| | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4 Member | OP  Member
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4 | I was just diagnosed with stage one tongue cancer, I have been talking so far only with surgeons, but I would like to get a second opinion from the oncology center at a different hospital here in Prague next week, I am wondering if anyone here was treated for a similar tumor with a linear accelerator instead of surgery? | | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Hi welcome! Yes - I've had tongue cancer (oral tongue) - but not the treatment you've mentioned. Stage 1 is a good time to catch it. The north american standard for care for oral tongue cancer is surgery - removal of the tumor - lesion, a neck dissection (that's where it likes to spread to and often there is microscopic cancer in the nodes or a node that doesn't show up on a ct, or MRI) then they decide based on the biopsy and surgery whether to give you radiation and chemo. Base of tongue (basically in your throat) is often treated with just radiation and chemo. What is a linear accelerator... Never heard of it? Good luck - but do decide quickly this cancer can move fast  hugs!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 | I had Stage 1 tongue cancer. I agree with everything Cheryl said. Let me add you do want the surgery and ND.
Good luck.... get moving on this it's agressive.
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: 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. Glad you have found this site to help you with info and support. Since you have only saw surgeons then Im sure you only have been given the option of surgery. I would suggest going to a major cancer center in a large city (exactly what you mentioned). See a whole team of doctors who will all work together and meet to discuss your case. This should be a place where they have seen many other oral cancer patients.
Good luck!
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: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Cheryl - The machines used for radiation therapy are technically linear accelerators, but that terminology is more common in scientific than medical circles here in the states (and likely Canada). Check wikipedia or about for more information you didn't want to know.
PragueBob -
glad they caught it a stage 1! As Cheryl notes, where the tumor is located will determine treatment.
Last edited by Maria; 05-15-2012 11:17 AM.
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Ahhhhhh.... Thanks... ;o)
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 | Ahoj Bob. You got the expert coaches! Na zdravie!
Caco
CG to Dad. Biopsy 5/11 non-op, SCC stage IV poorly dif at base of tongue with nodes, quit smoking in '85, ChemoRad began 8/2/11 ended 9/22/11 with NED. Distant mets 11/11, clinical trials. War raging on!
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 | Sorry for your recent diagnosis, but I'm so glad it's at Stage I. Get the best medical care you can and fast! You will have your best chance of beating this and going on with your life. Please keep us posted.
Best wishes,
Kerri
37 y/o fem at Dx (23 wks preg @ dx on 3/16/11)
SCC L oral tongue (no risk factors)
L partial gloss/MND 3/28/11 @ 25 wks preg
T1-2N0M0; no rads/chemo
Tonsillectomy on 8/6/12 +SCC L tonsil T2-3N1M0 (HPV-)
Treated with 35 rads/7 carbo & taxol (Rx ended 10/31/12), but many hospitalizations d/t complications from rx.
Various scans since rx ended are NED!
Part of genetic study for rare cancers @ MGH.
44 years old now...I wasn't sure I would make it! Hoping for 40 more!
| | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4 Member | | OP Member
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4 | Wow, thanks so much to everyone for all the quick responses and advice, O am overwhelmed. Hugs to everyone. I was told by the first surgical team that found my stage one anterior tongue tumor here in Prague, that it would be better to have reconstruction done in the U.K. rather than here, but unfortunately it is not an option. I am a U.S. citizen living long-term in the Czech Republic and my Czech insurance only covers me here. This is one reason I want to hear about options other than surgery, especially LINAC or other beam radiotherapy. But any advice on getting through the surgery and reconstruction is also very welcome, as in the end I may have no other option. Thanks again! | | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Hi, Bob
So, oddly enough, although the surgery sounds pretty wretched, it doesn't generate late effects in the same way that radiation and chemo do. If you haven't already done so, look at the NCCN Treatment guidelines available on this site - surgery is the primary treatment for anterior tongue cancers.
By the way - if you are a smoker, probably the best thing you can do for yourself is to quit now.
Best wishes,
Maria
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,170 Posts196,933 Members13,105 | | Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020 | | |
|
