| Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 | Hi. It's amazing that I have worked with computers for 15 years and have hardly posted on this type of forum. I found out today that I have a marble sized lump under an inflamed circle on the right side of my tongue. My Doctor has been treating the circle with three biopsies, removal of the inflamed area, cortosone paste, a shot, and a potent mouth wash coctail and the area has still not healed since May. An MRI finally found the lump, so, given the history and symptoms, the lump is going to be treated like tongue cancer. Biopsies show only inflamation. Does a two week recovery sound realistic? | | | | 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 | Mark, welcome to OCF! Sorry you are going thru some problems with this sore. I can attempt to give you a guess but thats all it will be. What kind of doctor is treating you? If this sore is going to be treated as oral cancer, then what exactly will the doctor be doing to treat it? Do you smoke or drink? If so, quit to give your mouth a chance to heal.
If I were in your position, I would seek out a second opinion at a large cancer center. How long you will take to recover depends on many factors, including age and health. One thing you mentioned is that this area has not healed since May. By saying you are having healing issues, it leads me to think you could be in recovery longer than 2 weeks. So to answer your question, I would guess it could be 2 to 4 weeks (possibly even longer) for recovery depending on how much tissue is going to be taken.
When treating cancer, if a patient is having surgery the surgeon will remove a wide margin around the tumor. This is to make sure he gets every single teeny tiny cell or it will just come back. This is just to help you understand, not exactly what will happen with your situation. For example, say your tumor is the size of a dime, the surgeon will take tissue the size of at least a quarter. Many cancer patients will also have radiation with or without chemo to 'clean up' any stragglers. Was that discussed with you? I would think probably not since the lump is only an inflammation.
A couple words of advice.... surgeons cut and once its gone it cant be put back to be the same as it was prior to the surgery. Please see an ENT who is familiar with oral cancer and anything else that can happen in a persons mouth. Try rinsing at least 4 times per day with a mixture of 16 oz warm water, 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp salt. That should help it to heal.
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: 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 | Yes RUN to another or should I say to the first qualified medical practitioner to get a real diagnosis. "Treating this like cancer" without knowing if it is cancer is the dumbest comment I have heard since I have been on this board and believe me I have read some doosies.
You see it's only cancer if it has been biopsied and confirmed as such by a pathologist. If it's not cancer then it needs to be treated as such. If it is cancer then the treatment process ramps up 1000 fold and you don't want to go there unless you absolutely have to.
Please get yourself an appt with an ENT. That would probably be my next move. I went to 5, as in cinco, qualified doctors before I let anyone do anything more than a biopsy and I am glad I did because IMO if I had stopped after the 3rd doc I wouldn't be typing right now unless they have computers 6 feet under.
Oh welcome to this site. You did the right thing by presenting yourself and seeking help. Keep on searching.
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: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 | Thank you for your comments. The doctor who has been treating me is through KP. This doctor has been very aggressive. As I understand it, the doctor plans to have the lump checked by a pathologist during the surgery. He advised he is trying to avoid multiple surgical procedures. Without mentioning names...
Background Head & Neck Surgery is another name for Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) or Otolaryngology. My specialty encompasses the medical and surgical management of disease involving the ear, nose, sinuses, throat, and neck. Some of the problems that I encounter include hearing loss, ear infections, cholesteatoma, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, nasal septal deviation, head & neck tumors, facial fractures, hoarseness, and thyroid disease.
Roles and Responsibilities As your physician, we will have several goals to accomplish together. During your office visit, we will discuss your symptoms, examine the ears, nose, and throat, and, if needed, use other tools, such as lab tests, imaging and hearing tests to develop a diagnosis. Then, we will discuss treatment options and hopefully offer you enough information so that you will be able to make an informed decision on your medical and/or surgical treatment.
Credentials Medical Education UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA Internship Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN Residency Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN Board certification Otolaryngology, American Board of Otolaryngology | | | | Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 | Thanks Christine. I have never smoked and I might have a glass of wine or a beer once a month. I agree with the healing history and expected recovery. Chemo or radiation has not been mentioned yet. Having had my uvula and soft palate removed for sleap apnea, which did not help much, I totally understand about "..it can't be put back.." I have tried the warm water and sodium approach. Basically, the surface area has remained the same, no better and no worse. One biopsy showed a yeast infection which was taken care of. I should mention that the doctor removed the entire circle down to the muscle as well and that has not fully healed after a month. | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Mark, I recommend you listen to DavidCPA and Christine. No matter what your doctor's credentials are it sounds crazy to me to operate on something because he thinks it could be cancer even though it hasn't been biopsied. Or did one of those three biopsies you mention show a malignancy?
You don't say where in California you are, but if you're anywhere near LA I know some great people I can recommend.
Good luck - keep us posted.
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: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | I would obtain copies of your actual test results - particularly the pathology reports. They have to give them to you if you request them. Also, KP does have a procedure for obtaining second options. Might be time to use it! Maria
Last edited by Maria; 08-03-2012 10:34 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: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 Member | OP Member Joined: Aug 2012 Posts: 4 | My thanks to everyone. I will definately check out my options for a second opinion. By the way, I am in the Sacramento area. Ironic that I work as a contractor for Sutter and my health insurance is through KP via my wife. Best wishes and have a great weekend. | | | | 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 there I had a very similar situatin to yours for several years. My tongue was inflamed and sor, two buppies said it wasn't cancer inflammation only - had the first ENT I went to gone deeper he would have found the lump I under the inflamed area inside my tongue two years prior to my dx - another dr. Finally looked at it - said I don't like this area did a deeper biopsy and it came back cancer. It's good he's removing it however do have it done at a ccc - if it is a tumor, it should be treated aggressively. Best of luck!
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
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