Base of Tongue Symptoms

Welcome to this forum, Wellington...

I had NPC, not BOT....so can't help with symptoms....but there are many survivors here who had BOT....they will fill you in on the symptoms. 

I can tell you that you have found the best group on the internet....knowledgeable, smart, kind, and....humorous....  Not a better bunch of folks on the internet. 

p

debbiejeanne said:

have u been diagnosed or just

have u been diagnosed or just experiencing what u think r symptoms?  i hope it is nothing.  there r several bot patients here who will be able to help you.  let us know how it turns out.  saying a prayer that all will b ok.

dj

Wellington

One of my husband's cancer was BOT. Initially, he had no tongue symptoms, only swollen neck lymph nodes. BOT was determined through biopsy after ENT discovered black spot on back of tongue during exam. PET revealed lymph, BOT, Nasopharyngeal, plus second different cancer in lung. His was NOT A TYPICAL CASE for treatment as he had many other medical problems. After many delays, the lung rad was done first as that cancer was more aggressive. He lost his ability to swallow and had a PEG. His treatment plan was to have chemo & then begin H&N rad concurrently. His poor body was too beat up and he did not tolerate the chemo. Unfortunately, the outcome was not good.

I repeat, his case was not typical & I did not post to scare you, only to say that there were no tongue symptoms in the beginning. As Phrannie said, there are MANY survivors here that will give you more info.

Luv,

Wolfen

BOT Symptoms

I've visited this board several times over the last three years, but this is my first time posting. During this period, I've really grown to appreciate the genuine concern shared by all of the board members. 

I was diagnosed with squamous cell March 2010 and began treatment (6 Chemo/Cisplatin & 35 Radiation treatments) in April. My last treatment was June 14, 2010. Funny how you remember that date. 

Most recent pet scan was June 15, 2012 and it was clear. Funny how you remember that date as well.

I really wanted to respond to Wellington 90's post regarding symptoms. I had a sore throat that never went away and lymph node inflamation in neck. Lastly, there was a gnawing feeling that something just wasn't right. I went to primary care doc and received antibiotics. No improvement, so I called ENT who also happened to be a personal friend. He ordered pet scan and biopsy and subsequently found the primary tumor. From there, he orchestrated my care plan with the oncology docs.

Although I had the upmost faith in my ENT and oncology docs, I did get a second opinion from head and neck doc at Vanderbilt, who recommended same plan of care.    

I hope that this helps.

BOT

Wellington,

I am currently a survivor of BOT and of the H&N forum.  My first clue (that got my attention) was a swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck (date: 11-11-11).  A fine needle biopsy to the lump, a scope of the HPV encampment on the base of my tongue, followed by a Jugular Vein dissection and tongue surgery it was confirmed I had won the cancer lottery.

Hopefully, it will be proven you just ate too spicy of food.

Best of luck,

Matt

P.S. Truman’s Dad, welcome aboard, I am glad to hear you are doing well!

That would be me

I had base of tongue. They cut a chunk out and removed my epiglotis 4 1/2 years ago. My symptoms were diagnosed originally as acid reflux which I didn't understand because food was getting stuck on the tumor and I had to do the Moe, Larry, and Curly shuffle to get it to go down. After surgery the surgeaon wanted me to do radiation. Painfull, yes but thank God for Oxycodone. I now wish I had some of that when I divorced my first wife now that was painfull. Keep in mind we all react differently to treatment so my pain (no not the first wife) could be different than yours. Four of my front bottom teeth went bad from the radiation but the good news is this rotted while I was above ground.

Life is good

      Jeff

BOT stage 4b

Jim had BOT stage four with two lymph. No surgery as tumor went past midline. Treatment was 35 rads and 3 chemo, however the chemo was damaging his kidneys so they had to stop after two. Then he recieved 3 rounds of erbatox. His symptoms started with trouble swallowing; diagnosed as reflux and they stretched his esophagus two times over two years. Then he started to get a severe pain in his left ear. Sent to ENT who said it was nerve damage. He recommended cyber knife to severe the nerve. Surgeon said that is not the problem. Three years later and three ENTs later PC ordered a CT scan and they found a 4cm tumor. Told to be agressive with treatment. I pray your symptoms are nothing serious.

Debbie 

Not noticeable at first

Wellington,

My subtle symptom was my constant clearing of my throat during one winter and thru the summer. I thought I had a mild cold and a constant tickle in my throat during the winter, which I in turn took cough drops for. During the summer, I thought I was just allergic to the pollen,etc.

One morning while on vacation, I rested my right jaw on my right hand while sitting at the kitchen counter and felt a tiny bump along my right jaw bone line. It was about the size of a BB pellet. I waited 2 weeks to see if it went away and then went to my family Doctor. I generally don't run to the Doctor for every little bump or bruise, so he sent me to an ENT Doctor. Long story made short, he scoped me and took 2 biopsies, I had a tumor on the Base of my Tongue. 

My Best to You and Everyone Here 

wellington90 said:

Scope

 

Did the ENT notice the tumor when he used the flex scope or did he just randomly biospy and

find it?

In our situtation....

The first thing the ENT did was a needle biopsy of the neck (swollen lymph node) to see if that was cancer. Once it was confirmed, he went back and they did a scope (as he was sure it was tongue or tonsil that was the primary) and found the tumor on the base of his tongue. He then took a biopsy of the tongue to confirm.