| | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 23 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 23 | New to OCF, Having biopsy today for Squamous cell carcinoma base of the tongue, stage 1 or 2. Advised that probable treatment will be radiation for 6 weeks. 60 year old male in good physical condition. Any comments on what to expect?
Last edited by buster3795; 12-09-2010 05:00 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Make sure they check for swollen lumps (nodes) in your neck, both sides. If you were not a tobacco user and if it comes back as cancer then I suspect that HPV is a likely cause. Keep us posted as this site will be invaluable if you do have oral cancer.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF, Buster. You will find so much info here and also on the main pages. There is a search function available in each area. There are several members who live in FL. This site will provide you with fast, factual info and moral support to help you thru your battle.
Im surprised to read you have Stage 1 or 2 and your course of treatment before a biopsy is done. Most of us have a biopsy done and then wait aprox a week for the results. Staging is done after both the biopsy and CT or PET scan. Is this the first time you have had cancer?
One thing you can do now to prepare yourself for your upcoming treatment is to eat alot. Eat all your favorite foods fattening and/or spicy. Dont worry about gaining weight, you will probably lose a few pounds during treatment. Your sense of taste may change and foods will lose their taste. It also may become difficult to swallow. You want to go into this with having no regrets or cravings. During treatment you will need it take in 2500+ calories and 48+ oz water daily. Believe it or not this could become difficult to do.
Make a list of everyone who offers to help and get their phone numbers. Tell them you will call them when the time comes that you need a hand. Do not turn anyone away. Take someone with you to all your doctor appointments. Write down yor questions in advance, most people hear something bad and then their ears stop working. Do you have someone who will be taking care of you? Call the American Cancer Society. They can give you a voucher for up to $300 of prescriptions, reimburse you for travel expenses you incur during radiation, or provide a driver to take you to treatments.
Im sure there is alot more that I am missing but this is enough to keep you busy for a while. Staying busy will help you to keep your mind off this.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 23 | Thanks for the response. Yes this is my first cancer, and what a shock. We are hoping and praying the biopsy will prove the Doctor wrong, but don't expect it. Fearing the raditation treatment. Right now it is wait and see.
60 yro male, non smoked, moderate beer drinker, active, overall good health
dx 110310
biop 120910 SCC BOT RT T3 N2C MO
bone scan 010411
rad 011111
pet scan 011211
chemo 011311
port 011411
peg 012100
Treatment Gainesville Fl Va & N. Fl Radiology / Oncology
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Buster, welcome to this site, a wonderful resource in a tough time. The advice David and Christine have given you is great. I'd add that radiation really tends to knock the stuffing out of you, so be ready not to have much energy and to want to sleep a lot. Which you should certainly do!
Keep us posted, and courage! You'll get through this.
David 2
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | Actually, you can't assume it is HPV related, either. I was a non-smoker, a light drinker and I was negative for HPV. We have no clue as to why I got it!
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 | Buster...Welcome to OCF. I agree with Christine prepare yourself. I will add seeing you're in FL. I suggest a Cancer Treatment Center. We have Moffitt in Tampa and I think Shands in Jacksonville. They are up on the latest in technology.
Keep us posted..take care
Connie
SCC. of the left lateral tongue, anterior two thirds, T1 possibly a T2.
Left partial glossectomy, left selective neck dissection 4/21/09. Nodes clean, No Rad, No Chemo.
CT Scan 9/11 clean, CT Scan 9/12 clean
Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. A+.
My hometown Lockport, NY.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say "assume" I said I would "suspect" HPV is the cause if he were not a tobacco user along with being a male and with a Primary in his BOT. With those presentations his chance that his cancer would be related to HPV is a tad over 70%. But all of this is waaaaaay premature as he has not not had a biopsy and has not yet been confirmed as having cancer in the first place.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | zengalib, I have that type too. I was just told it was unique. Maybe it's our Buckeye air. LOL I will say David is right on the ball with his advice .
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 23 | Thanks for the encouragement. Biopsy went well (Gainesville VA), the Doctors are certain it is cancer. Should have the pathology report next week to confirm. Very sore throat this morning but better now. For now it is wait and see.
60 yro male, non smoked, moderate beer drinker, active, overall good health
dx 110310
biop 120910 SCC BOT RT T3 N2C MO
bone scan 010411
rad 011111
pet scan 011211
chemo 011311
port 011411
peg 012100
Treatment Gainesville Fl Va & N. Fl Radiology / Oncology
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