Buccal mucosal cancer -moving forward question

barbvedd

Hello.  I recently had surgery March 12, 2019 (radial artery graft from my left forearm to my right cheek after removal of the tumor), skin graft left thigh to left wrist and right neck dissection.  I was in the hospital 8 days with 3 days in the ICU.  Had a feeding tube in the hosptial, but was gone before I went home.  Just had my 2 week checkup and I was allowed to move to some soft foods.  They originally thought my tumor was stage 2 based on size (estimated to be 2 cm by 5mm depth of invasion).  The PET/CT scan was clear.  After surgery the tumor actually measured 0.7cm by 5 mm depth of invasion, so the doctor said it is stage 1.  They isolated 9 lymph nodes from the neck dissection all were negative for metastisis.  The margins were clear, with the closest one being 7mm.  So the multispecialty cancer team has decided that at this point surgery only and no radiation or chemo.  Very close surveillance and follow up scan in 3 months.  I am thrilled.  But still anxious about all of it, hoping they are right, and that they got enough lymph nodes, etc. etc.  Anyone have any advice on how to deal with this moving forward.  I did start Lexapro yesterday for anxiety.  I am just praying that all the right decisions are being made.  Thanks.

 

Barb

donfoo

One day at a time

Hi,

You are lucky to be treated with only surgery since it has the fewest long term side effects. Also means the cancer was pretty small and contained. Every cancer patient is deeply concerned and filled with anxiety about the cancer being gone. However, only time and vigilant checking over time will tell but if stage 1, you caught it early. 

Believe and trust in your team of skilled cancer specialists that they have the experience and knowledge and desire to get you well. Most of us talk about a new "normal" but given the early detection and treatment, you may very well return to your old normal.

There is little benefit by second guessing anything now. Focus on getting better one day a time. Get back into the old routine as soon as you are capable. I know you'll do great. don

barbvedd

donfoo said:

One day at a time

Hi,

You are lucky to be treated with only surgery since it has the fewest long term side effects. Also means the cancer was pretty small and contained. Every cancer patient is deeply concerned and filled with anxiety about the cancer being gone. However, only time and vigilant checking over time will tell but if stage 1, you caught it early. 

Believe and trust in your team of skilled cancer specialists that they have the experience and knowledge and desire to get you well. Most of us talk about a new "normal" but given the early detection and treatment, you may very well return to your old normal.

There is little benefit by second guessing anything now. Focus on getting better one day a time. Get back into the old routine as soon as you are capable. I know you'll do great. don

One Day at a time

Thank you.  I do think the anxiety is normal. But you are correct there is little benefit to second guessing.  I just want things to be good again.  Thank you for your reply.  

katlou

sort of similar situation

I have a sort of similar situation in that I had a very tiny cancerous tumor on the underside of my tongue and I was very lucky that it was caught so early because the depth of invasion was so minimal that they didn't even remove any lymph nodes and so I also did not receive any radiation/chemo.   I only had a wide re-section to remove more tissue around the tumor area and a neck CT and I am being observed very closely by my ENT.  I was first diagnosed November 2017 and so far so good.  Even though it has been 1 and 1/2 years since all of this occurred I am still a little anxious about a recurrence and am very diligent about seeing my ENT and dentist regularly and also self check a couple of times a month.  As time goes on and nothing new happens the anxiety does lessen and I have started to feel more positive that maybe things will continue to be okay, it just takes some time to get to that place.  There is at least one other person on this forum who had a tumor removed along with lymph nodes and no radiation and chemo and last we heard from her she was still cancer free.  So there are cases where it seems like surgery only can be a good solution especially when caught early.  Just keep on top of it and I wish you the best.

wbcgaruss

katlou said:

sort of similar situation

I have a sort of similar situation in that I had a very tiny cancerous tumor on the underside of my tongue and I was very lucky that it was caught so early because the depth of invasion was so minimal that they didn't even remove any lymph nodes and so I also did not receive any radiation/chemo.   I only had a wide re-section to remove more tissue around the tumor area and a neck CT and I am being observed very closely by my ENT.  I was first diagnosed November 2017 and so far so good.  Even though it has been 1 and 1/2 years since all of this occurred I am still a little anxious about a recurrence and am very diligent about seeing my ENT and dentist regularly and also self check a couple of times a month.  As time goes on and nothing new happens the anxiety does lessen and I have started to feel more positive that maybe things will continue to be okay, it just takes some time to get to that place.  There is at least one other person on this forum who had a tumor removed along with lymph nodes and no radiation and chemo and last we heard from her she was still cancer free.  So there are cases where it seems like surgery only can be a good solution especially when caught early.  Just keep on top of it and I wish you the best.

I Too Had A

Tumor on the bottom left side of my tongue-removed around June of last year. No chemo or radiation as it was caught early. No lymph nodes removed. Had throat cancer in 2012-13 and went through the whole routine of rads plus chemo and extra chemo. I was close to being down to seeing my ENT about once a year since I was almost at the 5-year mark, then got the spot on the tongue and I am back to seeing him once a month again. I went through this after first cancer but don't mind though my ENT guy wants to make sure no problems occur. He is very conscientious and caring about his patients and satisfied he got clear margins during the operation and so far so good. The first thing he did when the spot on my tongue biopsied positive for cancer was ordered a PET scan to make sure there was no other cancer hiding around anywhere else.

katlou

wbcgaruss said:

I Too Had A

Tumor on the bottom left side of my tongue-removed around June of last year. No chemo or radiation as it was caught early. No lymph nodes removed. Had throat cancer in 2012-13 and went through the whole routine of rads plus chemo and extra chemo. I was close to being down to seeing my ENT about once a year since I was almost at the 5-year mark, then got the spot on the tongue and I am back to seeing him once a month again. I went through this after first cancer but don't mind though my ENT guy wants to make sure no problems occur. He is very conscientious and caring about his patients and satisfied he got clear margins during the operation and so far so good. The first thing he did when the spot on my tongue biopsied positive for cancer was ordered a PET scan to make sure there was no other cancer hiding around anywhere else.

I knew

there was at least another person who had gone through about the same thing as I did.   I am glad that you are still doing well.

barbvedd

katlou said:

sort of similar situation

I have a sort of similar situation in that I had a very tiny cancerous tumor on the underside of my tongue and I was very lucky that it was caught so early because the depth of invasion was so minimal that they didn't even remove any lymph nodes and so I also did not receive any radiation/chemo.   I only had a wide re-section to remove more tissue around the tumor area and a neck CT and I am being observed very closely by my ENT.  I was first diagnosed November 2017 and so far so good.  Even though it has been 1 and 1/2 years since all of this occurred I am still a little anxious about a recurrence and am very diligent about seeing my ENT and dentist regularly and also self check a couple of times a month.  As time goes on and nothing new happens the anxiety does lessen and I have started to feel more positive that maybe things will continue to be okay, it just takes some time to get to that place.  There is at least one other person on this forum who had a tumor removed along with lymph nodes and no radiation and chemo and last we heard from her she was still cancer free.  So there are cases where it seems like surgery only can be a good solution especially when caught early.  Just keep on top of it and I wish you the best.

Thank you!  I hope you

Thank you!  I hope you continue to be cancer free!

barbvedd

wbcgaruss said:

I Too Had A

Tumor on the bottom left side of my tongue-removed around June of last year. No chemo or radiation as it was caught early. No lymph nodes removed. Had throat cancer in 2012-13 and went through the whole routine of rads plus chemo and extra chemo. I was close to being down to seeing my ENT about once a year since I was almost at the 5-year mark, then got the spot on the tongue and I am back to seeing him once a month again. I went through this after first cancer but don't mind though my ENT guy wants to make sure no problems occur. He is very conscientious and caring about his patients and satisfied he got clear margins during the operation and so far so good. The first thing he did when the spot on my tongue biopsied positive for cancer was ordered a PET scan to make sure there was no other cancer hiding around anywhere else.

Sounds like you both have

Sounds like you both have very good doctors keeping an eye on you!