Tongue Cancer - Stage 1

dalapathys
dalapathys Member Posts: 20
edited August 2012 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My friend is having stage 1 tongue cancer diagnosed with “Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma” 2 weeks before and doctor advised for immediate surgery. Dr says that this can be 100% cured. Anybody done surgery during stage 1. We are all motivating my friend every day. But he is still not convinced and always in depressed. . I need your kind comments on surgery, life style after surgery, life threat, etc.

Regards
Dalapathy
«13

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    it is fortunate that your friend
    was diagnosed this early. Obviously this confers a significant survival advantage. The majority of those who post here were more advanced disease at the time of discovery. Your friend is likely curable with surgery alone.

    Pat
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    stage I
    Hi dalapathys,

    I had a spot on BOT (base of tongue), left side removed along with a lymph node on left of neck and I never did notice the soreness from the tongue surgery and the neck wasn’t too bad. Even if I did, they’d give you access to a whole room filled with pain medications. At Stage I, surgery only, you are being given a gift; they don’t catch cancer much sooner than that. Right now it is a bump in the road, tomorrow it could be worse.

    Best,

    Matt

    Stage IVa, radiation and chemo
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    Lucky to have you !
    Hello !
    I had a different dx. But regardless the stage (which by the way stage one very good for best outcome !) I feel get the alien out ! I hope your friend decides to be proactive and does the surgery. A cancer dx is very devastating...frightening and depressing. The list goes on and on in the beginning. Surgery is never fun...but saying this if it improves your quality of life and you can move on past it....yah ! You sound like a wonderful friend, please continue standing by him. Warmest regards sent out to both of you ! Katie
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member

    Lucky to have you !
    Hello !
    I had a different dx. But regardless the stage (which by the way stage one very good for best outcome !) I feel get the alien out ! I hope your friend decides to be proactive and does the surgery. A cancer dx is very devastating...frightening and depressing. The list goes on and on in the beginning. Surgery is never fun...but saying this if it improves your quality of life and you can move on past it....yah ! You sound like a wonderful friend, please continue standing by him. Warmest regards sent out to both of you ! Katie

    any stage is serious
    and your friend should take the diagnosis as a life threating situation if not dealt with immediately. 100% Curable only if acted upon during this early stage. Indeed this person has been given a great opportunity to sidestep a potential tragedy. Wait till this thread runs it's course and then print it and hand it to him/her. Get treated, the sooner the better.
  • dalapathys
    dalapathys Member Posts: 20

    it is fortunate that your friend
    was diagnosed this early. Obviously this confers a significant survival advantage. The majority of those who post here were more advanced disease at the time of discovery. Your friend is likely curable with surgery alone.

    Pat

    Thanks Pat. Really
    Thanks Pat. Really appreciate your reply.
  • dalapathys
    dalapathys Member Posts: 20

    Lucky to have you !
    Hello !
    I had a different dx. But regardless the stage (which by the way stage one very good for best outcome !) I feel get the alien out ! I hope your friend decides to be proactive and does the surgery. A cancer dx is very devastating...frightening and depressing. The list goes on and on in the beginning. Surgery is never fun...but saying this if it improves your quality of life and you can move on past it....yah ! You sound like a wonderful friend, please continue standing by him. Warmest regards sent out to both of you ! Katie

    Kate,
    Thanks for your reply.

    Kate,

    Thanks for your reply. I am going to print out all replies and handover to my friend. - Dalapathy
  • dalapathys
    dalapathys Member Posts: 20
    ratface said:

    any stage is serious
    and your friend should take the diagnosis as a life threating situation if not dealt with immediately. 100% Curable only if acted upon during this early stage. Indeed this person has been given a great opportunity to sidestep a potential tragedy. Wait till this thread runs it's course and then print it and hand it to him/her. Get treated, the sooner the better.

    Tongue Cancer - Stage 1
    Thanks a ton. Everyone is encouraging and really great. - Dalapathy
  • dalapathys
    dalapathys Member Posts: 20
    CivilMatt said:

    stage I
    Hi dalapathys,

    I had a spot on BOT (base of tongue), left side removed along with a lymph node on left of neck and I never did notice the soreness from the tongue surgery and the neck wasn’t too bad. Even if I did, they’d give you access to a whole room filled with pain medications. At Stage I, surgery only, you are being given a gift; they don’t catch cancer much sooner than that. Right now it is a bump in the road, tomorrow it could be worse.

    Best,

    Matt

    Stage IVa, radiation and chemo

    Stage 1 - Tongue cancer
    Thanks a lot Matt. Your reply is really great and very encourage . I am going to print out this and hand over to my friend.

    Matt, can you please provide little more details before surgery and after surgery.
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member

    Stage 1 - Tongue cancer
    Thanks a lot Matt. Your reply is really great and very encourage . I am going to print out this and hand over to my friend.

    Matt, can you please provide little more details before surgery and after surgery.

    before and after surgery
    dalapathys,,

    There is not a lot to say:
    Before surgery - felt a lump while shaving (11-11-11), went to GP, wait a week to see if swelling goes down, it did not, went to ENT, had throat scoped and fine needle biopsy, found spot on tongue, scheduled surgery to see how bad, ENT decided he could surgically remove all visible cancer and did (12-15-11). ENT suggested I progress to next phase and have consult for radiation and chemotherapy.

    After surgery – surgery healed fast and scar barley visible. Neck still numb a little around jaw. Planning and preparing for rad and chemo treatment next.

    Best,

    Matt
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member

    Kate,
    Thanks for your reply.

    Kate,

    Thanks for your reply. I am going to print out all replies and handover to my friend. - Dalapathy

    caught early
    Your friend is very lucky to have gotten his diagnosis at stage 1. Also, very lucky to have a friend looking out for him like yourself! The swifter he acts I assume the less likely he would be to need radiation or chemo...hope so!
  • dalapathys
    dalapathys Member Posts: 20
    CivilMatt said:

    before and after surgery
    dalapathys,,

    There is not a lot to say:
    Before surgery - felt a lump while shaving (11-11-11), went to GP, wait a week to see if swelling goes down, it did not, went to ENT, had throat scoped and fine needle biopsy, found spot on tongue, scheduled surgery to see how bad, ENT decided he could surgically remove all visible cancer and did (12-15-11). ENT suggested I progress to next phase and have consult for radiation and chemotherapy.

    After surgery – surgery healed fast and scar barley visible. Neck still numb a little around jaw. Planning and preparing for rad and chemo treatment next.

    Best,

    Matt

    Before and after surgery
    Thanks Matt. I am from India and hence there is delay in my response. Time diff is approximately 12 hrs. my night is your day.

    I communicated this to my friend and slolwy coming out of depression. Dr fixed surgery date on Sep 3 and god is there to make it successful. I'll be in touch with you regularly. my personal email id is dalapathys@hotmail.com
  • RubyRuby
    RubyRuby Member Posts: 17
    Tongue Cancer - stage 1
    Hi Dalaphathy

    I can fully related to your friend's feeling as I has been diagnosed with 2nd stage cancer on the tongue in mid June.

    My ENT Specialist acted very quickly and I have had a major surgery on the 2 July. The surgery involved a partial glossectomy (clearance of the cancerous part of tongue), a neck dissection (removed 34 lymph nodes), a tracheotomy, re-construction of tongue with radiant forearm flap, plus a skin graft. The surgery was 10 hrs long, and I was hospitalized for 11 days.

    With God blessed, the final pathology report came back with negative result. So now I am all clear. No radio nor chemo therapy needed and the surgeon advised that the cancer was in fact in a very early stage. (stage 1).

    In regards to the recovery process, It was very tough at first but got better after a week. One month on, I can now talk very well and has just started to eat solid. Surprisingly I have experienced very little pain the whole time considered that there were so much involved. Thanks to the morden medical technology. I came home from the hospital with a packet of paracetamol tablets only. No doubt that there are some discomforts from various wounds, but I found that they are manageable without needing to take any pain killers.

    So, please tell your friends do not panic, the medicos will do all the hard work. It is still a month before his surgery, just relax, keep the immune system as strong as possible, eat well and stay well. It will certainly contribute to a better recovery path.

    I personally have acupuncture treatments weekly pre-operation and has just started the acupuncture treatments again last week. Perhaps your friend can give it a go, if he likes.

    Dalaphathy, I sincerely hope that by sharing my own story could help your friend. It is certainly doable. Just be strong, be confident. In a couple of months, it will all behind him.

    Kind regards
    Ruby
  • dalapathys
    dalapathys Member Posts: 20
    RubyRuby said:

    Tongue Cancer - stage 1
    Hi Dalaphathy

    I can fully related to your friend's feeling as I has been diagnosed with 2nd stage cancer on the tongue in mid June.

    My ENT Specialist acted very quickly and I have had a major surgery on the 2 July. The surgery involved a partial glossectomy (clearance of the cancerous part of tongue), a neck dissection (removed 34 lymph nodes), a tracheotomy, re-construction of tongue with radiant forearm flap, plus a skin graft. The surgery was 10 hrs long, and I was hospitalized for 11 days.

    With God blessed, the final pathology report came back with negative result. So now I am all clear. No radio nor chemo therapy needed and the surgeon advised that the cancer was in fact in a very early stage. (stage 1).

    In regards to the recovery process, It was very tough at first but got better after a week. One month on, I can now talk very well and has just started to eat solid. Surprisingly I have experienced very little pain the whole time considered that there were so much involved. Thanks to the morden medical technology. I came home from the hospital with a packet of paracetamol tablets only. No doubt that there are some discomforts from various wounds, but I found that they are manageable without needing to take any pain killers.

    So, please tell your friends do not panic, the medicos will do all the hard work. It is still a month before his surgery, just relax, keep the immune system as strong as possible, eat well and stay well. It will certainly contribute to a better recovery path.

    I personally have acupuncture treatments weekly pre-operation and has just started the acupuncture treatments again last week. Perhaps your friend can give it a go, if he likes.

    Dalaphathy, I sincerely hope that by sharing my own story could help your friend. It is certainly doable. Just be strong, be confident. In a couple of months, it will all behind him.

    Kind regards
    Ruby

    Tongue Cancer - stage 1
    Thanks a ton Ruby for detailed explanation. This would really boost mental power. Acupuncture is prescribed by doctor or taking on your own. Where did you underwent surgery?
  • RubyRuby
    RubyRuby Member Posts: 17

    Tongue Cancer - stage 1
    Thanks a ton Ruby for detailed explanation. This would really boost mental power. Acupuncture is prescribed by doctor or taking on your own. Where did you underwent surgery?

    Tongue cancer - stage 1
    I have been seeing my acupuncturist 2 months before I was diagnosed. It was my own choice because I felt that my boby wasn't quite right but was not sick enough to see a doctor. I found it very beneficial after 6 treatments as it helped bringing my body back to a balance.

    Once I got diagnosed with cancer, my acupunctuerist concentrated on build up my immune system in order to prepare my body for the operation.

    After the operation, the ENT surgeons, the plastic surgeons and the nurses were extremely happy with my recovery progess. In fact, I feel "well" the whole time. I told my friends that I am not "sick". The discomforts that I am experienceing is only "inconveniences". And they will go away eventually.

    Be honest to you, in the beginning, I thought this will be a life time suffering, but I was surprised how quickly things changed. Just last week I told my brother I might have to have puréed diet for another 2 months, and suddenly I realised that I can eat solid food (as long as they are cut in small dice size) 2 days ago.. I was told that my speech is clearer everyday. And I am now only 5 weeks post-op.

    Your friend is very lucky to have great friend, like you, to support him. It's the most important part of the cancer journey. I am too very lycky to have my family and lots of great friends' support all the way. I don't think I could do it without them. Keep up the good work.

    Please tell your friend to KEEP POSITIVE. However it would be at his best interest to move the surgery forward, as early as possible.. Like any cancer at any stage, It's extremely important to act as quickly as possible.

    Good luck!
  • NitaNita
    NitaNita Member Posts: 56
    RubyRuby said:

    Tongue cancer - stage 1
    I have been seeing my acupuncturist 2 months before I was diagnosed. It was my own choice because I felt that my boby wasn't quite right but was not sick enough to see a doctor. I found it very beneficial after 6 treatments as it helped bringing my body back to a balance.

    Once I got diagnosed with cancer, my acupunctuerist concentrated on build up my immune system in order to prepare my body for the operation.

    After the operation, the ENT surgeons, the plastic surgeons and the nurses were extremely happy with my recovery progess. In fact, I feel "well" the whole time. I told my friends that I am not "sick". The discomforts that I am experienceing is only "inconveniences". And they will go away eventually.

    Be honest to you, in the beginning, I thought this will be a life time suffering, but I was surprised how quickly things changed. Just last week I told my brother I might have to have puréed diet for another 2 months, and suddenly I realised that I can eat solid food (as long as they are cut in small dice size) 2 days ago.. I was told that my speech is clearer everyday. And I am now only 5 weeks post-op.

    Your friend is very lucky to have great friend, like you, to support him. It's the most important part of the cancer journey. I am too very lycky to have my family and lots of great friends' support all the way. I don't think I could do it without them. Keep up the good work.

    Please tell your friend to KEEP POSITIVE. However it would be at his best interest to move the surgery forward, as early as possible.. Like any cancer at any stage, It's extremely important to act as quickly as possible.

    Good luck!

    I had Stage 1 tongue cancer!
    I had a sore on the left side of my tongue that wouldn't go away. I went to a different Dr that said he thought it was cancer. He did a biopsy and it came back SCC. I had a pet scan done and it came back clear everywhere but the left side of the tongue. Dr said surgery and wanted to have 20 to 25 lymph nodes removed from the left side to make sure it hadnt spread. I had the surgery on June 19th. I was really scared but honestly it wasn't bad at all. The cancer had got in to the nerves under my tongue so he had to remove a little more then he thought but there was no cancer in the lymph nodes! I had a little slur for the first few weeks till the swelling went down. I ate fine after surgery, my neck has healed great and I am not even two months post opp! Hope this helps. Tell your friend he/she is going to be okay. It's a scary thought however I feel better now then I have in months!!
  • dalapathys
    dalapathys Member Posts: 20
    NitaNita said:

    I had Stage 1 tongue cancer!
    I had a sore on the left side of my tongue that wouldn't go away. I went to a different Dr that said he thought it was cancer. He did a biopsy and it came back SCC. I had a pet scan done and it came back clear everywhere but the left side of the tongue. Dr said surgery and wanted to have 20 to 25 lymph nodes removed from the left side to make sure it hadnt spread. I had the surgery on June 19th. I was really scared but honestly it wasn't bad at all. The cancer had got in to the nerves under my tongue so he had to remove a little more then he thought but there was no cancer in the lymph nodes! I had a little slur for the first few weeks till the swelling went down. I ate fine after surgery, my neck has healed great and I am not even two months post opp! Hope this helps. Tell your friend he/she is going to be okay. It's a scary thought however I feel better now then I have in months!!

    Tongue Cancer Stage 1
    Nita,

    Thanks for your reply. Did you check after surgery? Did Dr remove 100% of the cancer cells?

    Regards
    Dalapathy
  • RubyRuby
    RubyRuby Member Posts: 17

    Tongue Cancer Stage 1
    Nita,

    Thanks for your reply. Did you check after surgery? Did Dr remove 100% of the cancer cells?

    Regards
    Dalapathy

    Curious
    Hi Dalapathy

    Do you know exactly what involve in your friend's surgery? What's the size of the tumor? Which part of the tongue the tumor presented,

    As every case is different, it's extremely important for your friend get as much info about the operation from the surgeon as possible, any side effect may occur etc. Does he need a neck dissection?

    I am experiencing a side effect after the selective neck dissection: I still can not lift my head up. When I try to lift my head, ther is a pull on the neck restrict it. The most i can do is looking straight. It was worst in the beginning, but after massaged the areas and neck exercise daily, my neck is flexible enough to the point that I can drive again.

    So do ask your surgeon any questions you and your friend may have. This will certainly help to calm the nerves down if you know exactly what need to be done and what to expect.

    Ruby
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    sooner
    the sooner the better.

    i would share, if wait too long like many do when they get sore in mouth to have it looked at by doctor it can and most likely will advance. waiting could lead to what many of us have been thru.... radiation and chemo. have surgery as fast as he can could lead to only surgery and keep an eye on it.

    prayers for wisdom for your friend.

    john
  • patricke
    patricke Member Posts: 570
    NOT CONVINCED?
    Hey dalapathys, exactly what is your friend not convinced about? It sounds more like a denial of reality, an ostritch with his head in the sand, as it were. He is very fortunate in one respect, in that, the cancer has been caught at stage one, and is well defined. Based on what you are saying, it's time for your friend to get his show on the road, and roll into the surgery suite to take care of the beast while it is still stage 1. Life style for him after surgery should be great with minimal adjusting to be made. Of course he would want to chat with his doc to get an accurate idea of what the surgery will entail, and what to expect life stylewise after the beast is put down. Remind your friend, that in any adverse situation or event, that the effect of the situation or event depends 90% on one's attitude, more than what one has gone through, or experienced. So, tell him that it's time to buck up, put on his A Game Positive Attitude, and kick some cancer butt!

    PATRICK
  • NitaNita
    NitaNita Member Posts: 56
    patricke said:

    NOT CONVINCED?
    Hey dalapathys, exactly what is your friend not convinced about? It sounds more like a denial of reality, an ostritch with his head in the sand, as it were. He is very fortunate in one respect, in that, the cancer has been caught at stage one, and is well defined. Based on what you are saying, it's time for your friend to get his show on the road, and roll into the surgery suite to take care of the beast while it is still stage 1. Life style for him after surgery should be great with minimal adjusting to be made. Of course he would want to chat with his doc to get an accurate idea of what the surgery will entail, and what to expect life stylewise after the beast is put down. Remind your friend, that in any adverse situation or event, that the effect of the situation or event depends 90% on one's attitude, more than what one has gone through, or experienced. So, tell him that it's time to buck up, put on his A Game Positive Attitude, and kick some cancer butt!

    PATRICK

    Yes
    I went to my 6 wk check up and they said everything looks better then he thought it would. He believes he has got it all and it looks like he did. I have a pet scan in December but I feel great and believe I am okay now due to getting it all taken care of early and in stage 1! I really reccomend your friend doing the same.