I had a lump in the back of my mouth, upper right side behind molar along cheek. They performed a biopsy last Friday and said to schedule an appointment for 2 weeks. They just called today and told me to call and move up my appointment to Tuesday instead of next Friday. Why would they do this? It just made my nerves about a million times worse. I am 27, a smoker except during pregnancies, have a 4 year old, 9 year old, and I am currently 8 weeks pregnant. I feel like they should be able to tell you something over the phone, that way we can prepared to listen at the follow up if it's bad.

Not much you can do till Tuesday. Try and relax if possible. Keep busy and preoccupied. They don't usually give any news, good or bad, on the phone. It may be nothing. I hope all goes well Tuesday.

HI,

Welcome to OCF. There are many folks who have experienced your concerns. It could be something as benign as the doctor received an invitation to play on an exclusive golf course that day so is rescheduling appointments to clear his calendar.

The golden rule around here is it is NOT cancer until so stated in a the test results report.

I know next Tuesday can seem like an eternity when being so anxious but do your very best to take the position above - it is NOT cancer unless so STATED.

best to you, don

Many physicians will not give results over the phone. Its just their policy so dont let that make you nervous. It usually take about a week for the results to come in so Im surprised they initially wanted you to wait 2 weeks to return.

Speaking as a former smoker who lost her jaw to OC, PLEASE (no matter what the results of the biopsy are) quit smoking permanently. Its NOT worth the risk to you and your family!

Best wishes!

Thank you guys, and yes I know I have to quit smoking, luckily it's something I actually want to do. I called to schedule my new appointment and of course asked if I could have some sort of info over the phone and of course the doctor said no, he Needs me to come in. I think the issue is I have panic and anxiety disorder and this waiting is just making me nuts, and I can't be on meds anymore due to pregnancy. OY, it's all just viscous cycle. I appreciate your thoughts, and will just wait, but I really would rather get a phone call Tuesday, I really don't like the idea of having news if bad handed to me in person in a doctors office.

Hi Angelsrock,

As has been mentioned, it's NOT cancer until they say it's cancer! I know it's easier said than done but try to relax and stay away from Dr.Google! Could be any number of reasons they changed the appointment.

Now, regardless of the result... smoking! C'mon now! You have to stop! I was a smoker (cigarettes, pipe and cigar) for 35 years. I quit last year prior to my diagnosis. Do I miss it? Absolutely! There are times even now where I crave a good stogie but the thought of treatment and what I went through quickly quells the urge.

I used the electronic cigarette to quit. You can step down in the amount of nicotine until you reach zero. It's a vapor that delivers the nicotine and it "feels" like you're smoking. Even my docs said it was better than inhaling the 4000 chemicals that are in tobacco smoke. For your health and your children, please quit!

Positive thoughts and prayers,

"T"

Hi there - is there any way you can move it to tomorrow? This would eliminate the stress. I don't want to freak you out, they must want to discuss the results with you. It isn't cancer until they say it is, this is very true and it could be something innocuous or inconclusive that may require surgery to remove, but I would try to get in before Tuesday - hugs.

Could be due to the doctors scheduling, and nothing more, and has happened to me often, but luckily not when I had a biopsy. If you had the biopsy in the hospital, I usually go to the pathologist office, Otolaryngology Dept or medical records to get my own copy of the pathology, surgery or scan report, and read it myself since I dont like waiting, but usually see the Dr. that day or soon after. My private oncologist is more difficult, and can't get a copy from until after I've seen her nor get it over the phone. Good luck.

If you are that nervous about it, call tomorrow and if not call again on Monday to ask if they have any cancelled appointments they could squeeze you into. If not then you will know the next day, Tuesday.

Waiting is the worst!

Good luck!!!

Angel -Scheduling could be all it is with getting appointments (as Paul mentioned). We got my son's first appointment with the ENT moved up from 2 weeks away to the next business day. They can do that. They can move other appointments around. As for "in-office" appointments, the advantage there is that whatever the results are, there are human beings there to help with some positive suggestions as to how to proceed and what comes next. If you bring someone with you, and it's positive news, you can celebrate together and if it's not so positive, you have hugs to go along with the plans for what comes next. In my son's case, when we got the news, my daughter was there, and the ENT plus three interns and something that helped me so much was a comment made by the female intern just as everyone was leaving. I think she saw how worried I was and assured me that Dr. C was very aggressive in his treatment and I knew by the look on her face and the tone of her voice that my son had a very good chance of being ok. You don't get that over the phone. They probably just want to tell you to quit smoking. And you can do that!