| Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Okay, turns out I was a little too blase about a lump on my tongue and some bleeding and increasing pain. I've had blocked salivary glands routinely since my surgery and each time my ENT looked or felt those "Lumps", she assured me they were almost always benign and would resolve on their own. Which they always did. I figured I had dinged one with my electric toothbrush last Friday but I had an appointment at the end of the month so figured it' be the same old same old. But my wife had noticed that my breathing was much louder and my mucous much worse smelling and read me the riot act last night. Luckily for me, my ENT really likes me so when we called this morning, she skipped her lunch to squeeze us in. (My wife was not going to trust me to tell her if it was something bad right away since my viewpoint is it will never be something I can't handle so why worry her prematurely) Well my ENT took one look at what was now the size of a small grape or huge pea, dried blood in hardened mucous and said: whatever it is, its infected so Biopsy. Good thing she has a well equipped office as the lump was not only impossible for me to touch or see, but also for her. But with mirrors and tongue depressors and a wicked long needle with a flexible syringe tip that she bent into a semi circle, she was able to shoot some Novocain to numb me up. Then she used a tool that is actually a special sinus biopsy tool that also curves into a semi circle at the upper part to snip away bloody portions. A few silver nitrate sticks to cauterize the bleeding and I was done. Biopsy results around Thursday. I'm on Amoxicillin plus TH-K CLV - or super Baby antibiotic (works best with a feeding tube) and Percocet (grind up easy for the tube) for a week. (damn DEA: now I have to show a driver's license and have it photocopied and stapled to the pharmacist's copy of my prescription as though that would deter a dope addict)
Morale of this story: don't wait a week if you have a bleeding lump on your tongue , see your doctor. Charm 65 yr Old Frack Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+ 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Apaghia /G button 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa 40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | 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 | Oh Charm!!!!! WOW!!!!!
I am very sorry you have had to get a biopsy. I hope and pray you have nothing seriously wrong. I will be waiting on edge til I see your post on Thursday. Way to go Bev for making you go to the doctor!
Ive had 2 biopsies done this year myself. Both turned out to be nothing. Hope that helps to ease your troubled mind.
Be well, my friend!!! 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: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 595 | Good luck and best wishes for a negative result!!! Semper-Fi Bob
Bob age 57, non smoker,non drinker, ended treatment on 11 Nov 2007 and started back to work on 29 Nov 2007. Veterans Day 2012 the Battle was lowered, folded, Taps was played and the Flag buried as I am know a 5 year survivor. Semper-FI !!!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Dang Charm. Hate you had to go through this, but glad you did. I wish I had the kind of doctor you have - didn't get put off for a second. Mine would have made me wait two weeks from tomorrow. Hopefully, it's nothing, but I'm sending a prayer your way just in case.
julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 | Charm,
I'll be a wishin' and a hopin' that it's nothin'. Damn! Those biopsies friggin' kill, too!
You deserve some good luck! Take care and keep us posted.
xo, 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: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Oh my goodness, Charm! Sure hope everything turns out ok! Your doctor sounds really cool and your wife, super cool awesome! So glad you have such special people close and caring for you. Sending positive vibes your way. Keep us updated.
Anne-Marie CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 | I'm glad your wife is watching out for you. I hope your biopsy site is healing well and that you get a good report next week.
Tracy - 33 at diagnosis SCC right ventral tongue Dx 4/11. T1N2M0 1st resection 5/11. Bilateral neck dissection: 2 pos nodes 2nd resection w/graft 6/11. Erbitux x 11 completed 9/11. IMRT x 30 completed 8/11. 3 month MRI and PET/CT all clear. 6, 9, 12 and 24 month post treatment MRIs all clear. | | | | 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 | Frackin unbelievable! What we need to invent is a whole mouth transplant.
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: 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 | Ditto whatndavid said.,, I have faith its just an infection.but keeping my fingers crossed for you anyway.
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: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Best wishes from Ohio - please post as soon as you get your results. 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 Topics18,168 Posts196,925 Members13,103 | Most Online458 Jan 16th, 2020 | | | |