Well Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma Stage 1 Tongue Cancer

Sabrina23

Hi I am 57 years old female and new to board.  I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Well Differentiated Squamous Cell Carcinoma.  They scheduled my surgery for June 3 for a partial glossectomy and neck dissection.  How long do the tubes stay in?  I will have feeeding tube and neck tube?  What is the life expectancy?  Will I be 100% cured?  Can I go on to live a long normal life.  You read so much scary stuff on internet that says life expectancy is less than 5 years.  I was wondering what to expect after sugery  - will I be able to eat food once tubes are out?  Can I have a glass of wine or an occasional drink like I used to have once the surgey is over and my tubes are out? My mom is suffering so bad and twin sister and we all 3 live together and are breaking down in tears everyday thinking it is hopeless. I hope someone or many people will respond to my topic.  Please do with all feedback I have never been thru this in my life.  It came out of no where. Will my tongue be disfigured.  They said they are going to graft part of my thigh to my tongue?  Will it ever be the same again?  Do I have to have radiation?  My cat scan came back clear with no neck metastasis.  It came back normal. Will I go on to live a normal long life?  I just need help and feedback to konw what to expect and what my chances are to survive? God Bless everyone on this board and my prayers are with you all.  Thank you for your help and support. 

Sabrina23

MarineE5 said:

Mind is traveling at Warp Speed now

Sabrina,

I am sorry to see you are here seeking answers to all your questions, but you found a great site to get those answers with many knowledgeable people here that have traveled the path you are taking. 

I was 57 when I found a tiny lump under my jaw line, long story made short, I had Base of Tongue cancer and had part of my tongue removed. I had a Radical Neck disection with drain tubes, they are in for about 10 days more or less depending on how fast the blood stops draining into the bottles and the color is almost clear. 

Because of the surgery on my tongue, I had a Trach as well as a PEG Tube so all my nutrition was thru the PEG Tube until the Trach was removed which was a bit over 6 weeks. I then was allowed to start eating soft foods. I had the PEG Tube during Radiation as it can be harsh on us and swallowing can be difficult in the later weeks of treatment. 

You wrote- What is Life Expectancy, Will I be 100% cured. Can I go on to live a long normal life. These are questions no one here can truly answer, not even the Doctors. I started with a positive attitude and did what I needed to do to complete my treatments. I had Radiation only as the Surgeon and Radiation Oncologist wanted to keep Chemo as a backup plan in the event of reoccurance which did not happen. 

I would like to make a suggestion if I may, please try not using Dr. Google since a lot of the information out there is out of date. The only statistic that is important to you is the number 1 ( YOU ) . Will your life be just like it was before, it might be, will it be different? more than likely. We have a saying here, we have a " New Normal". Radiation can have an affect on us for about a year according to my Radiation Oncologist, he was close as I found it took me a bit longer. This is pertaining to Fatique issues. Some people here have returned to running within months after treatments. One size does not fit all with this so it effects each of us differently. Recovery times vary. 

You will get thru this, take one step at a time and it appears you already have a support system in place with your sister and mom to help you out which is great. 

As I mentioned earlier, I was 57 when I found my lump, I am now 72, and a 15 year survivor, there are 20 year survivors here and longer. Keep asking your questions and others will be along to answer them for you. 

My Best to You and All Your Family

Thank you Marine E5

I thank you for helping me and your support means everything to me.  I am going to keep on writing questions and comments as they come to mind since this is all new to me.  I hope you understand. God Bless you and I pray for everyone on this board and my prayers are with everyone.  Thank you for writing me back most of all. It is really helpful to me.  I am so glad you are 20 yeare survivor that gives me hope more than you know. 

MarineE5

Mind is traveling at Warp Speed now

Sabrina,

I am sorry to see you are here seeking answers to all your questions, but you found a great site to get those answers with many knowledgeable people here that have traveled the path you are taking. 

I was 57 when I found a tiny lump under my jaw line, long story made short, I had Base of Tongue cancer and had part of my tongue removed. I had a Radical Neck disection with drain tubes, they are in for about 10 days more or less depending on how fast the blood stops draining into the bottles and the color is almost clear. 

Because of the surgery on my tongue, I had a Trach as well as a PEG Tube so all my nutrition was thru the PEG Tube until the Trach was removed which was a bit over 6 weeks. I then was allowed to start eating soft foods. I had the PEG Tube during Radiation as it can be harsh on us and swallowing can be difficult in the later weeks of treatment. 

You wrote- What is Life Expectancy, Will I be 100% cured. Can I go on to live a long normal life. These are questions no one here can truly answer, not even the Doctors. I started with a positive attitude and did what I needed to do to complete my treatments. I had Radiation only as the Surgeon and Radiation Oncologist wanted to keep Chemo as a backup plan in the event of reoccurance which did not happen. 

I would like to make a suggestion if I may, please try not using Dr. Google since a lot of the information out there is out of date. The only statistic that is important to you is the number 1 ( YOU ) . Will your life be just like it was before, it might be, will it be different? more than likely. We have a saying here, we have a " New Normal". Radiation can have an affect on us for about a year according to my Radiation Oncologist, he was close as I found it took me a bit longer. This is pertaining to Fatique issues. Some people here have returned to running within months after treatments. One size does not fit all with this so it effects each of us differently. Recovery times vary. 

You will get thru this, take one step at a time and it appears you already have a support system in place with your sister and mom to help you out which is great. 

As I mentioned earlier, I was 57 when I found my lump, I am now 72, and a 15 year survivor, there are 20 year survivors here and longer. Keep asking your questions and others will be along to answer them for you. 

My Best to You and All Your Family

big G

Sabrina23 said:

Thank you Marine E5

I thank you for helping me and your support means everything to me.  I am going to keep on writing questions and comments as they come to mind since this is all new to me.  I hope you understand. God Bless you and I pray for everyone on this board and my prayers are with everyone.  Thank you for writing me back most of all. It is really helpful to me.  I am so glad you are 20 yeare survivor that gives me hope more than you know. 

You came to the right place

Sabrina23, right now the best thing you can do is trust in your medical team,god,family,etc.They will test for HPV+ if they already haven't.

whether you need radiation or further treatment will depend on the path report from your nodes that are removed or tissue biopsy. You will get through this just prepare yourself mentally and continue to visit this site and these fine people will guide you. You will be fine. 

I am 6 months out of stage 2 base of tongue,surgery neck dissection and 33 rad treatments. I am doing good right now. 

ERomanO

Sabrina, thank you for

Sabrina, thank you for posting this.  As you can see you are more apt to get responses this way.  Also, if you have a specific question or concern it may be advisable to start a new topic with that specific question in mind.  Not only do you get better response but it will come in handy for others doing searches.

I had a fairy easy time with treaments and recovery, but it has had many rough spots.  I am 11 months post treatments and feel very good, even with some lingering side effects. But it has been a journey of constant adjustments, especially while going through treatments.  You will likely find it to be the same.  Don't spend time worrying about the future, just focus on doing whatever you can to make your treatments and recovery as easy as possible.

Good luck and keep us posted!

survivorone

Be encouraged

Hi Sabrina 23, I was dianoised with stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma , I had 4 treatments of Chemo and 32 treatments of radiation and I was cancer free in 4 months .....Glory be to God....that was 8 years ago ....so u will be cured 100%...I pray for all who have been and are going through Cancer ....so you go in with confidence that all will be ok .

 

Sabrina23

survivorone said:

Be encouraged

Hi Sabrina 23, I was dianoised with stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma , I had 4 treatments of Chemo and 32 treatments of radiation and I was cancer free in 4 months .....Glory be to God....that was 8 years ago ....so u will be cured 100%...I pray for all who have been and are going through Cancer ....so you go in with confidence that all will be ok .

 

Thank you SurvivorOne and to everyone on board

Thank you for your encouraging words and helpful feedback - I appreciate each and everyone of you all that have responded to me and those that post on this discussion board.  God Bless everyone and I have hope and faith in God that miracles will come my way and to all of you as well. 

longbranchajn