| Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 37 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 37 | Hi all. I am 30, never smoked a day in my life. I had a biopsy on my tongue on Friday, 3/8. The lesion is on the left side of my tongue, dead center where it touches my teeth. The spot on my tongue has been there for 7 months, and has been sore for a while. I get biopsy results on Monday.
My question is about healing from a biopsy. I am surprised about how much more my tongue hurts now (5 days later) than it did the day after the procedure. The stitch is still in there and the whole white area is SUPER sore right now. I haven't eaten normal food in a while. I am a teacher, which requires more talking, but I am downing ibuprofen like crazy. Any guidance or input would be greatly appreciated. Most likely I am going to have an excision of the entire lesion about the size of a dime (a little bigger possibly).
Thanks and prayers for a positive diagnosis.
Lori, age 30 (HPV-, non-drinker, non-smoker, non-tobacoo user) Dx 3/18/13 - T1N0M0 SCC L.Tongue Tx 4/4/13 - Partial glossectomy (no rad/no chemo). 8/8/13 - Thyroid FNA - benign nodule 12/20/13 - Tongue Biopsy - Mild hyperkeratotic dysplasia 12/26/13 - Lymph FNA - benign (dx Cervical lymphadenopathy) 3/17/14 - Tongue Biopsy - normal tissue 5/5/14 - Tongue Biopsy - (awaiting results)
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Warm water salt rinses and calling your doctor for a painkiller stronger that tylenol would be a good idea. Sounds very painful and I am surprised they didn't give you any pain killers. No doubt the stitch itself is causing additional irritation.
As I understood your post, this lesion is far forward in your mouth?? If so, I must say that I have not seen cancerous lesions that far forward - I'm sure they exist - but I have not seen any that I remember - so that is good news for you.
Call your doctor - perhaps he will prescribe something called "magic mouthwash" which is a pharmacist made cocktail comprised of various drugs - works great for numbing the pain in the mouth.
Let us know how it goes, and yes - sending good thoughts and prayers for "all clear" results.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | 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 | Hopefully the biopsy will come back negative for cancer.
Besides asking for a prescription for magic mouthwash, try rinsing your mouth several times per day. Mix together 16 oz warm water, 2 tsp baking soda and 2 tsp salt. Swish it around for 15+ seconds and spit it out. This mixture will help with healing.
Best wishes! 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: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Baking soda and salt mix. I have this mix on my next to the bathroom sink and put a spoonful into a short cup with warm water every time I visit the bathroom. Always there and ready to serve. Easiest way for me to make sure to gargle with the stuff when battling any mouth sores.
don
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | | | 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 | Best of luck with the biopsy results. I had a similar lesion two years ago... And the biopsy site never healed before the surgery - it just remained painful. My lesion was on my left side near the back underside. Hoping yours is nothing more than an irritation but if it turns out to be cancer make sure you are treated at a top ccc. Prayers and best wishes to you.
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 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Welcome. Hopefully it's just from the teeth rubbing your tongue or something else mnor. Happened to me, and the two small incisional biopsies hurt for a while.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks 06/11 30 HBO 08/11 RND PNI 06/12 SND PNI LVI 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux 10/13 SND 10/13 TBO/Angiograph 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site 06/17 Heart Attack Stent 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 37 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 37 | Well, it is cancer. I am going to post on the diagnosis bored for some additional help. Thanks. I go tomorrow for xrays, and blood work I think. Then a follow-up visit with the doctor on Thursday. What questions should I be asking. The biopsy just showed stage 1, so they are hopeful that it has not spread.
Lori, age 30 (HPV-, non-drinker, non-smoker, non-tobacoo user) Dx 3/18/13 - T1N0M0 SCC L.Tongue Tx 4/4/13 - Partial glossectomy (no rad/no chemo). 8/8/13 - Thyroid FNA - benign nodule 12/20/13 - Tongue Biopsy - Mild hyperkeratotic dysplasia 12/26/13 - Lymph FNA - benign (dx Cervical lymphadenopathy) 3/17/14 - Tongue Biopsy - normal tissue 5/5/14 - Tongue Biopsy - (awaiting results)
| | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 383 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 383 | Best wishes, this group and this site is full of awesome people and great information that will help you on your journey!
Steve
SCC right side BOT/FOM; DX 1-25-06; Neck dissection/25% of tongue removed 2-17-06. Stage 2 Recurrence 7-06: IMRTX35 & 3X Cisplatin ended 10-18-06. Tumor found 03/18/13; Partial Glossectomy 03/28/13 left lateral tongue. Nov. 2014; headaches,lump on left side of throat. Radical Neck Dissection 12-17-14; Tumor into nerves/jugular; Surgery successful, IMRTX30 & 7X Erbotux. Scan 06-03-15; NED! 06-02-16; Mets to left Humerus bone and lesion on lungs-here We go again! Never, Ever Give Up!
**** PASSED AWAY 10/8/16 ****
| | | | 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 | I think you should push to have a CT and/or MRI ASAP... Be seen at a top cancer center. Moffat is supposed to be awesome. Usually the treatment for this is surgery... as it's LIKELY not HPV related. Even if they suspect that it has not spread to the nodes, this type of cancer can be very aggressive, and there could very easily be microscopic cancer in the nodes (this does not show up on a CT or MRI), so if they recommend a neck dissection then I would go with it. The surgery is nothing compared to radiation. It's a big surgery, but recovery usually runs 10 days to a month (being able to eat and speak ok) Also if after surgery they say you're cured (assuming they do surgery - which they should) keep a very close eye on your neck and mouth and at the first sign of anything unusual (non healing areas, and or swollen nodes) high tail it back to the dr. ASAP. This cancer as I said can be aggressive. Throw the book at it from the start. Too many people are caught behind the 8 ball after the fact. Eat up now... ;o)try to gain some weight. Hugs and best of luck... Most importantly I will reiterate - go to a CCC if you can!
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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