I have been reading all of your posts for the last month, and I am impressed with your knowledge and candor. For the last four months, my tongue has been swelling and one side has been grooved, irritated, and red on and off. Two weeks ago, the ENT decided to do a biopsy and took a small piece. I got the news everything was normal today, so I thought my worrying was over. He told me he wants to do a deeper punch biopsy to make sure it there is not cancer deeper in the muscle of the tongue. Is this standard procedure? I don't know if I should get another opinion, because it is difficult to pinpoint exactly where to do the biopsy. I guess my worrying cannot stop!

I had a biopsy done Nov. 2011 Neg., in Jan. of 2012 had surgery and found a marble size tumor which was Cancer, had to have more of my tongue removed in Feb. 3/4 of my tongue removed in total and then 28 rads and 2 chemos. I would say do the deeper bio just to make sure!

Welcome. Your ENT is just being thorough, which is good, probably after a scalpel or brush biopsy. I would let him or her continue before getting another opinion, which will take time, and you already have an established relationship, instead of starting another, and will need all your records, pathology thus far. If it proves cancerous, and then ascertain his or her next steps, treatment options, you can get a 2nd opion, but you can really do so anytime, but the new one will ask why you didn't stay with your doctor. Congratulations on the negative results, so far, and the next.

Thank you so much for the responses. I am scheduled to do the deeper biopsy next week. I am just a little numb, because I thought I would be done with not knowing one way or the other this week. I am still concerned if he will be able to biopsy the "right" spot, because I have irritation down half of the side of my tongue. I will wait and see again.