Hi everyone!
My name is Patty. I am currently living in Sitka, Alaska.

About 1 1/2 years ago I noticed a ulcer under my tongue. I ignored it thinking it was just my teeth bothering that area, no big deal. Eventually it began to bother me when I ate and talked. Our visiting ENT doc helped with some dental paste. After a couple of months that seemed to irritate the area more and of course once I quit using it the area seemed to grow. The steroid had just retarded the growth.

Our visiting ENT doc preferred to send me to someone that handles a lot of head/neck cases, which was in Seattle. My husband and I flew to Seattle, had my consult and the next day had my biopsy. He also looked at my esophagus and trachea, that was all clear. The next day he told us it was SCC.

I opted to have a hemi-glossectomy and suprahyoid neck dissection. They did the PET/CT scan and that was all clear. On August 10th, I had my surgery at Swedish Medical Center and all went well. He ended up taking less than he had anticipated, basically just a good chunk off the side of my tongue. I couldn't have been happier with my care, absolutely top notch!

I just went back for my 4 week post op appointment and all my pathology reports were negative. What a relief for now.
The only problem I'm having right now is my lower teeth rubbing against my tongue. I don't think it's going to go away, but if it doesn't by my next follow up appointment he wants to do a biopsy (to make sure it's granulation tissue) and then laser the area.

I found OCF when my Mother sent me a link to Collenn Zenk Pinter's website. Her website helped her tremendously and OCF helped me learn what I was dealing with. I've learned a whole lot and really appreciate that it's there.

I'm sorry, I've written a novel. I feel embarrassed to be here, many of you have been through so much compared to me.
I really look forward to meeting all of you.

Hi Patty

Just want to say what a wonderful site this is with lots of wonderful supportive people. I sure that someone will be able to offer information & support to you.

pj x

Hi Patty

Just want to say what a wonderful site this is with lots of wonderful supportive people. I sure that someone will be able to offer information & support to you.

pj x

Patty, this is one place where you can never talk too much. The more you say in words the better the description of the problems you have with OC. Welcome to our home and use it as often as needed and more. Jim

Patty

Keep us posted on your follow up appointment on the tongue rubbing the teeth issue. You are wise to mention it to your doctor so he can track it and his taking a biopsy next time is a good plan. Don't worry about that as there is no other way for your doctor to really tell that is just granulation and it is better to be safe than sorry.
Congratulations on your negative pathology report, I was devastated when my post surgery pathology reports indicated a third recurrence without even more radiation and chemo so I can only imagine your relief. Welcome aboard and sorry you had to join our little club, friendly though it is.
charm

Patty,

Welcome and congrats on the report! I also had my surgery done in Seattle only not at Swedish but the UWMC, both have really good ENT departments, but if you ever need a second opinion go to the UW as they are ranked #6 for cancer treatment by US News and World Report and #12 for ENT in the US. Dr. Neil Futran is the head of Otolaryngology there and is top notch if you ever have the need for a second opinion.

Welcome aboard and never worry about talking too much!

Thank you so much for the Welcome. I'm sure I'll feel right at home soon.

Congrats! on the report. No need to feel embarassed about being here. OC is nasty stuff. We all need support not matter how big or little our procedures have been. I am glad you you got good results. Welcome!

Hi Patty,

As you can see by my signature, I had a very simlar situation to yours almost 4 1/2 years ago.

It 's good that you are getting your tongue checked out further. If it is determined that your teeth are causing the irritation, a suggestion I might make is to get a plastic night guard fabricated to cover your teeth until your tongue heals up. The guard can be worn all the time, except while you are eating.

BTW, I was in Sitka this past July and really enjoyed my time there.

Jerry

[quote=wilckdds]Hi Patty,

As you can see by my signature, I had a very simlar situation to yours almost 4 1/2 years ago.

It 's good that you are getting your tongue checked out further. If it is determined that your teeth are causing the irritation, a suggestion I might make is to get a plastic night guard fabricated to cover your teeth until your tongue heals up. The guard can be worn all the time, except while you are eating.

BTW, I was in Sitka this past July and really enjoyed my time there.

Jerry

[/quote]
I'm glad you enjoyed your time here. Sitka is definitely a beautiful part of Alaska. Hopefully it wasn't raining while you were here! LOL
Also, I see that you're in PA. Any chance that you're a Steeler's fan? LOL

I did go to the dentist before this last visit to see about possibly filing away the sharp part of my teeth (thinking that was causing the irritation), but it didn't seem like he wanted to do anything. I'm not real sure about him......just a feeling. For 1 1/2 years, this was not addressed by him or his staff. Not that I'm holding any hard feelings, I let this go for over a year before I did something.......just saying. LOL

But that is actually my concern that I forgot to address with the Doctor, what's to stop it from happening again. It's going to be the first question out of my mouth on this next visit.

See.......here I go writing a novel again! LOL

Patty, this isn't a novel LOL more like a short story. The more info you put out, the better the answers you will receive.

I live on the other side of the state, near Phila. and am an Eagles fan.

Filing the teeth is irreversible, my suggestion might be a better solution.

Don't ever feel that you are writing too much. We're all here to read, listen and help.

Please keep us posted.

Jerry

I like Jerry's option. This will help you determine that this is the cause, can be infinitely adjusted thinned smoothed and is a relatively inexpensive process to explore things with. When this solves your problem, you can then decide to continue with it or have any rough areas on you teeth taken down with a bur and polished to a smooth finish. As someone with a minor bit of dental knowledge, I think that the first rule of thumb is to not cut health dentition unless it is absolutely necessary, Once gone, it is gone.

Ahhhh.......I see your point now. Thank you~

I searched and ordered lower mouth guards on the internet pre-surgery, but they were all big and bulky. I threw them out once I came home from my surgery. The couple that I bought would now cause more harm than good.
Maybe I should just wait for my visit and see what the Doc says or do you have any suggestions on where to look.

I'm sorry Jerry, I swear I won't hold it against you for being an Eagles fan.

Patty,

Write away!!! Welcome to OCF where you will find so many caring and helpful people. I don't think I've ever seen a group of people who were so kind and willing to share their experiences and advice. You will feel right at home here... because they make you feel that way. Congrats on your good report!

Nancy T

Hi, Patty -

My surgery was also minor compared to many here, and I didn't have treatment following the surgery. I often felt unworthy to take part in discussions because, well, I didn't "suffer" as much as others. But I found out no one's keeping score. The only score that matters is the one that beats OC. We're all on the same team, and every member counts.

Recurrence is something we all think about. My dr. told me that if I could guarantee him a 30% return on his investment, he'd guarantee me it wouldn't come back. Vigilance, self-advocacy and a good medical team are our best weapons. Someone here put it in perspective - to paraphrase - I survived cancer, I can survive anything they throw at me.

Good luck with you latest problem.

Marlene

Welcome, Patty,

I'm so glad that you've received good follow-up news so far (except, of course, having SCC in the first place is enough in and of itself). This board has been so helpful to me and it I hope it will be to you as well.

Sophie

You all are so wonderful and have really made me feel at home. I'm so glad I decided to join and take the plunge. I know that if I have something on my mind and don't want to burden my family, I'll find what I need here. I really appreciate it.

Marlene, I truly enjoyed your post and you are a survivor and that is what matters I hope you go for another 75 years.

Patty,

There are no store bought night guards that will serve the purpose as you have found out. It is a simple procedure to have the dentist take impressions and in a few days, you could have a custom made night guard.

How does someone living in Alaska become a Steelers fan? Are you a transplanted Pennsylvanian?

Jerry

Thanks Jerry, I thought that would be the case but I had to ask.

LOL Steeler fans are all over! My husband was born in New Castle, PA. He's in the Coast Guard and we've been in Sitka for a little over 2 years. What's even funnier, our neighbor is a Steeler fan too! LOL

Patty,

Those impressions are not cheap so keep them away from cats. I speak from vast experience!!

[quote=boatswife]Hi everyone!
I just went back for my 4 week post op appointment and all my pathology reports were negative. What a relief for now.
The only problem I'm having right now is my lower teeth rubbing against my tongue. I don't think it's going to go away, but if it doesn't by my next follow up appointment he wants to do a biopsy (to make sure it's granulation tissue) and then laser the area.
[/quote]

I figured it would just be easier to update this thread.
The spot never went away and looks like a bunch of scar tissue now with granulation tissue? in the middle. We leave Monday for Seattle to have my 2nd follow up appointment and on Wednesday I should be getting that area biopsied and then he'll laser the area also.

I'm being positive that everything will be ok, but I don't think the fear ever goes away. "What if's" really suck! So if you would please keep me in your thoughts and prayers next week, I'd certainly appreciate it.

I hope everyone has a good week.

I will be praying for you. yes, the What if's really do suck. I am still waiting for the fear to go away after 5 months, and it is still there. Both of us will be getting asnwers next week. Good luck.

I'm new but says Hi. Greatr folks here.

I don't think the fear ever goes away. After 4 and a half years, I still worry when something looks or feels funny.

Patty, you will be in my thoughts this week.

Update:
Negative biopsy on frozen section and I did fine with him using the laser to clean up that granulation tissue. The spot on tongue is a little raw, but doing fine.

Thanks for thinking of me~

I have all of you in my prayers and if anyone of us didn't worry, we have no value on our life. God gave this life to us and when he dsays enough, it's bye bye world and hello heaven. Life is one thing we can't control, but can make it smoother or the road bumpier.

Thanks Jim and a bunch of hugs headed your way~

So glad to read that your biopsy was negative. I pray you continue to have cancer free appointments.