Helen,

Regardless of what the folks at the hospital might have to say, panicing won't change it and it certainly won't make today any better. I can certainly understand the panic feeling as I sometimes get them before my follow up visits with the docs. If it's good news, then you wasted your time panicing. If it's bad news, you still wasted your time panicing during what otherwise might have been a good day. No matter what happens and what they may say, you have to do your best to make today a good day. Deep breath and remember you're still alive and kicking right now. Best of luck.

-Brett

Base of Tongue SCC. Stage IV, T1N2bM0. Diagnosed 25 July 2003.
Treated with 6 weeks induction chemo -- Taxol & Carboplatin once a week followed with 30 fractions IMRT, 10 fields per fraction over 6 more weeks. Recurrence October 2005.