Welcome to OCF, Kayla! Im very sorry you have a need for our help but you are in the very best place for correct and up to date medical info and support. OCF is the largest online oral cancer support group available. Plus we are certified by Health on the Net which ensures only correct info is given.

Below is a tab you should read section by section. It explains everything in detail about diagnosis, treatments, etc. Just remember, surgeons cut ... its what they do and once its been cut it cant ever be put back. If you have not had extensive testing and met with oncologists (both medical and radiation) then most likely your facility is not a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). At a CCC, all the specialists work together and meet at a tumor board meeting so everyone gives input to create a treatment plan. Even the patient is allowed to attend. Using a team based approach ensures everyone is on the same page and the patient gets the best tried and true treatments by highly skilled physicians. Let me know if you need the CCC or top hospital lists.

Right now, those who you have told will probably offer their assistance. Having young children at home means you will need lots of help. Write down all the volunteers info and tell them when the time comes you will let them know what they can do to help. Before doing any treatments, you should see your dentist for a thorough check up and molds should be made for fluoride trays (if you will be doing rads), you also need a full blood work up including thyroid and testosterone for men. Its easy to have blood work done prior to and treatment so you have your baseline numbers but you cant later go back and get those important baseline numbers.

Start eating all your favorite foods now. If you gain a few pounds its ok. Most treatments for OC involve patients ending up with a sore mouth and making eating very difficult. Eat now so you dont go into this with cravings. Get used to drinking lots of water as well. Water is very important if chemo is going to be part of your treatment plan. You need to drink 48-64 oz every single day to flush the chemo poison from your body.

If you already suffer from anxiety, see your doctor right away! Many anxiety meds take weeks for their full effect to work. Get started on them now. OC can cause some patients to get depressed. Anyone who already has issues can expect those things to be intensified with all the new health problems suddenly weighing down their shoulders. Seek out other in-person cancer support groups, maybe at your treatment facility (if thats where you plan on going). OCF is the very best at supporting you and welcoming new members but being online is much different than being there in person. You can lean on us, vent, etc and we will always understand as we have all gone thru all of those wild ranges of emotions ourselves.

Best wishes with everything you are facing! Feel free to ask questions. We're here to help make all this as easy as possible.

Main OCF site, Understanding Diagnosis, Treatments, Complications, etc.