A Little Concerned

tommyodavey
tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
edited December 2015 in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi All,

 

It's been awhile since I've posted anything related to my cancer.  But today after doing some yardwork it felt like I had some food stuck on the top of my mouth.  I figured that's what it is was because I had just finished lunch before working.  When I looked in the mirror I saw a high raised white bump on the middle top of my tongue.  First I tried a tongue scraper and it didnt' budge.  So now I have this weird bump on my tongue with no clue on what it is.  And yes of course I Googled it and found that it's most likely something benign and not out of the ordinary.  But you all know what goes through our minds when we see a bump on the tongue.  Or should I say those of us who had tongue cancer.  My original tumor was on the base of my tongue and came out with clear margins.  The recurrance rate of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma, low grade, is between 3 and 0%.  So I haven't been too worried about a relapse.....until now.

 

I don't see my cancer doc for several more months but I will see my GP the first week of January so maybe he can decipher what it is.  My guess is it'll just go away by itself.  Probably a result of constant dry mouth during the night.

 

My question is.  Do I even tell me wife?  Why worry her if it's really nothing?

 

Thanks for letting me vent.

 

Merry Merry, and Happy Happy,

 

Tom

Comments

  • wolfen
    wolfen Member Posts: 1,324 Member
    #2
    Tom

    Just my opinion...............As wives, we love you very much and are(or were, in my case) "joined at the hip".

    Your wife may sense that something is on your mind anyway, so do not keep the secret. It is better for her to be prepared for the possibility than to be "blindsided". With that being said, remember as our friends here say "it ain't cancer until they say it's cancer".

    My best to you.

    Luv,

    Wolfen

     

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #3
    A wife's imagination

    I agree she will know something's up.

    Personally, I hate surprises. 

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #4
    if it were ny tongue

    Tom,

    For all our collective peace of mind, call your ENT and have it looked at.  Nothing short of that will satisfy you.

    Matt

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 617 Member
    #5
    Could be

    Could be from dry mouth. Could be you burned it on hot pizza. Could be it will disappear before you get to see the ENT! (But tell your wife.)

  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #6
    MrsBD said:

    Could be

    Could be from dry mouth. Could be you burned it on hot pizza. Could be it will disappear before you get to see the ENT! (But tell your wife.)

    Of Course I Did

    I can't keep anything from my wife so I did tell her.  For now, it is a wait and see approach.  If it grows larger or looks suspicious in any way I'll make an appt. with my ENT.  If not, I'll just wait for the 4th of next month and see what my regular doctor says.  He knows my history so I do have a little faith.

     

    Thanks Everyone!

     

    Tom

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #7
    tommyodavey said:

    Of Course I Did

    I can't keep anything from my wife so I did tell her.  For now, it is a wait and see approach.  If it grows larger or looks suspicious in any way I'll make an appt. with my ENT.  If not, I'll just wait for the 4th of next month and see what my regular doctor says.  He knows my history so I do have a little faith.

     

    Thanks Everyone!

     

    Tom

    Glad you told your wife...

    You are partners in all - so no holding back. Hopefully it will be something innocuous. Til then remember that "worry is interest pain on a problem you don't own yet." Enjoy your holidays!

     

    Barbara

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118
    #8
    Could you not get an

    Could you not get an appointment with your dentist before Christmas? In my experiance dentists tend to be more "clued up" about these pesky white "spots" than GP's anyway?

  • jcortney
    jcortney Member Posts: 503
    #9
    Is there even a question?

    Dude, the wife is/was a no brainer, but so is getting your but to your ent. Why would you even hesitate an instant. As a "survivor" you need to be right on top of these kinds of issues. Your gp, no matter how talented is just not trained to give you an informed opinion. 

    GO TO YOUR ENT. 

    Joe

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #10
    Tom........Yes you tell her.

    You would expect her to tell you. So you tell her. Also it doesn't care which H&N C you had, when you see a bump, lump, or anything, it will be about the first thing you think of. It is most likely nothing. I had a few small white spots show up on the back part of my tounge and they were nothing they were even concerned with. To them it was just like havinf something stuck between your teeth. HOWEVER, always get it looked at, just so you know it is nothing.

    Bill

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #11
    ditto Joe

    Unless you have to get a referral from your primary, get into the ENT pronto if it does not disappear in the next week or two. No need to voluntarily wait. Likely nothing but no harm in having it checked out.

  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #12
    donfoo said:

    ditto Joe

    Unless you have to get a referral from your primary, get into the ENT pronto if it does not disappear in the next week or two. No need to voluntarily wait. Likely nothing but no harm in having it checked out.

    Getting Checked

    What I ended up doing was not calling for an appointment.  Reason being, from what I read on WebMD and a few other medical websites what I have is not uncommon to the tongue.  I had to look at the big picture and know that a reoccurance right on top was extremely minimul.  The article I read said that it will probably go down by itself (and it did) and my regular GP will see it next week for confirmation.  If he is suspicious at all then off to the ENT I go.  The C I had to begin with was a very slow growing type so I didn't want to go into panic mode.  My wife agreed.

     

    Thanks Again Everyone!

     

    Tom E.

  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #13
    Had something similar

    It popped and went away.

     

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #14
    tommyodavey said:

    Getting Checked

    What I ended up doing was not calling for an appointment.  Reason being, from what I read on WebMD and a few other medical websites what I have is not uncommon to the tongue.  I had to look at the big picture and know that a reoccurance right on top was extremely minimul.  The article I read said that it will probably go down by itself (and it did) and my regular GP will see it next week for confirmation.  If he is suspicious at all then off to the ENT I go.  The C I had to begin with was a very slow growing type so I didn't want to go into panic mode.  My wife agreed.

     

    Thanks Again Everyone!

     

    Tom E.

    Thanks for the update, Tom

    We are all like family here, so when one is worried...we all worry to some extent. Glad to know that you are more at ease and will have it checked out in the not too distant future.

    Barbara

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #15
    tommyodavey said:

    Getting Checked

    What I ended up doing was not calling for an appointment.  Reason being, from what I read on WebMD and a few other medical websites what I have is not uncommon to the tongue.  I had to look at the big picture and know that a reoccurance right on top was extremely minimul.  The article I read said that it will probably go down by itself (and it did) and my regular GP will see it next week for confirmation.  If he is suspicious at all then off to the ENT I go.  The C I had to begin with was a very slow growing type so I didn't want to go into panic mode.  My wife agreed.

     

    Thanks Again Everyone!

     

    Tom E.

    good news

    As it was reducing in size, all is good. Glad to hear and sure, no need to panic. But it's better to always look for things and keep an eye on them. As you say, they almost always resolve themselves but always good to be vigilant without freaking out. Merry Christmas!

  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #16
    jtl said:

    Had something similar

    It popped and went away.

     

    Funny

    Maybe funny, maybe not.  It's back again but not as large.  My doctor will the telltale signs of what it is and should know what course of treatment (if any) I should take.  It may be as simple as a food alergy but I can't figure out which one.

     

    Thanks for all your concerns everyone!

     

    Tom

    Edit: My cancer team Oral Surgeon removed most of it for a biopsy.  3 stitches later and the result was benign.  But with my history he couldn't take a chance.  Understandable.

  • joannaw81
    joannaw81 Member Posts: 185 Member
    #17
    tommyodavey said:

    Funny

    Maybe funny, maybe not.  It's back again but not as large.  My doctor will the telltale signs of what it is and should know what course of treatment (if any) I should take.  It may be as simple as a food alergy but I can't figure out which one.

     

    Thanks for all your concerns everyone!

     

    Tom

    Edit: My cancer team Oral Surgeon removed most of it for a biopsy.  3 stitches later and the result was benign.  But with my history he couldn't take a chance.  Understandable.

    I'm glad

    I'm glad it was nothig!!!Laughing

  • armana
    armana Member Posts: 97 Member
    #18
    joannaw81 said:

    I'm glad

    I'm glad it was nothig!!!Laughing

    I am so happy

    Tom,

    I am so happy for you. I bet it was a scary experience.

     

  • IAmStrong
    IAmStrong Member Posts: 58
    #19
    armana said:

    I am so happy

    Tom,

    I am so happy for you. I bet it was a scary experience.

     

    ITA with bx:)

    I had moved from hospital to dr's office and worked for a very experienced and seasoned derm.  I had a white plaque on the side of my tongue, realized it didn't seem to be healing and asked him about it.  His record for looking and dx from looks was impressive, before lab results.  He said it looked benign.  My dentist at my checkup missed it..I was getting ready to leave and remembered.  Oh wait!  Will you look...did a bx and the rest is hx.  I agree with dentists followed by ENT.  Glad you confirmed your wondering suspicions without question.  Great news!

     

  • IAmStrong
    IAmStrong Member Posts: 58
    #20
    armana said:

    I am so happy

    Tom,

    I am so happy for you. I bet it was a scary experience.

     

      oops!  Went twice!

    Cool  oops!  Went twice!

Discussion Boards