I Think I Have Tongue Cancer.

Gavin, I understand your concerns.  They are valid. 

Please remember, though, it isn't cancer until they say it is.  I'm betting millions of biopsies happen every day that have good results.

You are taking the right steps.  Try to destress as best you can.  Until you have a cancer diagnosis, you are worrying without a purpose.

Ending it before the diagnosis?  No.

Survivable if its spread?  From the posts on this board - yes.

Quality of life?  Again, the posts here indicate that, yes, quality of life is possible.

You need to take a deep breath and calm down.  You don't know anything yet other than you have a cautious doctor.  Good for you.

Let us hear from you.

Noellesmom said:

wait

Gavin, I understand your concerns.  They are valid. 

Please remember, though, it isn't cancer until they say it is.  I'm betting millions of biopsies happen every day that have good results.

You are taking the right steps.  Try to destress as best you can.  Until you have a cancer diagnosis, you are worrying without a purpose.

Ending it before the diagnosis?  No.

Survivable if its spread?  From the posts on this board - yes.

Quality of life?  Again, the posts here indicate that, yes, quality of life is possible.

You need to take a deep breath and calm down.  You don't know anything yet other than you have a cautious doctor.  Good for you.

Let us hear from you.

I am sorry you have to deal with the fear at the moment, howevver I will say if you read the possible side affects of an aspirin bottle it can scare you to death  so too can researching tongue cancer on the Internet (more humor).

Like we always say on this board, "it ain't cancer until they say it is cancer" .....so as easy as this is for me to say, try not to think the worst case scenario.  If by some chance it is cancer, I am 13 months out from my stage III base of tongue cancer diagnosis and I have had clean scans since my treatments ended. I'm out hunting, cutting wood, snowmobiling and doing anything I want with my family.  Had I chosen to not go through treatments I would have certainly been gone by now.  The treatments were the right choice for me, and they become "more right" everyday.

I remember not long ago on this board a person posted they feared they had oral cancer, they spent a couple of weeks with us on the board (which was fine of course) and their biopsy came back benign, no where near cancer related.  We were thrilled for that person and they were certainly thrilled as well.

I'm sure you are a great guy.  So my prayer is your biopsy will leave you bidding us farewell, but it not, stick with our board and you will find a group of folks who really care and can take the journey with you my friend.

Please keep us updated on your biopsy.

I whispered a prayer before I hit post that your biopsy does come back negative for cancer.

Best,

Tim

(I rarely get on this board at 6am....but for some reason this am I felt compelled to log in)

GavinP said:

Thank you all.  You have

Thank you all.  You have set my mid at rest a little bit. I've been working myself up day by day since Monday when I found out I was going to need the biopsy.

Generally how long does it take to hear from the hospital if the biopsy shows up malignancy? (I'm in the UK)

The micro slides take less than an hour to prepare, and  about thirty seconds to read by the pathologist.  In the cycle of things, a report is generated by the next day.  Now, how that report is transmitted, and to whom, that is variable.  but a day or two should suffice for a diagnosis.

GavinP said:

Thanks very much.
So I

Thanks very much.

So I should certainly hear something by Tuesday or Wenesday if theres a problem?

and ask those questions of the guy doing the biopsy before it is done.  "when will  the results be back, and how may I learn them?" is way better than getting left out in the cold waiting on results.

Hello Gavin

First:  stay off of the internet.  Except for reading things on THIS discussion board, the info you see on the internet is often misleading, outdated and downright inaccurate.  It will scare the heck out of you... so stop looking !

Two: as others have said, it's not cancer until a biopsy tells you it is.  Since you are already scheduled for one, you are doing the right thing.  If you weren't doing this, my advice would have been to see an ENT to have one done.

Third:  I am the poster child for Tongue Cancer Survivorship !!  I lost 75% of my tongue due to location of my tumor.  I have been thru hell and back, but the treatment is doable.  And I am 20 years older than you, so even though you mention other medical issues, your age will help you bounce back.

So, ask when you will get your biopsy results.  Should take no more than 2 days, so push back if they tell you longer.

Sending prayers that biopsy will be benign.

Gavin,

welcome to the community, although for your sake I hope you are just passing through. Nice to meet you either way. 

Everyone here has given you great advice, I just wanted to share my two cents and echo Phrannies thoughts a bit, even if the worst is  tongue cancer, she's right it's not worth ending your life, particularly if doing so for your parents. I have two sons, 28 and 30. Boy did I get a run for my money when it comes to health issues with them, and i was a single parent. i also had a heart attack, 4 years ago.. And never in my life would I want to not be able to see them smile, hug them, or see them succeed at life. Being sick is not a good enough reason, there is no reason great enough.

My husband of two years found out he had tonsil cancer on my birthday, 9 days before my sons wedding, and 16 days before his moms 80 th birthday... She amazes me at how strong she is, and yes, she has tears at times, but she more than anyone wants her son to live a long and happy life. 

So, plan on living.. Plan on showing your parents with a little help you can fight this, but don't dare take their son away from them, you are unique and very special to them.

ok off, the soap box, feel free to say or ask anything here..lots of great people will show you the way of getting through treatment, if you need it and well... Um... I don't rant too often

hope your results are benign!

Kari

I also thought when I first thought I had cancer and later found that I did (neck unknow primarty) that maybe just ending it was the best way to go.  I found out on here, from the doctors and got secoend opinions that I have a good shot at a normal long life.  I am very glad I did not do anything rash and got treatment.  I still don't know how it will trun out, but have enough hope that it makes it a very worthwile jorney.  Hang in there and get "real" information from doctors and be your own best advocate.

GavinP said:

Thanks everyone

You really have helped me today. I was at such a low ebb this morning. I was awake pretty much all night and I got up this morning and just felt so terribly low.

I even managed a few hours sleep this afternoon.

Billie, I'm actually in the UK.

I'm a two and a half year survivor of Stage 4 head neck cancer. My primary tumor was at the base of my tongue, so I received two surgeries and a nasty eight week round of concurrent chemo and radiation.  So far, I'm still fine, and living a normal life.  My co-worker's mother passed away from head neck cancer a number of years ago.  My co-worker's dentist recently spotted a patch on the inside of her mouth, and advised her that she should get it biopsied immediately.  Of course my co-worker panicked, given her past experience with her mother. I took her to the Ear-Nose-Throat specialist who diagnosed me.  After a single glance, he was able to tell her that he was more than 98% certain that her patch was NOT cancer, based on his experience. He biopsied the suspicious area, and had an answer for her by the next day. Negative. Not cancer.  Most mouth patches are scary, and the dentist will advise a biopsy, because that is part of the dentist's oral cancer screening responsibility.  The likelihood that it is cancer is very low.

Sending you best wishes for a quick resolution tomorrow.

Deb

GavinP said:

Thanks Deb.

Thanks Deb.

It was the small red patch that got me really worried this morning (I'd been reading on the internet that white can be pretty much anything, but red with white means your in trouble) So imagine what it was like when I got up this morning after all these dark thoughts had been racing through my mind all night, and I looked in the mirror as as I brushed my teeth and noticed a red spot had appeared.

(no more have appeared today BTW and I'm trying to keep the amount of times I look at my tongue down to three times a day, as I was becoming like an OCD with me to stand in front of the mirror and stare at it LOL)

One other symptom I didn't mention, BTW, but one thats becoming increasingly apparent, is that my saliva is getting more and more thick and phlegmy. I've got this horrible phlegmy taste in my mouth all the time. Its almost like I've got an infection in my nose or the back of my throat? Is that something that can go with tongue cancer? Oy maybe its just because my body is so out of sorts due to anxiety and worry?)

Thick saliva suggests some kind of an infection. to me. Many of us here have thick saliva, or no saliva, as a side effect of the burns from radiation treatments. I don't believe a single one of us had that symptom at the time of diagnosis.  Just keep taking deep breaths, and try to remain calm. All is well, and you will have your answers very soon.

Deb

GavinP said:

Thanks Deb.
Off to get

Thanks Deb.

Off to get some sleep now. It least tomorrow is the start of getting all this resolved one way or another.

Thanks everyone.  Hope you guys don't mind having a "limey" in your midst?