i was diagnosed with oral pre-cancers about 4 years ago and had biopsies which came back as benign,iv'e since had biopsies on lumps in my oesophagus which were the same,a very panicky time and a constant worry in the back of my mind is will i eventually develop the cancer? i even had my teeth removed in november 07 as a precaution ..... any advice would be helpful,i'm fairly new to PC's so i didn't know this kind of help and support was available

Hi mic, it must be a right stress to be in your situation. I suppose that if there is a positive it's that you dont have cancer at the moment. Dont really know what advice to give but hang in there and remember the forum's always here. Hopefully the pre cancers wont come to anything. Hagg.

Thanks Hagg
i feel like a whinger compared to the actual sufferers but do understand about waiting for results and the constant checking of the mouth every time something doesn't feel right.
i'm really surprised at just how many people are on here waiting for the results.
The day i was told about the pre-cancers i quit smoking and never looked back,i'm not one to think it could never happen to me and am fearful for people who do.
it does give a new outlook at life though
Mic

Hi Mic,
I know it's easy for others to say not to worry, but of course it'll be at the back of your mind.
It's good to be vigilant and don't hesitate to see someone about any changes in your mouth. Because these things are most successful when caught early.

But you can't spend your life waiting for cancer - it wont be worth the wait - trust me!!

Live for NOW, not what may be.

& as Hagg says - we're here for support

Cheers Chelle
It's an odd thing but the worry has helped me in a way,i'm an artist and trying to get down in my work the way i'm feeling has been a huge help,i know i can't spend my time waiting for the worst and really do enjoy my time,i have other health issues but this is the uncertain thing,the cup really is half full with me.
i only wish i had this forum when it all started,i'm sure it would have helped and am happy in the fact that a new patient can get answers from real people .

Morning Mic, Well can only agree with Chelle & Hagg all you can do is live for today I know that sounds crass but what else can we do?

In the early years I had over 6 biopsies after my op for they thought they C had come back and is a mental see saw all the time playing games with your mind.You get to a point you dont tell people as they think my god hes a gonner this time
I do hope everything will be fine.

cheers

Paul

Hi Paul
so it is a normal thing to have quite a few biopsies?
i'm not really phased by the hospital side of things as i'm there quite a lot anyway but the doctors don't even let you know that there are things like this out there.
Just the last two days,recieving replies from people who know where i'm coming from has been a great release,i wish i'd have known earlier.
the walk in london sounds good too so i'm thinking of that now as well.

In your wildest imaginations you couldn't come up with the treatment for Head & Neck cancer. You honestly couldn't make it up!! You can have any combination of the following - crudely hacking it out to get clear margins, burning the cancer out and frying anything that may stand in its way, poisoning the cancer with toxic medication tht blats alot of the good stuff too.... it's hard hard going! & without the MCF fighting our corner we'd be truly lost!

I think you've summarized the treatment plan to a 't', Chelle!
Deborah

I don't understand it???
why are there no posters or leaflets of the MCF in the hospitals.
there is obviously a great demand for the foundation and it helps so much obviously,
i wish you all well and hope your recovery is going fantastically.you are an inspiration

Hi Mic, Leafletting is a very expensive business, & leaflets need to be very prominently placed to have any impact.
How many times have you been in your Doctors surgery & seen dozens of leaflets on the boards, some overlapping others, so that important information is hidden? And how often have you been in a Bank or Health Centre & seen Children happily gathering up leaflets & using them as scribbling pads?As a "young " foundation, we cant afford that to happen

If you look at the back of many leaflets, they are usually sponsored by Drug firms or industry & its hard work sometimes to drum up an interest in a new leaflet.

Vinod, could we download a copy of the foundations leaflet & print it out ourselves to take to our Clinics/Dentists?.
That could be a start.
Thinking caps on guys, how can we get more corporate Sponsorship?

Why did you have your teeth taken out if the results of the Biop were negative.

Fram, Brilliant idea, dont the Biotene company sponsor the walk, could we not approach companies of the same ilk to sponsor?

hi Angiebaby
i had my teeth taken out as a preventative measure as i had a lot of trouble with them and my phobia is dentists too.
I'm still waiting for dentures as my mouth hasn't settled down yet, which was unexpected.
great idea from Fran to download posters yourself when you have appointments

To get MCF Posters, just use the online Order Form

Good thinking Fran. If each of us did that it would be a great start.