I Think I Have Tongue Cancer.

GavinP
GavinP Member Posts: 118
edited June 2013 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello,

First some history.

My name's Gavin and I'm 35 years old.

For about five or six years I've had an area of what I now think is white leukoplakia on the right hand side of my tongue.

Because the outline of the leukoplakia is the same as three very sharp, uneven back teeth myself and my dentist have been putting this down to my tongue rubbing against my teeth.

Recently (can't be sure when, but I would say it would be some time before Christmas, maybe November'ish?) another patch if white leukoplakia appeared again on the right side of my tongue, but away from the first area (which has now become a thickened area) and the right hand sice of my tongue is beginning to feel numb. Other than this, I have never had any pain or irritation from my tongue.

I saw the dentist in January and she noticed the new white area and refered me to a maxilo-facial specialist. I saw him last Monday and tomorrow I'm having a biopsy.

This morning I've discovered a small red spot on my tongue near to the white spots that appeared before Christmas.

In recent weeks I've been feeling increasingly off colour. I am running a low grade temperature. I am suffering alternate bouts of diarrhea and consipation and feel nausous (I put this down to a stomach bug around Christmas) My heart is starting to race quite fast. I don't have any pain or tenderness, though I do notice the occasional feeling of pressure on the the top of my back.

Everything I've seen on the internet suggests that this week I'm going to be dignosed with tongue cancer and given the time delay since the new area of leukoplakia appeared some time last year its very probable that its spread at least to my verterbrae if not to the rest of my body.

I'm scared and frightened and wondering whether there is any way back for me. I'm single and live with my elderly parents (my father had a heat attack last October) I had numerous medical problems when I was young which my parents saw me though but now I think they are too old to cope with yet another medical drama with me.  I'm in blackest hole of my life and can't see any way out at the moment.

Is this survivable if its spread? Can I have any quality of life?

Any advice or words of hope would be much appreciated.

«13

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    Hi Gavin

    My best advice to you at the moment is to practice your meditation, and cross no bridges until you have to.  Easy for me to say, I know, but you don't have cancer until it is proven.  The term leukoplakia just means "white patch", it doesn't mean you have cancer.  If you now have two succh spots, ok, but cancer tends to grow from the the first spot, not just to form multiple spots.  There are other things that can cause you situation, including multiple rub spots from your teeth, or benign squamous papillomas.  I hesitate to toss the papilloma of the tongue thing out here on the board, cause now everyone will go internet searching and freak themselves outUndecided    but seriously, it sounds like you are headed in the right direction.  You need to put the issue to rest, benign or malignant.  So try to stay calm, and let's see what the biopsy shows.  No point in crossing this bridge just yet.  And, yes, there is quality of life after treatment for cancer of the oral cavity.  Just ask me, I've been down the road a few times.

     

    best to you

     

    Pat

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    wait

    Gavin, I understand your concerns.  They are valid. 

    Please remember, though, it isn't cancer until they say it is.  I'm betting millions of biopsies happen every day that have good results.

    You are taking the right steps.  Try to destress as best you can.  Until you have a cancer diagnosis, you are worrying without a purpose.

    Ending it before the diagnosis?  No.

    Survivable if its spread?  From the posts on this board - yes.

    Quality of life?  Again, the posts here indicate that, yes, quality of life is possible.

    You need to take a deep breath and calm down.  You don't know anything yet other than you have a cautious doctor.  Good for you.

    Let us hear from you.

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    Wait and see

    Just wanted to tell you about one of our neighbors.  He is a survivor (9 years) of H&N cancer and a month ago when he went to his dentist, the dentist found a white spot on his tongue and said he needed a biopsy.  Yes he was worried that the cancer had returned.  He came down to see my husband who is a H&N patient and getting ready to have a needle biopsy tomorrow and then another at the end of the month in his esophagus.  Well he got good news his spot that was removed was not cancer and he told us that it really lifted him up and now he is telling us not to worry because worrying will get you nowhere but heavy stress.

    So good luck and until they tell you it's cancer, it's not.

    Sharon

  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member

    wait

    Gavin, I understand your concerns.  They are valid. 

    Please remember, though, it isn't cancer until they say it is.  I'm betting millions of biopsies happen every day that have good results.

    You are taking the right steps.  Try to destress as best you can.  Until you have a cancer diagnosis, you are worrying without a purpose.

    Ending it before the diagnosis?  No.

    Survivable if its spread?  From the posts on this board - yes.

    Quality of life?  Again, the posts here indicate that, yes, quality of life is possible.

    You need to take a deep breath and calm down.  You don't know anything yet other than you have a cautious doctor.  Good for you.

    Let us hear from you.

    Hello Gavin.

    I am sorry you have to deal with the fear at the moment, howevver I will say if you read the possible side affects of an aspirin bottle it can scare you to death Sealed so too can researching tongue cancer on the Internet (more humor).

    Like we always say on this board, "it ain't cancer until they say it is cancer" .....so as easy as this is for me to say, try not to think the worst case scenario.  If by some chance it is cancer, I am 13 months out from my stage III base of tongue cancer diagnosis and I have had clean scans since my treatments ended. I'm out hunting, cutting wood, snowmobiling and doing anything I want with my family.  Had I chosen to not go through treatments I would have certainly been gone by now.  The treatments were the right choice for me, and they become "more right" everyday.

    I remember not long ago on this board a person posted they feared they had oral cancer, they spent a couple of weeks with us on the board (which was fine of course) and their biopsy came back benign, no where near cancer related.  We were thrilled for that person and they were certainly thrilled as well.

    I'm sure you are a great guy.  So my prayer is your biopsy will leave you bidding us farewell, but it not, stick with our board and you will find a group of folks who really care and can take the journey with you my friend.

    Please keep us updated on your biopsy.

    I whispered a prayer before I hit post that your biopsy does come back negative for cancer.

     

    Best,

    Tim

    (I rarely get on this board at 6am....but for some reason this am I felt compelled to log in)

     

     

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118
    Ladylacy said:

    Wait and see

    Just wanted to tell you about one of our neighbors.  He is a survivor (9 years) of H&N cancer and a month ago when he went to his dentist, the dentist found a white spot on his tongue and said he needed a biopsy.  Yes he was worried that the cancer had returned.  He came down to see my husband who is a H&N patient and getting ready to have a needle biopsy tomorrow and then another at the end of the month in his esophagus.  Well he got good news his spot that was removed was not cancer and he told us that it really lifted him up and now he is telling us not to worry because worrying will get you nowhere but heavy stress.

    So good luck and until they tell you it's cancer, it's not.

    Sharon

    Thank you all. :)  You have

    Thank you all. :)  You have set my mid at rest a little bit. I've been working myself up day by day since Monday when I found out I was going to need the biopsy.

    Generally how long does it take to hear from the hospital if the biopsy shows up malignancy? (I'm in the UK)

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    GavinP said:

    Thank you all. :)  You have

    Thank you all. :)  You have set my mid at rest a little bit. I've been working myself up day by day since Monday when I found out I was going to need the biopsy.

    Generally how long does it take to hear from the hospital if the biopsy shows up malignancy? (I'm in the UK)

    not much time

    The micro slides take less than an hour to prepare, and  about thirty seconds to read by the pathologist.  In the cycle of things, a report is generated by the next day.  Now, how that report is transmitted, and to whom, that is variable.  but a day or two should suffice for a diagnosis.

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118

    not much time

    The micro slides take less than an hour to prepare, and  about thirty seconds to read by the pathologist.  In the cycle of things, a report is generated by the next day.  Now, how that report is transmitted, and to whom, that is variable.  but a day or two should suffice for a diagnosis.

    Thanks very much. :)
    So I

    Thanks very much. :)

    So I should certainly hear something by Tuesday or Wenesday if theres a problem?

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    GavinP said:

    Thanks very much. :)
    So I

    Thanks very much. :)

    So I should certainly hear something by Tuesday or Wenesday if theres a problem?

    be proactive

    and ask those questions of the guy doing the biopsy before it is done.  "when will  the results be back, and how may I learn them?" is way better than getting left out in the cold waiting on results.

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118

    be proactive

    and ask those questions of the guy doing the biopsy before it is done.  "when will  the results be back, and how may I learn them?" is way better than getting left out in the cold waiting on results.

    Thanks for tip.

    Thanks for tip.

  • Ingrid K
    Ingrid K Member Posts: 813
    please calm down a bit

    Hello Gavin

    First:  stay off of the internet.  Except for reading things on THIS discussion board, the info you see on the internet is often misleading, outdated and downright inaccurate.  It will scare the heck out of you... so stop looking !

    Two: as others have said, it's not cancer until a biopsy tells you it is.  Since you are already scheduled for one, you are doing the right thing.  If you weren't doing this, my advice would have been to see an ENT to have one done.

    Third:  I am the poster child for Tongue Cancer Survivorship !!  I lost 75% of my tongue due to location of my tumor.  I have been thru hell and back, but the treatment is doable.  And I am 20 years older than you, so even though you mention other medical issues, your age will help you bounce back.

    So, ask when you will get your biopsy results.  Should take no more than 2 days, so push back if they tell you longer.

    Sending prayers that biopsy will be benign.

     

     

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    I see the folks here have helped put your

    mind at ease, Gavin....GOOD!!  We humans are so good at working ourselves into a lather, actually living and thinking in the future.....a future we have no knowledge of (I am so guilty of doing this exact same thing!!).  One of our favorite says here is as Tim said..."it ain't cancer till somebody in the know says it's cancer".....

    As you can see from all the people posting on this board.....oral cancer is not only survivable but people continue on living and working, and taking care of their children....some here have survived it more than one time....so tho quality of life might change a little it certainly isn't a reason to "end it all".  Suicide would most certainly be the most devastating thing you could do to your parents....

    You hang tight....the chances are WAY more in your favor of not having cancer....than having it.

    p

  • NJShore
    NJShore Member Posts: 429 Member
    Never as bad as you think...

    Gavin,

    welcome to the community, although for your sake I hope you are just passing through. Nice to meet you either way. 

    Everyone here has given you great advice, I just wanted to share my two cents and echo Phrannies thoughts a bit, even if the worst is  tongue cancer, she's right it's not worth ending your life, particularly if doing so for your parents. I have two sons, 28 and 30. Boy did I get a run for my money when it comes to health issues with them, and i was a single parent. i also had a heart attack, 4 years ago.. And never in my life would I want to not be able to see them smile, hug them, or see them succeed at life. Being sick is not a good enough reason, there is no reason great enough.

    My husband of two years found out he had tonsil cancer on my birthday, 9 days before my sons wedding, and 16 days before his moms 80 th birthday... She amazes me at how strong she is, and yes, she has tears at times, but she more than anyone wants her son to live a long and happy life. 

    So, plan on living.. Plan on showing your parents with a little help you can fight this, but don't dare take their son away from them, you are unique and very special to them.

    ok off, the soap box, feel free to say or ask anything here..lots of great people will show you the way of getting through treatment, if you need it and well... Um... I don't rant too often :)

    hope your results are benign!

    Kari

     

  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    NJShore said:

    Never as bad as you think...

    Gavin,

    welcome to the community, although for your sake I hope you are just passing through. Nice to meet you either way. 

    Everyone here has given you great advice, I just wanted to share my two cents and echo Phrannies thoughts a bit, even if the worst is  tongue cancer, she's right it's not worth ending your life, particularly if doing so for your parents. I have two sons, 28 and 30. Boy did I get a run for my money when it comes to health issues with them, and i was a single parent. i also had a heart attack, 4 years ago.. And never in my life would I want to not be able to see them smile, hug them, or see them succeed at life. Being sick is not a good enough reason, there is no reason great enough.

    My husband of two years found out he had tonsil cancer on my birthday, 9 days before my sons wedding, and 16 days before his moms 80 th birthday... She amazes me at how strong she is, and yes, she has tears at times, but she more than anyone wants her son to live a long and happy life. 

    So, plan on living.. Plan on showing your parents with a little help you can fight this, but don't dare take their son away from them, you are unique and very special to them.

    ok off, the soap box, feel free to say or ask anything here..lots of great people will show you the way of getting through treatment, if you need it and well... Um... I don't rant too often :)

    hope your results are benign!

    Kari

     

    Gavin
    It's already been said many times but....it isn't cancer until the dr says it is.
    Leukoplakia is a white callous if you will. Leukoplakia does not mean cancer and also cancer doesn't usually jump from one side of the tongue to the other. That being said, I'm still glad you are getting a biopsy, let's just find out once and for all what this is. Sometimes with biopsies if the dr gets a big enough piece he can ask the pathologist for a frozen biopsy. That would give him a very good idea Right away of what he is dealing with. The rest of the sample would need to go thru the typical biopsy process which would take 24-48 hours but at least you'd have a pretty good idea. As I said tho, he would need to get a big enough sample and sometimes that's not possible. Just a thought.

    You really need to do yourself a favor and stay off of the internet. You could find a hang nail to be tongue cancer if you look hard enough. Joking of course but I'm just trying to say that it can really play tricks on your mind and give you undue stress. Not to mention, a lot of stuff is old and out dated.

    If you do find out by some small chance that it is cancer, you should know that treatment has proven very successful. There is life after Head and Neck cancer.
    No more negative thoughts!!
    Stay on this site and feel free to ask us any questions you may have...no question is out of the question.

    Billie

    P.S. Where are you located if you don't mind me asking...we may have one of our members that are close to you....I'm in Southern California (Los Angeles area)
  • HobbsDoggy
    HobbsDoggy Member Posts: 276
    Amazing Things Today

    I also thought when I first thought I had cancer and later found that I did (neck unknow primarty) that maybe just ending it was the best way to go.  I found out on here, from the doctors and got secoend opinions that I have a good shot at a normal long life.  I am very glad I did not do anything rash and got treatment.  I still don't know how it will trun out, but have enough hope that it makes it a very worthwile jorney.  Hang in there and get "real" information from doctors and be your own best advocate.

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118
    Thanks everyone

    You really have helped me today. I was at such a low ebb this morning. I was awake pretty much all night and I got up this morning and just felt so terribly low.

    I even managed a few hours sleep this afternoon.

    Billie, I'm actually in the UK.

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    GavinP said:

    Thanks everyone

    You really have helped me today. I was at such a low ebb this morning. I was awake pretty much all night and I got up this morning and just felt so terribly low.

    I even managed a few hours sleep this afternoon.

    Billie, I'm actually in the UK.

    Hi Gavin

    I'm a two and a half year survivor of Stage 4 head neck cancer. My primary tumor was at the base of my tongue, so I received two surgeries and a nasty eight week round of concurrent chemo and radiation.  So far, I'm still fine, and living a normal life.  My co-worker's mother passed away from head neck cancer a number of years ago.  My co-worker's dentist recently spotted a patch on the inside of her mouth, and advised her that she should get it biopsied immediately.  Of course my co-worker panicked, given her past experience with her mother. I took her to the Ear-Nose-Throat specialist who diagnosed me.  After a single glance, he was able to tell her that he was more than 98% certain that her patch was NOT cancer, based on his experience. He biopsied the suspicious area, and had an answer for her by the next day. Negative. Not cancer.  Most mouth patches are scary, and the dentist will advise a biopsy, because that is part of the dentist's oral cancer screening responsibility.  The likelihood that it is cancer is very low.

    Sending you best wishes for a quick resolution tomorrow.

    Deb

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118
    D Lewis said:

    Hi Gavin

    I'm a two and a half year survivor of Stage 4 head neck cancer. My primary tumor was at the base of my tongue, so I received two surgeries and a nasty eight week round of concurrent chemo and radiation.  So far, I'm still fine, and living a normal life.  My co-worker's mother passed away from head neck cancer a number of years ago.  My co-worker's dentist recently spotted a patch on the inside of her mouth, and advised her that she should get it biopsied immediately.  Of course my co-worker panicked, given her past experience with her mother. I took her to the Ear-Nose-Throat specialist who diagnosed me.  After a single glance, he was able to tell her that he was more than 98% certain that her patch was NOT cancer, based on his experience. He biopsied the suspicious area, and had an answer for her by the next day. Negative. Not cancer.  Most mouth patches are scary, and the dentist will advise a biopsy, because that is part of the dentist's oral cancer screening responsibility.  The likelihood that it is cancer is very low.

    Sending you best wishes for a quick resolution tomorrow.

    Deb

    Thanks Deb. :)

    Thanks Deb. :)

    It was the small red patch that got me really worried this morning (I'd been reading on the internet that white can be pretty much anything, but red with white means your in trouble) So imagine what it was like when I got up this morning after all these dark thoughts had been racing through my mind all night, and I looked in the mirror as as I brushed my teeth and noticed a red spot had appeared.

    (no more have appeared today BTW and I'm trying to keep the amount of times I look at my tongue down to three times a day, as I was becoming like an OCD with me to stand in front of the mirror and stare at it LOL)

    One other symptom I didn't mention, BTW, but one thats becoming increasingly apparent, is that my saliva is getting more and more thick and phlegmy. I've got this horrible phlegmy taste in my mouth all the time. Its almost like I've got an infection in my nose or the back of my throat? Is that something that can go with tongue cancer? Oy maybe its just because my body is so out of sorts due to anxiety and worry?)

  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    GavinP said:

    Thanks Deb. :)

    Thanks Deb. :)

    It was the small red patch that got me really worried this morning (I'd been reading on the internet that white can be pretty much anything, but red with white means your in trouble) So imagine what it was like when I got up this morning after all these dark thoughts had been racing through my mind all night, and I looked in the mirror as as I brushed my teeth and noticed a red spot had appeared.

    (no more have appeared today BTW and I'm trying to keep the amount of times I look at my tongue down to three times a day, as I was becoming like an OCD with me to stand in front of the mirror and stare at it LOL)

    One other symptom I didn't mention, BTW, but one thats becoming increasingly apparent, is that my saliva is getting more and more thick and phlegmy. I've got this horrible phlegmy taste in my mouth all the time. Its almost like I've got an infection in my nose or the back of my throat? Is that something that can go with tongue cancer? Oy maybe its just because my body is so out of sorts due to anxiety and worry?)

    Ewwww

    Thick saliva suggests some kind of an infection. to me. Many of us here have thick saliva, or no saliva, as a side effect of the burns from radiation treatments. I don't believe a single one of us had that symptom at the time of diagnosis.  Just keep taking deep breaths, and try to remain calm. All is well, and you will have your answers very soon.

    Deb

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118
    D Lewis said:

    Ewwww

    Thick saliva suggests some kind of an infection. to me. Many of us here have thick saliva, or no saliva, as a side effect of the burns from radiation treatments. I don't believe a single one of us had that symptom at the time of diagnosis.  Just keep taking deep breaths, and try to remain calm. All is well, and you will have your answers very soon.

    Deb

    Thanks Deb. :)
    Off to get

    Thanks Deb. :)

    Off to get some sleep now. It least tomorrow is the start of getting all this resolved one way or another.

    Thanks everyone.  Hope you guys don't mind having a "limey" in your midst? 

  • Billie67
    Billie67 Member Posts: 898
    GavinP said:

    Thanks Deb. :)
    Off to get

    Thanks Deb. :)

    Off to get some sleep now. It least tomorrow is the start of getting all this resolved one way or another.

    Thanks everyone.  Hope you guys don't mind having a "limey" in your midst? 

    Gavin
    My hope is that you'll get some good rest tonight and start tomorrow with a clear mind. It's not cancer until they say it is and chances are they won't say that it is.
    Do keep us posted as you've just become part of our family and we care and want to be here for you. Oh and I think we have a few others in the UK so if needed I'm sure you can get some referrals.
    Billie