Coping with anxiety while waiting

Welcome to Connect, @brown1
Different doctors and institutions have different wait times. Hearing you have a brain tumor is stressful and challenging. No doubt you will have questions about the diagnosis, treatment options and what will happen next. You may wish to seek a second opinion.

Brown, I'm not sure if Mayo Clinic is an option for you. At Mayo Clinic, we offer appointments within 48 hours through the the Brain Tumor 48-access program. Experts at the Mayo Clinic can help you navigate your healthcare journey, answer your questions and guide you through the treatment plan. Here is the online form and contact numbers for our 3 campuses http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63 Be sure to mention the Brain Tumor 48-access program.

Brown, when you went to ER did they confirm a diagnosis of brain cancer or is it a suspicion and the next step is more diagnostic testing?

@brown1 I am so sorry about your situation. What made the ER come to that conclusion? Did they actually do testing to make an accurate diagnosis? Have you called around to other Dr's to see if you can get an earlier appointment? I would recommend calling another DR. Get at least 3 opinions.
Please keep us posted as to your outcome. But I recommend calling more Dr's to see if they can get you in for testing sooner.
I wish you the best.
Jackie

Hello @brown1

I see that this is your first post and I appreciate your sharing with us about your new diagnosis. I am so sorry to hear of your brain cancer - I can understand why you are concerned about waiting 6 - 7 weeks. Whether or not this is a normal wait time for an appointment depends on where you live and the doctors who are available in your area who can treat this type of cancer.

If you are comfortable sharing more information could you tell us: Did they tell you what type of brain cancer you have? Did they mention the size or the grade of the tumor or lesion and what part of the brain the tumor is located? Have you previously had cancer of any other type? These are all important questions to consider as you seek treatment.

If you don't want to wait 6 - 7 weeks you can always call other good facilities and find out who is available to treat this particular type of brain cancer. Do you live near a cancer research center or a university medical school? It is probably important that you have a good doctor, highly experienced, as well as a good medical facility.

Here is a link to a discussion here at Connect for others dealing with Head and Neck Cancers, https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meet-others-living-with-head-neck-cancer-come-introduce-yourself/?pg=1#comment-79534. As you read through these discussions, you might find some good information as well as support. Here are some Members how have previously mentioned Head and Neck Cancers, @jeffk @lisa_sj99 @jtw96 @mrsjhagen18 @sylviapf @lzzie @loli @karly @trudivo @angelag @ssimons @deborahe @gaybinator @emmur16 @udderplace. I would like to invite them to join you in this discussion.

Please keep in touch and let me know how you are doing. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

@maxaz1 distraction has always worked for me especially when it is in the form of action. Reading, writing, music, puzzles, painting, drawing, coloring, taking pictures, walking, swimming, driving, phone calls/ texts, surfing the internet & posting/ replying in forums, blogs & group conversations are particularly low to know impact actions for people with limiting health issues

Dear Brown,

It has been five hours since your post, and you have received the best advise I have ever seen in such a short time. I hope we are not overwhelming you!
It has been five years since my surgery for mouth cancer; but I still remember when I was diagnosed as it had been a week ago. And I will give you my spill about organizing, because you have already gotten very good advise about looking for doctors and about Mayo Clinic. The only contact I have had to Mayo, is my sister's cancer and this blog. I have spent lots of time at Mayo Scottsdale, where my sister had her treatments, and it has been first class in every way.
Well, right after I had my diagnose, I had a pep talk with God. He gave me fortitude. My second stop was at Staples, where I got a binder, dividers and paper. I called it "my life project". First divider was for doctors. I got some recommendations and researched them on line. Printed the pages with their resumes and pictures and placed them in the binder. Second binder for several copies of my diagnose. Third for several copies of my medical history. Fourth for medications. Five for questions and paper for answers, and so on and so forth. Very important, a divider for cards. You will collect cards from the different doctors that will be involved in your treatment. Organizing yourself will take the time you have to wait for your appointment, and have you focused in a positive way.
Please have someone come with you to your appointments and take notes and remind you of your questions.
Hope this advise will help. And I wish you success!

@cweeks18 Let us remember there is both positive & negative anxiousness. Sometimes we experience them at the same time like when we're having a consultation. This is commonly referred to as mixed emotion. It is normal as long as we handle it accordingly to benefit not detriment.

@54321 Even though I have no clue what it feels like to have failing kidneys I am no stranger to challenges of survival. When your down & out please come to Mayo Connect where we all have 1 major thing in common - we are all there for each other with strength in numbers. We honestly want a better quality of life for each other regardless of rather we are donor or recipient or both. There is always someone to share the ups & downs with & that always turns grief in to relief if even but for a moment. But that is a moment born in humanitarian spirit of love & kindness

@54321 @hopeful33250 Seven days I would not have been able to appreciate how hard waiting is but you are not alone. I would love to immediatly schedule a transplant surgery as a donor want to be. But I also know success in these matters depend heavenly on making sure all the T's are crossed & It's are dotted. There are great tips & ideas for people on this journey to handle stress including using Mayo Connect to follow stories of people like you & I.

@stellgma Hopefully all goes well with you & yours during these all around trying times. Have faith there is hope for you. I have a friend who has lymphoma cancer (brain lymphoma) for which surgery & chemo are not options. She has such a positive attitude it takes someone who knows her well to see right through her to her anxiety. In her words "The silver lining is knowing my family will miiss me but my death will not be in vain." To me she is beautiful inside & out.

@maxaz1 Thank you for sharing both positive & negative repercussions of major illness. Some useful techniques I've learned are not to dwell on the symptoms except when they cannot be ignored at the moment, when they can't be ignored distraction by focusing on something meaningful (interaction with an animal/ person, research of whatever your IT is) to you. It can be inanimate or living as long as it drives you to do more so that it takes your mind off of the symptom. Though it may not replace the symptom it should relieve it.