| Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 3 | Feeling a bit scared about the new white spot that popped up on my tongue. Had SCC less then a year ago for which about 4 inches was removed from tongue. No radiation. Now a fast growing lesion on the same area. ENT will biopsy it in 6 days.
I heard that the prognosis is really poor when tongue cancer comes back within the first 2 years after surgery. Is very aggressive.
Feeling disconnected in order to not feel the pain that comes from knowing this time could be more than I can handle.
Last edited by ChristineB; 03-24-2013 10:56 AM.
| | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | Tinara, I hear you. Of course you are scared right now, and you don't have enough information as to what is going on to be able to deal with this yet. It is very scary to think that once again you may have to deal with a cancer again. But, you don't yet know this. Wait for the biopsy and then the results. Try not to let your mind wander to that dark space. Tell your self to STOP. Then redirect your thoughts elsewhere. Believe me, you will handle whatever comes your way. It is the only thing to do. We all just carry on, even though it can be very difficult. By the way, my husbands cancer returned within the first year. He had surgery and 12 months later is doing fine. Keep yourself busy, and let us know how things turn out, Tammy
Last edited by ChristineB; 03-24-2013 10:56 AM.
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT. PET 6/11 clear. R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in. March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | Sorry for your troubles. There is a concept of " field cancerization" due to exposure to carcinogens in the aerodigestive tract, adjacent to tumor tissue, and can explain multiple tumors, as well as multiple primaries, synchrounous, monochronous distant tumors, and recurrences due to this exposure, and change in tissue,
Last edited by ChristineB; 03-24-2013 10:57 AM.
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: 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 | Tinara, please dont get ahead of yourself. Worrying can cause much unneeded stress. Ive been in your situation more times than I would like to count, some have been recurrences and others false alarms. This has taught me to remain calm and to go about my regular life until I get bad news that I am sick. Until you hear you have cancer try to keep very busy to keep your mind off worrying. By staying super busy it will also help to tired you out so you can sleep at night. I think of cancer like a thief, it steals your time away from you and your family. By not giving in to the worrying, you are the one in control. It isnt easy but you can overcome the anxiety with concentration on positive things.
I am living proof that recurrences are NOT always deadly. Ive had oral cancer 3 times and Im still here. My last round was in 2009. Yes, OC is a difficult cancer to get thru but it can be done. Please click on the blinking envelope next to the "my Stuff" tab, its full of important info to help you with the forum.
Wishing you all the very best!!! Hope you do NOT join our recurrence club. 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: 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 | What Christine says is true a recurrence is not necessarily hand in hand with a poor outcome. It's a scarier situation when you've had the gamut of treatment and then face a recurrence. In this case your options are still wide open - that said it should be dealt with expediently - regardless of whether its confirmed as a cancer or not. You want the biopsy and results asap. Unfortunately this happens a lot if the just do surgery, without follow up treatment. Call the ENT and tell them your available if they can put you on a waiting list. Hopefully it's nothing but if it is I would make sure you're being treated at a ccc and move quickly. And if they're doing surgery the should go for the nodes as well. Hugs.
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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