Well, it's a new world all of a sudden. I just got back results from a biopsy with cancer of the tongue. I don't know anything about any of this yet, but I'm finding out fast and it's great there is so much information and support available. I feel better already because of this forum and the Foundation.

Monday is my first meeting with doctors. Kids, wife, and co-workers are freaking about this more than what I let on. First night sleep after the news was a bit disturbed.

Rumor has it that this is being caught early. Monday will tell me something, I guess.

Hi to all.

Welcome to OCF. The next couple of weeks are going to be stressful, and the questions you will have will be many. There are many survivors here that care enough to spend the time to help you through this process with both information and emotional support... don't be afraid to ask. Knowledge is the basis for making great decisions. Ask your health care providers enough so that you completely understand what you have, and what they intend to do. If it isn't clear... ask again. It is important that right from the beginning you are your own best advocate. I am here in Orange County with you and would be pleased to talk to you about treatment resources etc. if you wish. If you ask I will provide you with my local number by email. Remember that people of all stages survive this. Do not get hung up on whatever stage they say you have, or statistics. You are an individual and unique, not a statistic. A battle awaits you that will require everything that you can throw at it. It is time to put on your fighters face. The road ahead may not be easy, but it is very passable. When you falter there are people here that will help. One day this will be in your rear view mirror. In the meantime, you have a new cyber support family to add to your list of resources.

Welcome, Steve! Everything Brian said is true, and because you will need to hear it more than once, I will repeat that the most important thing right now is to NOT get caught up in statistics. They are out there on the net when you search, and can scare the pants off you, but you are your own statistic and that is ALL that matters. Every patient on this forum was once exactly where you are now, and we made it through. You will too. Because the folks here were so incredibly generous, I knew going in exactly what to expect every step of the way, which meant I didn't need to be afraid. Once you banish fear, all things are possible. Let us help you during your fight. Any questions you have will find answers here. My experience is that getting info from someone who has actually been there was many times more useful than what I heard from medical professionals. So ask us! We are happy to help.
Joanna

Wow, thanks for the quick response, Brian and Joanna. I know how valuable resources such as these are to people. AA helped me through a hard time, working through adjusting to life. 12 years +.

We are close, Brian. I have a business in Santa Ana, not far from site address. That's a comfort and you've done a fantastic job with this site. It's a class act and I bet everyone is very grateful it is here. I'll not forget your offer, thanks.

I'm gonna look around the forum over the next week or so. Hope I can give back multiples of what I get.

Hi Steve - glad you joined our site I have almost 8 years in the program myself and it has really proved itself throughout this ordeal. I think it is a natural thing to look at the statistics -then decide that you are going to be on the positive side (there IS a survival % even for stage IV). Things will settle down once you've had all of your Dx tests and a treatment plan. You must turn it over to a power greater than yourself...

This site will help you no end. Even if you have stage 4, my mum was diagnosed as stage 4 and she is really doing well, so don't despair. Mind over matter, stay positive, and our very best wishes are with you. Kind regards.

The MRI came back clean of problems in the neck or nodes. I am dealing with early stage tongue cancer, it seems. I'm looking for seconds and thirds on whether radiation is necessary, or in what order treatment should happen.

I've scheduled surgery for March 26 and will be getting the 2nd opinions next week. I'm scheduled at Mission Hospital, and looking into City of Hope.

Anyone have any experience with either of these two?

My second opinion came in from City of Hope. They re-read the biopsy, MRI, and performed another physical exam. The doctor says the tumor on my tongue is stage 2 only becuase of its size, which is a long narrow strip on the side of my tongue.

He is suggesting surgery with no skin graft and no follow-up radiation treatment. He states the tumor appears superficial and does not extend beyond the surface.

I go back in for a CT just to be sure the MRI was properly read.

My dentists are heros.

Hi Steve
Great news. Hope everything works out
Diane

Wow and Congratulations, Steve! We don't hear enough of that kind of news around here and thank you for telling us. Your dentists are indeed heroes, and I hope you let them know. May your treatment and recovery be swift and uneventful,
Joanna

Congratulations Steve. That's great news. Wishing you the speediest of recoveries ever. It is sooooooo good to hear of this cancer being caught early. It makes all the difference in the world.
Rainbows & hugs,
Rosie

Okay, update time.

I had surgery April 8. They cut out a strip of the right side of my tongue, 1cm x 3cm x 8mm deep. Clean margins. They did a neck dissection, removing 3 or so nodes plus a salivary gland, with pathology results negative. Had I not had an MRI before going to City of Hope, they would not have done the neck dissection. The enlarged gland that showed up was probably enlarged from the original biopsy. Most of my recover is a result of the neck dissection because the tongue thing was so easy. My surgery was three hours instead of one. But we know for sure, so I'm not too out of whack over the process.

I have nothing but praise to say about City of Hope. The folks are great and they did an excellent job on me. My surgeon and his assistant were a great team.

My first diagnosis was to remove about 1/3 of my tongue and then 6 weeks of radiation. After some research, I went to City of Hope for a second. They knew almost from the first exam that my cancer was very early stage, and probably would not require radiation.

I'm a lucky duck for sure, and my dentist caught this early. City of Hope is great, and cancer is their business. The Head and Neck guys are busy, have a lot of experience, and followed almost to the letter the info I also got from Anderson.

Steve - I'm glad to hear of the good news, and like Rosie has mentioned - it's wonderful that this cancer was caught and treated in it's early stages. It sounds like you are receiving exellent care and I wish you all the best in your recovery! Take care.

If your dentist is the one that caught this in an early stage, he needs to be recognized on our dental life savers page....contact me with his information. We like to see these guys get the credit they deserve. http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/lifesavers.htm

Okay, Brian. I'll get the info on my dentist.

Steve,
how wonderful to hear of someone else having a knowledgeable and vigilant dentist. Like you, I owe my life and early diagnosis to my dentist. I also got away with surgery only.
To great dentist!

Brian, I sent in the information on my Dentists.

Thanks everyone for your support. I hope I can provide as much assistance and comfort to others as I've received during this experience.