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.

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

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,

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.

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.