Hello,
My names David from the UK and wondered if anybody can help me.I had a scan on my pituitary gland that showed up a mid line tongue lesion on my tongue.I saw the ear,nose and throat surgeon who said he doesn't think it's cancerous going off the MRI scan and said I won't need a biopsy or surgery because he said he thinks it was a lingual thyroid but said I need a 123 iodine whole body scan to find out what type of lump it is.
Had the scan and to cut a long story short the person that did the scan said it's not a lingual thyroid and said after the scan we've just been discussing about you having a biopsy.
I'm just worried sick now thinking if it's not a lingual thyroid what is it??
Wondered if anybody could help because i go for the results tomorrow and haven't told my parents?

Thanks for reading,

David.

Tell the idiot Dr to do a biopsy and stop thinking. An MRI can't tell him if it's cancer, only a biopsy can do that...if he won't go RUNNING to one that does.

It isn't cancer until a biopsy says it is, but I'd hate to be wrong in this case...Dr's are fallible and this one sounds like he needs an good smack upside the head. He doesn't "think" it's cancer, I pray he's right but I wouldn't trust his opinion without a biopsy.

Be calm and know...it's not cancer until a biopsy says it is.

Eric

Hi Eric,
Thanks for your post I'm very grateful.What you've said makes total sense to me.I think that's what the next step is going to be.
I'll keep you posted and thanks again.

Dave.

Hey David,

FYI: a biopsy is a simple procedure that these folks can do in a few minutes right in the office. It's just painful enough to be annoying for a few days and thats about it. The worst part I found was the waiting for a result, which can take all of 10 days but at least 72 hours from what i was told.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,
I think this will be the next step.He did say it's at the base of my tongue and is deep inside so hopefully if they do a biopsy he may do it when I'm asleep??

welcome david.
keep us posted on the biopsy results.

welcome david. I have had quite a few biopsies and most don't hurt after a few hours. In the tender areas the pain might last for a day or two. LIke Eric says, kick that Dr square in his ass and you might find his brain located there. Get a biopsy and find out for sure if its OC. It;s the only way to fly.

David,

They put me under to bio my BOT. Actually I went to sleep thinking they were also going to remove my tonsils but they stopped after getting a positive on my BOT. Anyway it was like a really bad sore throat for a couple of days.

Hi All,
Saw the consultant today who was really nice and immediately said we are going to do a biopsy in two places while you are asleep.So have to go in for the day.
He said he will do it in the next two to three weeks.I asked if he could speed the process up with being so stressed about it so hopefully he will take it on board.
I do feel confident in his abilities.I've been reading up on lingual thyroids and there is a method in his madness.It says if a lingual thyroid is suspected first don't do a biopsy until it has been ruled out which is whats happened.
Thanks for all your replys I'm very grateful and this forum is a great help.
Hope everybody else is ok,

Best Wishes to you all,

David.

Hi there,
I forgot to add he said he still doesn't think it's cancerous but needs to do the biopsy to be sure.My question to everybody is what would the 123 Iodine Whole Body scan and MRI scan of my neck and head of shown up because he initially thought it was a lingual thyroid??
The other thing I'm thinking is he said he will do the biopsy in two to three weeks so am thinking he would of done it sooner if he was worried?
The worrying about it all is making me feel really ill and I keep forgetting things and my memorys like a sieve.
I haven't told my parents because I don't want to worry them because they are elderly and have not got good health either.
I know I have to cope with all the uncertainty but how do you do it? I've tried keeping busy and ringing friends but the thoughts always in my head bashing away at me.....aaaarrrrggghhhh!!!

Hello and welcome. I can give you an example (my own) of the timeline involved. Things happen very slowly until the full diagnosis is in and then it happens all at once. I first saw my family doc about the lump on my neck on nov 20th or so 2007. she sent me to an ENT who saw me around the end of the nmonth and did a needle biopsy. It took until dec 22nd to know for sure that it was SCC but unknown primary so had to set up an exploratory surgery of the whole throat area. 1 1/2 weeks later found out it was right tonsil. No surgery was recommended but talked about radiatuion/chemo but had to see dentist first to make sure my teeth could handle the radiation. Didn't start treatments til feb 1 2008. Definately will try your patience. Once the enemy is known, you just want to get after it. Best of luck to you in this trying time.

edited for misspellings.

Thanks David.I think not knowing is the worst part isn't it?
The help and support from everyone on here makes a big difference.Hope you are well?

David,

One of the things we do is push to move up testing dates and then pester our doctors for results. Nobody likes the waiting, or should I say the ten thousand thoughts that go through your head (mostly bad ones)while you wait for the unknown to become known.

Kelly

Be the squeaky wheel.

Really, it is just something that you have to go thru and have no control over. It needs positive thoughts to keep your mind elsewhere. I still have to be busy doing something or I would think to much.

David, there is absolutely no advantage to postponing the biopsy for 2 to 3 weeks. He doesn't "think" it's cancer, but you want to know that it's "not" cancer.

Yell, scream and do anything you want to get that biopsy done ASAP.

Hi Jerry,
Exactly...he thought it was a lingual thyroid and it wasn't so how can I be certain he's right about it not being cancer if he was wrong about that.
I'm trying to keep busy and will focus more on positive thoughts.
Thanks,
Dave.