person. Well, not until you told me I had cancer!! What is with them? I would just flat out ask the guy (what do they think we are drug addicts now)?? It will certainly help ease the anx's. I will
be thinking of you believe me. It will not be as bad as your jawbone, just from the location.
Debbie
Partial mandibulectomy and neck dissection 2/3/07. T2NOMO.
Had 14 hour operation which included reconstruction of jaw.
Reconstruction failed. Some radiation, no chemo.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Brenda, I wish I could be there to assist you thru this. You are a really good friend and I will be there mentally encouraging you. Just look up and think hard. If you see anything strange,, it's just ole Jim lookin out for ya.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 | Bren
I think you should tell the Gp that you NEED it , and that it is affecting your daily life, and if she can only give you enough to get through the procedure it would be helpful.
Bren, you and I have talked and you have been there for me ..for the cancer and other things. YOU are one of the STRONGEST people I have NEVER met . ( and even one of the strongest I have )
If anyone can get through this YOU can . Please know that we are all with you in heart and mind !!!
Shar
Sharlee
35 year old Female Non smoker, very occasional alcohol ..Scc T1N0M0,partial glossectomy and left neck disection ,2/9/07 No rad deemed ness. 4/16 tonsillectomy ..Trimengenial Neuralga due to surgery
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Brenda - You sure have the right to have something to ease the anxiety. Tell your GP exactly what your experience with that hospital has been and go into detail, yell, scream or cry a lot if that helps get your point across! I don't know about doubling on anything without checking with the doctor to see what the effects are. If you ask her about this maybe she will realize what you are going thru and give you something. I'll be thinking about you and sending positive vibes your way.
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 632 | Thanks all for your support--I don't feel quite so 'wussy' now!
I think they do 'locals' here whenever possible as it's quicker and cheaper.
I do have a relaxation/visualisation CD which the main cancer hospital gave me and it has helped before--on the visualisation bit I think I'll add an image of Jim the tiger sitting on the end of that 'sunlounger by the pool' ready to bite the head off anyone who hurts me!
Doc's surgery does have a 'cancer liaison' worker who is lovely, so I may just ring her on Monday to twist doc's arm!!
Brenda
Brenda in UK--Diagnosis 30/5/07--undifferentiated carcinoma in right jawbone and muscles. Stage 4
6/7/07--new diagnosis primary is in lung. Finished 4cycles of palliative carboplatin/gemcitabine
therapy September 07
Now dying to live!
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | That's good to hear, Brenda - maybe you could print out a picture of Tiger Jim to help with the visualization and do get in touch with the liasion lady or anything else that helps. You can do this! Just "be cool". 
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
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