I need to be talked down, please.

swopoe · June 2016

I am really scared. As you all know, my husband was diagnosed with stage 1 tongue cancer (front, right side of tongue) in Oct. 2015. He has surgery, radiation and cisplatin, and finished treatment in January 2016. He has had 2 clean scans, the last one being in early May. He had a visit with the ENT back in May and with the radiation onc last week. All good reports. And he has also had a really good recovery. The next scan is scheduled for Mid August. We have been very blessed.

So the point. Last night, my husband comes to me and says he has this spot he is worried about in his mouth. It is back on the lower right side between the tongue and the end of the gums and his teeth (back on the tissue back there). It is extremely small (like a red/white dot) and hard to see without getting your fingers and a flashlight in there. The docs have all looked at this area before and said that this area has radiation sores and after effects and there is nothing to worry about and the scans never picked up anything here either. But, now my husband is worried because this area hurts and because he ate pineapple that burned that area (and pineapple didn't burn it before) and so I am here worried sick. He called the ENT, and he is seeing him Thursday morning at 8 am.

Would cancer spread to another part of the mouth? Or is it really just likely to be radiation issues? And as for the pineapple, maybe it was a more acidic pineapple? Does that really mean anything?

I hate this. We are supposed to leave for vacation Thursday (it is also our wedding anniversary), and now I want to throw up.

stevenpepe · June 2016

I am going through radiation

I am going through radiation for the same Stage 1 tongue cancer like your husband. I have numerous sores and bumps in my mouth that can easily be taken for cancer. I would attribute it to the radiation. Try to enjoy your vacation.

SASH · June 2016

Radiation Sores

It is always good to be more cautious than just let things go. Chances are it is nothing, but radiation damage and the acid in the pineapple cause it to burn and become more noticeable. It could take months for the radiation damage to go away, but agrevating it with certain foods, acids, juices, spices, etc. might make it take longer.

swopoe · June 2016

Thank you. It is so hard not

Thank you. It is so hard not to worry, especially when my husband is as worried as he is.

wmc · June 2016

B R E A T H E ...........

If they have seen it and they are not concerned, don't you be. If it is irritated at all the citric acid in pineapple will burn like no tomorrow. I get small white spots on my tonsils and my head Surgeon/ONC looked at them and it is normal like just a bacteria thing that went away on its own. [I never was radiated]

Now that is very easy to say, "don't worry", but very hard to do once you hear those words from a doctor "You Have Cancer". I am sorry but it is like ringing a bell, you can't unring it. So any lump or bump or sore, there goes the bell.

I am pretty sure this is nothing or the doctors would have known. Still he is right to have it looked at. Always have it checked if you have any concerns, is the safest. I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

Bill

SusanUES · June 2016

R E L A X...right now

I had many of those pearlized white/red spots after radiation and almost any foods would irritate them. SASH is right...the acidity in pineapple would certainly cause pain and stinging. Takes a long time for all those abraded areas to heal over. I'm almost sure it's nothing to be concerned about but have it checked out for your peace of mind. It's perfectly normal to freak out over anything at this point...it will get better as you move forward. Blessings to both of you.

Bart T · June 2016

4 YEARS OUT, STILL GET SORES

While it's always wise to have things checked out, sores in the mouth and tongue are a very common and very long lasting side effect of radiation. I still get sores fairly frequently, so much so, that I don't even suspect a recurrence of my tongue cancer. In my case they usually clear up in a few days, and also seem to respond one way or another to the things I eat. I would suggest if the same sore persists, then it should be looked at by a doctor, but again in my case, they are so routine, I pretty much ignore them.

Also, even after 4 years, there are a great many foods on my no-fly list, with pineapple near the top of the list along with anything spicy and anything with alcohol. In fact with summer upon us, I'm already getting bummed out thinking of another summer with not one single margarita while sitting at the pool.

Barbaraek · June 2016

You did the right thing....

You have an appointment to check things out. Lots of times I will read on the message board "It's not cancer unltil they say it is." Repeat that 10x. Remember that all your scans have been clean so far. When you have the appointment, you can lay all your worries and fears out for the docs to address. Try not to carry them with you and be paralyzed by them for now.

I think it is not uncommon to have mouth sores following the kinds of treatment your husband had. Add on top of that a food like pineapple - which is highly acidic - especially pieces close to the core which can irritate oral tissue and I think you may have a recipe for worry. Remember too that things change after treatment. My husband used to love spicy, now he can't tolerate it at all. Maybe that is what is going on here.

Breathe in-out, in-out and know that we are all here with you and for you.

Barbara

CivilMatt · June 2016

tart fruit caution

swopoe,

Radiation and pineapple, double whammy.

Have it checked, enjoy your vacation and eat a banana.

Best always,

Matt

the_wife · June 2016

I'm sorry you're feeling so

I'm sorry you're feeling so anxious. I know that as a cancer survivor those doubts are so difficult to overcome especially when you're fairly new out of the gate. It's hard to just let it go and enjoy yourself, but you really have to work at it and make it a practice, kind of like meditation, or it will never happen. If it makes you feel any better - my hubby can't have any fruits or fruit juices. He has always said during and since his treatment that they're just too astringent. I remember putting bananas in his smoothies back when he first started radiation. He said his mouth just burned and the nurse said, "Oh yes, bananas, those are going to be really bad." Seriously? And another time I gave him tomato juice thinking it would be a healthy drink. Wrong! You live and learn. As everyone here mentioned, acidic foods are hard to take on damaged tissue. I'm struggling with burning tongue syndrome and trying to find my trigger foods. I think acidic fruits are out for me, too.

Best of luck to you!

swopoe · June 2016

I hope all of you are right.

I hope all of you are right. I really really do. I will keep you all posted.

Noellesmom · June 2016

Not cancer until they say it is

My husband had throat and base of tongue cancer successfully treated. Occasionally, a spot bothers him because it does not go away right away and once his dentist biopsied a spot that was benign.

My point is you are right to get it checked but it could be anything or nothing.

Let us know.

MrsBD · June 2016

Acidic food

Acidic or spicy food can still give me problems 20 months after treatment ended. The odd thing is that one day I can eat it and be fine, but the next time it can burn like crazy. The area of the mouth that you mentioned seems to trap food too, which may cause extra irritation. I think the ENT will give you an anniversary gift on Thursday. Have a wonderful vacation.

I need to be talked down, please.

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