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#163122 03-23-2013 06:02 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
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Tinara Offline OP
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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.
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"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
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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!
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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






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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.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
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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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