Debbie,
I am a patient of Dr. xxxxxx at the xxxxxxx of Alabama. He's in with xxxx & they have both been thru Dental School and Medical School. For an oncologist I picked xxxxxxxx who keeps in touch with the major cancer centers. My sister tells me that the NIH lists UAB as a major center in oral cancer research. I just think it's odd that if I had left it to Dr. xxxxx, I'd be almost 2 months from finding the cancer to finally being sent to an oncologist. Dr. xxxxxxx is mapping out a whole battle plan (like getting a radiologist involved) before any more surgery is done. To answer what I do, I am a pharmacist who owns a speciality pharmacy (no walk-ins)mostly working in the mental health field. My sister is my partner & between the 2 of us there are 2 disabled young adults (1 has 3 kids) and elderly parents - my mom just broke her back and is mute & starting Altzheimers. I also work a part time job & have been working 12-13 hour days to do all the pharmacy work & I still have a 15 yr old boy at home. I have probably ignored the lump in my mouth because there has been no time to even notice it was there over 6 weeks unhealed. I am desparately trying to "lighten" my load so I can have time to fight this cancer & my family is rallying around the idea that Ginny isn't responsible to make meals for everybody & feed the cows, etc. I have a great network of church family & friends that have already pitched in for me, but my family will have it much harder going & I feel bad that I'm not there for them as much. I feel that I have to listen to what God's trying to teach me & learn his lessons. As long as He is glorified, I'll be ok. This waiting between appointments not knowing anything new to tell folks that ask is a drag.
Thank you all for your answers & prayers.
Ginny

(This posting was edited to take out doctors names and addresses which we do not generally allow on the message board. Communicating this kind of information should happen privately between individuals via email or the message system of the board which is completely private. BH/OCF)