brand new, so scared/tongue-underarm nodes connection?

danaj20

Hi,

So thankful for a place to hear and be heard.

My dentist found a 3 cm spot on my tongue. Is not very noticeable, not red or white colored, and it was found after I voluntary chose to get a scan with their newfangled light. I've been a smoker for years. I've been referred for a biopsy, and will be doing that as quickly as possible. At the same time, I am getting a diagnostic mammogram due to an uncomfortable feeling (not pain, though) in my armpit that I've had for some time. I thought the armpit feeling had to do with sciatica/osteoarthritis spine issues I've had in the last year, especially since the underarm feeling began at the same time I was having major back pain/issues.

I am horrified that these two situations may be linked. I have been reading about lymph nodes in the neck being the issues affected if it is cancer and it has spread...has anyone heard of tongue cancer NOT involving neck nodes but underarm nodes instead?

Thanks for listening...I am not going through the waiting period very well of getting to see a doctor and finding out a potential diagnosis.

CivilMatt

welcome

danaj20,

Welcome to the H&N forum, sorry for your new found stressor.

I haven’t heard of anyone on here who had lumps under their arms as their first indicator of cancer in the H&N area.  Matter-of-fact, you haven’t been diagnosed and I hope you do not have H&N cancer.

Not very many do the waiting game well, you just have to go through it and hope for the best.

Good luck.

Matt

Tonita

I was diagnosed with tongue

I was diagnosed with tongue cancer last year.  I knew it was cancer when what I thought was a canker sore didn't heal because I was a long term smoker.  They removed the tumor with 42 lymph nodes. 

I agree with Matt about the waiting though.  It's hard but there's nothing you can do.  All the wheels are in motion now.

We're here for ya!

danaj20

Thanks for the support, guys.

Thanks for the support, guys.

Tonita, what 'stage' was it at, particularly since lymph nodes were involved? Were the lymph nodes in the armpit, or elsewhere? Are you still getting treatment, (just surgery?) and did it go beyond the lymph nodes?

 

I got lucky and was able to get an appointment for tomorrow regarding my tongue, not the mammogram, though. Helps that it's moving along....

Grandmax4

stay calm

First of all, stop reading anything, other than this site, about cancer. You will scare yourself to death, and it's not cancer until the Dr tells you it is. 

When you find out, and I'm praying it's something else, you will be amazed at the strength you have. I am a 5 year 11 month survivor...please let us know & keep believing it is not the C word

Tonita

danaj20 said:

Thanks for the support, guys.

Thanks for the support, guys.

Tonita, what 'stage' was it at, particularly since lymph nodes were involved? Were the lymph nodes in the armpit, or elsewhere? Are you still getting treatment, (just surgery?) and did it go beyond the lymph nodes?

 

I got lucky and was able to get an appointment for tomorrow regarding my tongue, not the mammogram, though. Helps that it's moving along....

After all was said and done,

After all was said and done, I was Stage I.  Took a while during the surgery to get clean margins.  I think they took the lymph nodes to make sure there was no involvement.  They took them from my neck.

I required no other treatment for which I am extremely grateful. 

I'm convinced that I caught this early because I was a smoker.  I've since quit after 50 years of hard-core chain smoking.

Just stay calm and deal with each thing as it comes.  Don't get ahead of yourself.  Good luck and stay in touch.

danaj20

thanks! I have vowed to stay

thanks! I have vowed to stay calm!

Tonita, that is wonderful you quit smoking..me too! Waaay too scary to not, I think. Very thankful for this site.

 

danaj20

Hi,

Hi,

Couldn't add a new forum topic (website error), so continuing o my original thread. My question in a nutshell: is there a difference between an ENT and an oral surgeon in diagnosing a tongue lesion for potential cancer?

Had my ENT appointment, was great, I think. He, along with his assistant, didn't 'see' anything (not a lesion), and therefore will not biopsy. They did a tube test up my nose to look at everything, all clean, they assure me. My new dentist who found it, however, keeps giving me referrals, insisting I need to see an oral surgeon, not an ENT. It is true, the 'lesion' is the same color as my regular tongue, if it is a lesion at all; the Velascope at my dentist lit up a small pea size round thing with the red light. The ENT says this is not anything because I have no visible tongue lesion. He can physically feel the round pea mass with his fingers, but says this is likely a previous trauma healing over.

I probably will do a second opinion and may decide on a biopsy, but must I see an oral surgeon? If so, why, and why is my dentist so insistent I must go that route because an ENT is not good enough??? I actually asked if there was a reason shls was so insistent on having me go to her referrals. It is strange. The ENT doctor said ENT's are comparable to oral surgeons for diagnosing potential tongue cancer. Is this correct?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated! I feel like I'm going crazy trying to figure out such a small consideration, and it's blocking any path forward.

 

bebo12249

You have 2 different opinions

You have 2 different opinions, and there can many reasons for each. If it's blocking your path, go to the oral surgeon to put this to rest. 

swopoe

danaj20 said:

Hi,

Hi,

Couldn't add a new forum topic (website error), so continuing o my original thread. My question in a nutshell: is there a difference between an ENT and an oral surgeon in diagnosing a tongue lesion for potential cancer?

Had my ENT appointment, was great, I think. He, along with his assistant, didn't 'see' anything (not a lesion), and therefore will not biopsy. They did a tube test up my nose to look at everything, all clean, they assure me. My new dentist who found it, however, keeps giving me referrals, insisting I need to see an oral surgeon, not an ENT. It is true, the 'lesion' is the same color as my regular tongue, if it is a lesion at all; the Velascope at my dentist lit up a small pea size round thing with the red light. The ENT says this is not anything because I have no visible tongue lesion. He can physically feel the round pea mass with his fingers, but says this is likely a previous trauma healing over.

I probably will do a second opinion and may decide on a biopsy, but must I see an oral surgeon? If so, why, and why is my dentist so insistent I must go that route because an ENT is not good enough??? I actually asked if there was a reason shls was so insistent on having me go to her referrals. It is strange. The ENT doctor said ENT's are comparable to oral surgeons for diagnosing potential tongue cancer. Is this correct?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated! I feel like I'm going crazy trying to figure out such a small consideration, and it's blocking any path forward.

 

I would see an oral surgeon

I would see an oral surgeon just to make sure. My husband, who had tongue cancer, first went to a local ENT. That doctor thought it was nothing to be concerned about. But when nothing changed, he called his dentist, who took a look and told my husband to see an oral surgeon, who recommended a biopsy. If you are concerned about cancer, either see an ENT who specializes in head and neck cancer or go to an oral surgeon for them to take a look. A ENT who doesn't specialize in H&N cancers really isn't the best doctor to see in my opinion. Best of luck.

Tonita

My PC doctor sent me to an

My PC doctor sent me to an oral surgeron who immidately sent me to the head and neck cancer surgeon to do the biopsy.  Probably because mine was so obvious.  Mabye you should see the head and neck person.

 

OKCnative

danaj20 said:

Hi,

Hi,

Couldn't add a new forum topic (website error), so continuing o my original thread. My question in a nutshell: is there a difference between an ENT and an oral surgeon in diagnosing a tongue lesion for potential cancer?

Had my ENT appointment, was great, I think. He, along with his assistant, didn't 'see' anything (not a lesion), and therefore will not biopsy. They did a tube test up my nose to look at everything, all clean, they assure me. My new dentist who found it, however, keeps giving me referrals, insisting I need to see an oral surgeon, not an ENT. It is true, the 'lesion' is the same color as my regular tongue, if it is a lesion at all; the Velascope at my dentist lit up a small pea size round thing with the red light. The ENT says this is not anything because I have no visible tongue lesion. He can physically feel the round pea mass with his fingers, but says this is likely a previous trauma healing over.

I probably will do a second opinion and may decide on a biopsy, but must I see an oral surgeon? If so, why, and why is my dentist so insistent I must go that route because an ENT is not good enough??? I actually asked if there was a reason shls was so insistent on having me go to her referrals. It is strange. The ENT doctor said ENT's are comparable to oral surgeons for diagnosing potential tongue cancer. Is this correct?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated! I feel like I'm going crazy trying to figure out such a small consideration, and it's blocking any path forward.

 

My first ENT didn't even

My first ENT didn't even bother to scope me. He didn't even want to do a needle biopsy. He simply wanted to do a neck dissection and remove my nodes in my neck and check for cancer. I disagreed with this approach.

I went to a second ENT and he immediately scoped me. He saw an area he was suspicious but noted there was no discoloration and only very minor inflammation (if any at all). However, he thought there were more blood vessels in that area than normal. He decided he couldn't be for certain that was the tumor on the base of my tongue. So, he did a needle biopsy of my enlarged neck node. When it came back positive for SCC he sent me to the local cancer center. There, the oncologist looked and also agreed that though there was very little visual indication the tumor was at the base of my tongue, she agreed with my ENT that that was most likely the tumor. She biopsied it and confirmed it indeed was the primary tumor.

Just know, doctors are not all knowing and you must be your own advocate. Don't be afraid to get several opinions.

donfoo

danaj20 said:

Hi,

Hi,

Couldn't add a new forum topic (website error), so continuing o my original thread. My question in a nutshell: is there a difference between an ENT and an oral surgeon in diagnosing a tongue lesion for potential cancer?

Had my ENT appointment, was great, I think. He, along with his assistant, didn't 'see' anything (not a lesion), and therefore will not biopsy. They did a tube test up my nose to look at everything, all clean, they assure me. My new dentist who found it, however, keeps giving me referrals, insisting I need to see an oral surgeon, not an ENT. It is true, the 'lesion' is the same color as my regular tongue, if it is a lesion at all; the Velascope at my dentist lit up a small pea size round thing with the red light. The ENT says this is not anything because I have no visible tongue lesion. He can physically feel the round pea mass with his fingers, but says this is likely a previous trauma healing over.

I probably will do a second opinion and may decide on a biopsy, but must I see an oral surgeon? If so, why, and why is my dentist so insistent I must go that route because an ENT is not good enough??? I actually asked if there was a reason shls was so insistent on having me go to her referrals. It is strange. The ENT doctor said ENT's are comparable to oral surgeons for diagnosing potential tongue cancer. Is this correct?

Thanks, any help will be appreciated! I feel like I'm going crazy trying to figure out such a small consideration, and it's blocking any path forward.

 

SOP

The typical route is going to primary care who will either put you on an antibiotic for a couple weeks. If the lump is not reduced, there will be a referral to an ENT. If suspicious a FNA biopsy will usually be ordered and the results will provide an indication if it is cancer. If so, it's off to oncology and that is the portal into the cancer diagnosis and treatment process. 

Oral surgeons are rarely the referred to specialist if cancer is suspect. For that matter dental professions still barely are qualified and looking for suspicious cancer looking lesions, etc. They will be engaged as necessary to remove teeth or provide other post treatment services to repair damage done by surgery or radiation. Good luck, Don

Drivingdaisy

Head & Neck ent

I saw a Head & Neck ENT that did finally diagnosised My Cancer after 2-3 yrs of Drs blowing it off since I was a smoker also.   Never had an oral Surgeaon since the ENT had expererience in Cancer so I trusted him.  No surgery for Me just Chemo & Rads since mine was in a difficult location to reach to remove.  7 wks of pure hell, with a ton of side effects later, one which I just posted a new discussion about.....Sodium Drops.   Just released from the hospital with one that caused a stroke, thankfully NO after effects.  Very lucky.  Just very weak &tired.   See someone who is educated in