tongue cancer - what the ent said - see new post below

Hi dJ ,

I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer,squamous cell in July 2011 , all treatment completed Dec 2011...in Feb 2012 I found a small white spot on the left side of my tongue ,at  3 month onco & rad appts and  6 week ENT  appt I would ask could it be cancer..yes your right we let our minds run wild. Each doc said no,my ENT said oh it could be thrush...gave me magic mouth wash, when that didn't help , he said canker or infection ,so antibiotics..never had any pain. This went on until may when he said you know if it's not gone by June when i see you again I'll biopsy... Biopsy done ,I get a call that it is scc ...after my initial shock I asked how...as I had already had 3 clean PET scans,he tells me that it was so small the PET would have never picked it up. He then scheduled me for surgery,he removed a small section of tongue, all margins came back clean , no need for  further treatment.  My rad doc said it was a new site and not associated with the orig tonsil. Long story short be proactive,it's your health, I feel that had I not pestered each doc at each visit it may have been totally missed. Call your doc, make an appointment....just to make sure , and give you peace of mind.

linda

Yes, call your ENT just to be sure. I had tongue cancer twice. It did hurt. Because I was suffering from extreme anxiety, panic attacks and agoraphobia (separate health problem), I couldn't go in for my check ups. This lasted about 4 years. In that time the cancer came back and spread to my lymph nodes. I had major surgery, chemo and rads. Unlike the first time 12 years prior when it was caught early. Removal of the area was only treatment. If I could have caught it early when it came back, it would have been much better.

I wish you the best.

~Vicki

wolfen said:

Debbie

Saw your post and although I have little experience with this, Ron's tongue cancer was far in the back and appeared black to the ENT. Did not hurt and was only discovered because of swollen neck lymph node visit. So, as everyone says "Get thee to the doctor." Will be thinking of you.

Luv,

Wolfen

By all means get it checked out. That was exactly the feeling and I had before my diagnosis and it was in the same area of the tongue. I thought it was a simple cut or cold sore, but after it persisted for several weeks I had it checked out and it was tongue cancer. The diagnosis was made by an ENT on the basis of a biopsy. Good luck, and I truly hope it is nothing more than a sore. 

dj,

My BOT, no pain, but was cancer.

Check your tongue, your throat, your neck, and your tires.  Leave nothing to chance.

Good luck, hope it is nothing.

Matt

debbiejeanne said:

i'm way to scared to just see

i'm way to scared to just see my pcp!!!!!!!!!!  i chickened out and had my ent squeeze me in thursday (tomorrow).  i rescheduled the physical w/my pcp.  p51, i wanna be tucked in your pocket!!!  that seems to help everyone else!  my nerves are REALLY BAD right now.  i went thru hell w/my larynx cancer (2 times) but i don't think my hell was as bad as the people w/tongue cancer and i'm scared to death.  i can't stand the thot of all that pain!!!!  i'll post what the ent does as soon as i get home.  the thot of a biopsy is scaring me!!!  i had one back in may and was in SEVERE pain for a solid month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  prayers are appreciated.  thanks a million for being there!  i'd b lost w/o my friends on this site b/c u really understand cancer and all the emotions that go w/it.

dj

since yesterday.  I'm holding your hand, too.  I'm happy to hear you've skipped your Primary Dr. and are heading straight into the ENT.....why not, he's the one who can actually give you peace of mind!!

Take a deep breath.....better yet.....we'll BOTH take some deep breaths.....we can breath together....  One...two...three....breathe....ok we're in sync now. 

p

I was glad to  see that you are going to see your ENT tomorrow . Good or bad news the sooner you know, the better for your health . I'm hoping and praying it's nothing serious . If I were you I would take xanax until I/you see the Doctor . Best of luck to you.

Peggy