Thanks all for this wonderful forum.

My name is Ananth and I live in Davis, CA.

Was diagnosed with SCC Stage 1(lower right side of tongue) after an excisional biopsy(0.35 mm invasive SCC), clear margins. April 2012.

Now there appears to be a small lesion near the original site.
I have a CT scheduled next week and we're going to excise this one as well.

Has anyone had similar symptoms? What's the prognosis if the SCC returns within 6 months of surgery? Much worse than usual?

Thanks in advance.

Yes - unfortunately drs, excise say we got clear margins and leave it at that. This can be costly time wise as they can't see if there is any microscopic cancer left - it's rare - the do this and don't have a recurrence - at least from what I've read and seen. I get that they prefer to do minimum damage - but people tend to walk away thinking they've dodged a bullet only to face another lesion and possible lymphnode involvement - which can be dangerous if the cancer is agressive. great you caught it early. Keep an eye on your neck and hope its not a recurrence... Welcome - and sorry you have to be here!

Thanks, Cheryl...

I'm hoping it's not a recurrence.

Part of it is my history(I've had a tongue lesion atleast for 8 years prior to the April 2012 excision, 4 previous punch biopsies were negative)...

Fingers crossed...

Welcome to OCF! Best thing you can do is to be vigilant in watching for changes in your mouth and getting checked out when you see something that isnt right. I would suggest you calling your doc and getting int there ASAP to get a biopsy done. the rule goes like this ... any sore that has been in your mouth for 2 weeks or longer needs to be checked by a professional. As a OC survivor you should be able to get into your doc quickly and hopefully they will do a biopsy right away. You should not have to wait until Oct to be seen.

Unfortunately it can happen. It happened to me. I finished rads w/ chemo got clean scans and 7 months later I found a teeny tiny white spot almost exactly where my original tumor was. A biopsy confirmed SCC.

What was the lesion on your tongue that you had there for 8 years?

Best wishes!!!!!

Thanks Christine!

The docs weren't sure of my pre-SCC(about 8 years) lesions other than leukoplakia....

I'm going to try and schedule my biopsy ASAP, just wanted my CT done so that we can have a baseline...

Ananth, get a biopsy done as soon as possible. And, probably go for PET/CT rather than CT alone. Since you were T1Nx initially with well differentiated tumor and you did not have multimodality treatment, you should have good prognosis. Wish you all the best, it may be just like your previous negative biopsies.

Eshwar, Thanks.

I'm not entirely clear why a PET/CT wasn't ordered and only a CT, possibly due to my small tumor size initially(0.35mm) and due to cost concerns...

My CT results are back, but my surgeon is out of the country and I'm meeting him next Tuesday(Oct 2)....

2 things of concern for me:
1. The largest lymph nodes they've noted are 13 x 5 mm and 10 x 6 mm. The report also notes similar smaller lymph nodes(peri/sub cm).

2. A 2.5 mm lung nodule.

Here's the report synopsis:
1. STATUS POST PARTIAL RIGHT GLOSSECTOMY. NO DISCRETE MASS OR SOFT TISSUE FULLNESS IS APPRECIATED IN THE RIGHT TONGUE OR RIGHT FLOOR OF THE MOUTH.

2. SUBCENTIMETER LYMPH NODES IN THE NECK AT LEVELS 1B AND 2.

3. 2.5 MM NODULE AT THE RIGHT LUNG APEX. RECOMMEND A DEDICATED CT CHEST FOR COMPLETE EVALUATION OF THE THORAX.

I'm going to keep calm till my surgeon returns(he basically sent an EMR message from Argentina where he is right now) saying it's unlikely to be mets and that he hasn't seen the slides, only the report.

Anyway, fingers crossed and hoping for the best...

Honestly I wouldn't wait see if you can get them at least to schedule the chest ct for you now The nodule could be anything but move on it quickly regardless. If you haven't had radiation or chemo there is always the potential for microscopic cancer left in the nodes - once its there it can spread. Even if it shaves just a few days off your wait time it's worth it to call and have them set up the next scan. - going to see the dr is great but he'll likely have you in go over the findings and have them schedule a ct anyway - get the jump on the process. If its not met sthen great less time worrying if it is you've save yourself some time and a wait ps cts results are usually available in 2 hes.

Thanks, Cheryl. This is exactly the question I asked my surgeon, should I schedule a chest CT before he returns. This is his reply:

I am in Argentina w very bad Internet connection. I have seen the report but cannot view the images. I am sure the words in the report have been very scary but I would not get too concerned until I have a chance to see them when I return. Regarding the chest ct. I would also like to see the films but for such a small tumor it is very unlikely to be a tumor in the chest. I hope his helps a little.

I'm not sure what I want to do now!

When does he return?

David, I'm seeing him next Tuesday(Oct 2) morning.

Book your ct ASAP if you can - you can always cancel it if he deems it unnecessary. hope its nothing.

Hi Ananth, while I am hoping that it turns out to be negative, I do suggest to move very fast on this. It really does not matter if the doctor ordered PET/CT or CT as should there be any thing suspicious, conclusions can be only drawn by a biopsy.

Regarding the report:

Your tongue came out to be all clear!

Are the affected lymph nodes on the same side of neck as your were operated (for tongue)?

When did you have the last CT and were there any observations about any lymph node?

Hi Eshwar, thanks. I've never had a CT before this one.

3 nodes were noted in the report, 2 on the left(10x5mm, 10x6 mm) & one on the right side(13 x 5 mm). My lesion is on the right. Strangely it seems to have shrunk a bit(I could be imagining things).

By biopsy, you also mean biopsying the 3 nodes as well as the lesion right? It's a little frustrating that I can't talk to the Doctor right now, but I'll move as quickly as I can.

Hi again. Okay - you should definitely be scheduled for a biopsy. Nodes and lung -that's he only way to know for sure if you're not at a ccc get to one. I'm sure your dr. Is fine but tere is a standard protocol for this type of cancer, and oral cancer (non HPV) can be aggressive. Everyday you wait for your dr. To get back from vacation is a day you could be getting things done in terms of appointments etc.. Truthfully it's a moot point now (your appointment is soon), but looking back at your history, it could very well be a recurrence (sorry don't want to freak you out - but the best way to catch this sucker is a the starting gate with both barrels blazing - surgery - rads and chemo.) the fact that you didn't have this tells me that they may not have gotten it all despite clear margins - cancer is cellular - there could be microscopic bits floating around that remain inactive or slow growing, post surgery. I've said his a few times on here - quoting an oncologist - there is no such thing as a recurrence - it means they didn't get it all. Particularly this soon out of treatment. (surgery) sometimes. Cancer may pop up a few years out often then it's a question of whether its a second primary. Anyway, push for them to move quickly on this. I too had a Long history of inflammation - leukoplakia - when I got this dx my specialist threw the proverbial book at me. No guarantees of no recurrence but at least I can say I did what I could. Hugs - fingers crossed too...

Hopefully it's not a recurrence, and something else minor. It could be reminiscent cancer, missed last time. I know for scc, at least in the lymph nodes after surgery, if cancer come back, it usually does at the surgical line, and did twice in my case, but I forget why that happens. You are still in a good position for cure, being you only had prior excisional surgery, , and all your options seem open. If you had prior therapy, surgey, radiation, chemo, and even lymph node invlolvemnt, that changes prognosis, but these days more is being done with accurate radiation, reirridation, radiossenting drugs, and surgical techniques. I'm not familiar with tongue Cancat, as I am my own, but similar in ceryain aspects. Chemo and radiation may be considered if it is a recurrence due the possibility of microscopic cancer is missed and lymoh node involvemnt. As mentioned, get your tests done first, and good you caught it early. Best of luck.

I met with my surgeon and am less anxious than before. He feels the nodes don't have to be biopsied(their size, shape other characteristics & my physical) don't warrant that according to him.

My lesion is going to be excised completely on Oct 15th. Surgeon thinks that it is dysplasia and not cancer this time, but who knows?

My care is at UCDavis(a CCC); my ent surgeon is supposed to be very good, who sees lots of head & neck pathology. My wife is also a physician(nephrologist) at UCD.

Hoping for the best...

All abnormal looking tissue was excised and biopsy has come back negative!

For the moment, a sigh of relief!

My life will forever be on tenterhooks, since I've had this diagnosis once, but now I'm prepared for anything, having read the inspirational stories here. Thanks all for your support and wishing the very best for everyone in their fight!

Congratulations!!! Always nice to hear some good news.
Go live life to the fullest and enjoy.
Have fun,
Kathy

Great news!

Great news Ananth, enjoy your life. Take a break and have a holiday with your wife!

That's sooo great!mnow breath!

Terrific!