Just Diagnosed with a Tumor in my Tongue

 Karen,

Welcome to the H&N forum, so sorry you find yourself here.

My cancer was at the base of my tongue and it remained still for 35 radiation treatments.  I had surgery to remove the cancer so; I guess you could call the   rads a clean-up operation.  My tongue surgery wasn’t too bad and I had virtually no pain.

I don’t know any practical methods for shrinking the tumor now, but I am sure your doctor has a plan to shrink it.

No need to search for info, just ask away, we have got the inside track and some of the info can actually clam you down.

Work tomorrow?  We will see about that.

Good luck, stay calm, if I can do it you can do it.

Matt

Im sorry to hear that you have to go through this.

But i want to tell you that we r here for you. I dont have idea of experience in tongue cancer.

Stay positive i will pray for you. please keep us updated.

Goyca.

Welcome to the Board Karen.  Don't be afraid of surgery and if an option for the Davinci robotic surgery don't be afraid of that either. Your diagnosis is very treatable and curable! Forget the the natural remedies as there is nothing out there documented to reduce tumor size naturally. You also want to tell your doctor about any supplements (FYI spicey foods have actually been linked to throat cancer) you take so that they don't interfere with treatment. Get your PET scan and get on the treatment BUS with us!

Surgery is usually first line if the tumor is not too advanced, so it is actually good news.  It is scary, but in the hands of a good surgeon you will be fine.  I had TORS (trans oral robotic surgery).  Mine was BOT (base of tongue).  I went to Vanderbilt for my surgery and Hopkins was my back up plan.

Great news that your CT showed no spread!

As far as shrinking the tumor, only thing I know you can do to help contain it is maybe take curcumin, drink lots of green tea and continue eating healthy, but that will not make it go away.

Radiation "melts" the tumors often, but if it can be removed surgically that may be your best option with fewest side effects.  If you are going to a Cancer Center or teaching hospital, they will have a tumor board and that will mean many professionals will give you their recommendations for treatment (more eyes and check and balances).

Assuming you have had a biopsy done, has the ENT tested the tissue for HPV?  That will be a  good thing to know.

Best to you,

PJ

KarenSuki said:

Found my diagnosis

Sort of sad that it is scribbled on a business card... Anyway it is Squamous Cell Carcinoma Oral Tongue T2 vs. T3 (Stage II vs. Stage III).

And yes I had a biopsy, which was cauterized, but broke open later in the evening. I bled all over the place and landed in the ER. The ER doctor was able to recauterize the biopsy site, but that was really scary.

I'm keeping it short tonight. I worked a 13 hour shift and I'm in enough pain right now I would gladly let someone cut the tumor out. I need to pick up my pain med prescription from the pharmacy tomorrow.

karen, welcome to our family.  i'm very glad you found us and i know you will get much more informed inforation here then on the internet.  SCC is common here with us and T2 isn't that bad.  it will still be a rough road but is very doable.  mine was T2 of the larynx.  i'm 2 yrs cancer free now.  had rad tx then surgery.  i'm glad the doc got that bleeding stopped.  wow, that must have really been scary.  thank goodness for er's.  wow, 13 hours is a long, long shift.  are you in the medical field?  my niece is a nurse and she used to work 12 hour shifts :0(   well, just want to say welcome and i'm glad you are here but so sorry for the reason.  ask any quesion you have or vent when you feel angry or upset and share good news when you feel happy.  nothing is off limits, post whatever you are feeling.  we will be here to help you thru your jouney.

God bless you,

dj

Hi Karen,

Wishing you the very best with your upcoming treatment. I also have squamous cell cancer of the base of tongue T1 & T2 , hpv. My treatment starts on the 23rd. Scarey journey that a few of us will be starting shortly, look ahead and focus on the end result :-)

Take good care of yourself ,

Robyn

Hey Karen,

I am very sorry to hear that you have been attacked by the beast, but it sounds like your doc caught it at a fairly early stage, that's the good news.  As you have no doubt heard from others there is no magic tumor shrink product available.  Back in the day when I got my beasty news, I locked my mind into battle mode, decided to do what needed to be done, and to hit the ground running;  and most importantly stay positive.  What you think and believe as you go through your treatment and recovery journey are the two things that you will have control of, so I encourage you to stay in the positive mind set as much as possible; easier said than done, I know.  The words that always and still do pull me through challenges at all levels are: "I Can Do This," which I sometimes have said and do say upon opening my eyes in the morning.  I now share, and pass these very powerful words and thoughts on to you to literally say to yourself when you need the push, "I Can Do This!"  And, You Will, one day, hour, minute, second, or nanosecond, whichever unit is appropriate at the time you need to remind yourself.

PATRICK 

KarenSuki said:

Thank you for all the

Thank you for all the encouragement... I am in the newspaper/publishing business so when special projects come up I work long hours. I think I'm back to a normal shift of a few weeks. 

I spent all weekend crabbing and fishing. Only caught small dungeness crabs so a commercial fisherman took pity on my husband and handed him a very large crab off the boat with just one claw. (can't sell that one).

Finally, yesterday afternoon I found myself in a cow pasture beside a weedy long pond. I actually caught two trout, 12 and 13 inches long. So I cooked them up, but was too tired to eat them last night. I'll get to them tonight though.

Still haven't got the PET scan scheduled. I have to go to a medical facility about 100 miles away, but the place has not called me. I know they have the insurance claim approved, but that did not happen until last Thurs. 

Hang in there, Karen. My dad was diagnosed with the same thing and it was on the base of his tongue. He went to Vanderbilt as well and they treated him with surgery, then radiation and chemo. I highly reccommend Dr. Burkey and Dr. Netterville at Vanderbilt if you're anywhere near Tennessee. We had a 4 hour drive for every treatment, but as far as we know, they're the best in the region. Best of luck.

eadunaway said:

Vanderbilt

My dad went to Vanderbilt, too. Did you have Drs. Netterville and Burkey?

For the biopsy surgery.  Then Dr. N and Mark Van Dussen chief resident and Eric Wertz fellow for the TORS and neck disection.  They were all excellent.

How is your Dad doing?  

PJ