Base of Tongue Cancer - Throat Cancer

Tim6003

Throat Cancer - Base of Tongue Tumor with 1 lymph node involved.

Tim6003

Base of Tongue Cancer
I have not been diagnosed with cancer yet, but the ENT specialist I saw said he believes this is 90% sure to be cancer after biopsy November 8th 2011 (Hospital in Boise, ID) I had a CT scan that showed a "mass" 1 cm in size at the base of my tongue with metastasis into 1 lymph node (left side just under my jaw).

I received the results of the CT scan October 21st, saw the ENT October 27th who scheduled the biopsy November 8 2011 (this Tuesday). "IF" the biopsy comes back at cancerous I have a appt scheduled at the MSTI Clinic in Boise for November 14th.

Of course my wife and I have been all over the web looking for prognosis, stageing and treatment iformation ...but there is no better wisdom than from those who have been there.

I can't seem to find if 1 cm is a small or medium or large tumor. ?? Anyone? Also, it appears from my resources online that if there is metastasis of any kind you are automatically classified as Stage IV. Is that correct?

Goalie

Tim6003 said:

Base of Tongue Cancer
I have not been diagnosed with cancer yet, but the ENT specialist I saw said he believes this is 90% sure to be cancer after biopsy November 8th 2011 (Hospital in Boise, ID) I had a CT scan that showed a "mass" 1 cm in size at the base of my tongue with metastasis into 1 lymph node (left side just under my jaw).

I received the results of the CT scan October 21st, saw the ENT October 27th who scheduled the biopsy November 8 2011 (this Tuesday). "IF" the biopsy comes back at cancerous I have a appt scheduled at the MSTI Clinic in Boise for November 14th.

Of course my wife and I have been all over the web looking for prognosis, stageing and treatment iformation ...but there is no better wisdom than from those who have been there.

I can't seem to find if 1 cm is a small or medium or large tumor. ?? Anyone? Also, it appears from my resources online that if there is metastasis of any kind you are automatically classified as Stage IV. Is that correct?

First
I can't believe it has been a whole half hour and no one has responded. That is pretty unusual.

Welcome to where you never wanted to be. I can sum this up in good news and bad news. The bad is that this is not going to be fun. If yours is like mine and most everyone's here, then you have a few rough months ahead (though it likely won't get bad until after the holidays). The good news is that "our" cancer is very very beatable. If you are fairly young, strong, motivated, supported, and caught this early, then there is a nearly 100% chance you will beat this. How's that for a cancer diagnosis?

I was not BOT and lymph node; I was tonsil and lymph node. From the opening operation (tonsillectomy) then a month off for recovery, then rads and chemo for nine weeks (this time last year), then recovery, then neck dissection, it was about six months total. But I was lucky in that there were really only about two months that were very rough, the last half of rads and the first month after. Again, many had and have it worse and so you can consider this the fairly optimistic scenario but it is not crazy and some people actually get through with even fewer problems. I will tell you about all the things I had go wrong later but let this first one be a positive message.

Recovery may be fairly fast and you could be back to something like normal in months. I was back on the ice in a couple of months and played in a tournament and the playoffs soon after. A month ago I played in the National Senior Olympics. I may be in even better shape than before this all - most of me, anyway.

I think most of us were Stage IV because, as you say, this just means that it has made the jump from one place to another but, in our case, this is only about two inches. Frankly, one cm, less than half an inch, does not sound big to me. My lymph node tumor was considerably larger.

Check out Sweetblood's Superthread a few below your thread for lots of details, but take your time.

OK, we will get you lots of other details and thoughts. This was really just to assure you that this is not the end of the world. Go enjoy your family. And stay in touch with your new family here. Doug

Skiffin16

Staging
First, welcome to the forum...

Here is just a quick reference I found by Googling;

Stages of Throat Cancer
•Stage I Throat Cancer: The cancer is less than one inch and has not spread to the lymph nodes.

•Stage II Throat Cancer: The cancer is between one and two inches and has not spread to the lymph nodes.

•Stage III Throat Cancer: The cancer is more than two inches and has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the neck as the tumor. The lymph node containing the cancer is smaller than three centimeters (just over one inch).

•Stage IV Throat Cancer: The cancer has spread to tissues around the lips and mouth. The cancer has spread to multiple lymph nodes, or to any lymph node that is larger than six centimeters (over two inches).
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Don't fall into the trap of looking on the internet as for statistics, percentages of survival rates, etc....

Most are from a time when HPV wasn't as prevalent in deriving throat cancer. There are also a ton of factors, age, general health going in, genetics, etc......

Everyone is different and reacts/responds differently.

On another note, it seems that they have taken their time with you.

In my case, the ENT saw me Friday morning January 2, 2009. He sent me right down to have a CT after scoping me and told me to come right back after.

He reviewed the CT and set me up for the tonsils to come out that following Monday (three days later). Oh, and he told me he was 90% sure I had SCC Tonsil Cancer, and as I wasn't a Tobacco user, more than likely HPV derived.

That next Monday, he took the tonsils out, performed a quick biopsy, and staged me...

STGIII SCC Tonsil Cancer (primary), one lymphnode involved on the same side (secondary), and several weeks later when the rest of the biopsy results came back, HPV+.

STGIII determined by the same side mets and tumor size.

Sixteen weeks of Chemo (nine weeks in 3 cycles) of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU. Then the additional seven weeks of weekly Carboplatin and daily radiation.

Clean and clear since treatment finished in June 2009.

This is a great forum with tons of information and great people.

Here is another source with tons of information, created by Sweetblood, with a little help from her friends;

SuperThread

Thoughts and Prayers,
John

longtermsurvivor

Tim6003 said:

Base of Tongue Cancer
I have not been diagnosed with cancer yet, but the ENT specialist I saw said he believes this is 90% sure to be cancer after biopsy November 8th 2011 (Hospital in Boise, ID) I had a CT scan that showed a "mass" 1 cm in size at the base of my tongue with metastasis into 1 lymph node (left side just under my jaw).

I received the results of the CT scan October 21st, saw the ENT October 27th who scheduled the biopsy November 8 2011 (this Tuesday). "IF" the biopsy comes back at cancerous I have a appt scheduled at the MSTI Clinic in Boise for November 14th.

Of course my wife and I have been all over the web looking for prognosis, stageing and treatment iformation ...but there is no better wisdom than from those who have been there.

I can't seem to find if 1 cm is a small or medium or large tumor. ?? Anyone? Also, it appears from my resources online that if there is metastasis of any kind you are automatically classified as Stage IV. Is that correct?

there are already some good answers but
NO, you would not be stage IV, just because there is a positive node. In fact, if you have a primary of 1 cm and a single node, you have a very good prognosis.

One thing you will learn quickly at this site, the whole thing is a process. It cannot be accomplished quickly. Not the diagnosis, and certainly not the cure. Your process is to make certain you find the doctors you are comfortable with doing the workup and treatment, freeing you up to do other important things.

Welccome to the board.

Pat

Hal61

Tim6003 said:

Base of Tongue Cancer
I have not been diagnosed with cancer yet, but the ENT specialist I saw said he believes this is 90% sure to be cancer after biopsy November 8th 2011 (Hospital in Boise, ID) I had a CT scan that showed a "mass" 1 cm in size at the base of my tongue with metastasis into 1 lymph node (left side just under my jaw).

I received the results of the CT scan October 21st, saw the ENT October 27th who scheduled the biopsy November 8 2011 (this Tuesday). "IF" the biopsy comes back at cancerous I have a appt scheduled at the MSTI Clinic in Boise for November 14th.

Of course my wife and I have been all over the web looking for prognosis, stageing and treatment iformation ...but there is no better wisdom than from those who have been there.

I can't seem to find if 1 cm is a small or medium or large tumor. ?? Anyone? Also, it appears from my resources online that if there is metastasis of any kind you are automatically classified as Stage IV. Is that correct?

Hi Tim
Glad you found your way here. The SUPERTHREAD is the best resource you'll find in one place for H&N. Sounds like you're in my boat, to begin anyway. I was diagnosed in Nov, '09, and finished up treatment about a year and a half ago. I was, like yourself, BOT with mets to two lymph nodes on my left side.

That made me a Stage III patient. I had 35 IMRT treatment, and three infusions of Cisplatin. Three months post treatment, I had borderline radience in a small area of the left neck. No concern at that time, because scar tissue, and recent radiation could've been the cause.

Six month PET/CT still a borderline reading (I can't remember the numbers, it was like a 3.9, and the allowable was 4.0, that sort of read). So I had a partial dissection on the left side and had fiftenn lymph nodes removed at that time.

My scopes and scans have been clear since. Like everyone says, it's a doable progression. Like John said, don't let the information on the Net swamp you. Just try and make sure you understand the choices you make, and the options available to make choices. And come here for questions and support anytime.

best, Hal

Hondo

Tim6003 said:

Base of Tongue Cancer
I have not been diagnosed with cancer yet, but the ENT specialist I saw said he believes this is 90% sure to be cancer after biopsy November 8th 2011 (Hospital in Boise, ID) I had a CT scan that showed a "mass" 1 cm in size at the base of my tongue with metastasis into 1 lymph node (left side just under my jaw).

I received the results of the CT scan October 21st, saw the ENT October 27th who scheduled the biopsy November 8 2011 (this Tuesday). "IF" the biopsy comes back at cancerous I have a appt scheduled at the MSTI Clinic in Boise for November 14th.

Of course my wife and I have been all over the web looking for prognosis, stageing and treatment iformation ...but there is no better wisdom than from those who have been there.

I can't seem to find if 1 cm is a small or medium or large tumor. ?? Anyone? Also, it appears from my resources online that if there is metastasis of any kind you are automatically classified as Stage IV. Is that correct?

Hi Tim
Looks like you got all the answers already so I will just say Welcome to the family here on CSN

Great looking family
Hondo

jim and i

Welcome Tim
You have found the right place. My husband Jim was diagnosed with BOT stage four with mets to two lymph nodes (stage one and three). The tumor was 4cm by 3 and 3/4 cm. If you google/bing stages of tongue cancer you will find all kinds of numbers and letters, there are more than four stages of cancer. With BOT the staging has to do with whether it is past midline as well. If it crosses midline they do not operate to remove. My husband was 76 years old but in excellent health, other than losing 40 pounds in one month. He had been missed diagnosed by three ENT's over a 3 year period and our primary caare doctor finlly ordered a CT. Once the results were in things went fast. Sent to ENT who recommended Shand's in Gainesville and said be aggresive and prepared for the worst. shands and Myo both did not accept our insurance so I immeditely called insurance who gave us Florida Hospital Cancer institute and Moffit Cancer Center, both of them in Central Florida ( we were in North Florida). Luckily we owned a small retirement home in central Fl so called Fl Hosp who had a coordinator specific to Head and Neck who handled all scheduling and questions, thank you Laurie. Within a week he saw ENT oncologist, Radiologist, Medical oncologist and oncology dentist; had PET, FNA and treatment plan.

One thing that you will hear alot is, "Everyone is different." so keep positive. There is a wealth of knowledge and lots of info here. I am praying thaat you are in the 10% your doctor talked about.
Blessings,
Debbie