| Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | I have read some of the posts here before joining up and this is my first post. I went to the dentist at the Dental School clinic on Thursday, January 22nd. I'm retired, on fixed income, and needed help getting my fixed bridge repaired. During the screening exam by a 3rd year dental student, supervised by her professor, a lesion was found under my tongue (on the ventral lateral surface of the tongue) which I had known nothing about. It was termed leukoplakia and I was referred to the Residents' Clinic of the teaching dental school here in Denver because students don't handle the "complex cases". Now I must wait for "my" Resident to call me. Apparently the cases are reviewed and portioned out, then the resident calls the patient in for formulating a plan of care. I'm 70 years old and my 49 year old daughter went with me to the appointment, thank goodness, because the shock of the discovery temporarily erased every other thought from my mind. Dear daughter took notes on her I-pad and stayed with me to discuss things after bringing me home. As soon as possible that evening, I naturally consulted Dr. Google and believe that my lesion should more appropriately be termed erythroleukoplakia, because it is mainly red with white patches or spots. In further explorations on the web since then, I found this site and am very glad I did. It's hard not to let the imagination run away and start speculating, but I am doing my best and will take it one step at a time till diagnosis of this lesion. Glad to find such level-headed folks posting on here and sharing the wisdom of experience. I will post as I am given information and a treatment plan. Mia
Last edited by Mia; 01-24-2015 09:02 PM.
| | | | 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 | Welcome to OCF, Mia. there have been several members with a similar diagnosis. From my understanding your condition does not necessarily turn into cancer. Hopefully yours will not change and it will be easily resolved. Best wishes! PS... Beware of Dr Google. If someone puts in enough symptoms, even a 90 year old great-grandfather will show as being 9 months pregnant. 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 2014 Posts: 55 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 55 | Just my own two cents, but I have had the standard white leukoplakia patch under my tongue for about 5 years now. They have done a biopsy every year and always come back negative for cancer. Even though I did end up with oral cancer, the original patch had nothing to do with it. I hope your findings come back clean and if anything, this will allow you to be able to examine your mouth carefully in the future which mine allowed me to. If i hadn't been so careful about lesions in my mouth, i may have let this cancer go far too long without being attended to.
Jeff - 41yrs old/previous smoker SCC buccal mucosa/jaw bone Stage 4 Nov '14 Partial Mandibulectomy with fibula flap, neck dissection Jan '15 Rads x35 Cisplatin x2 Apr '15 PET/CT concerning area Follow up MRI no mass. July '15 PET/CT 11mm nodule in right lower lobe the lung. Oct '15 PET/CT right lung nodule 3cm mass also new left lung nodules Nov '15 erbitux Mar '16 CT tumors are growing again, waiting on next step June'16 hospice had 3 Opdivo infusions trying to regain health
| | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | Thanks for taking time to post your kind replies. My surprise and shock are because I am a "never" smoker and only drink toasts to the bride & groom at weddings. I went to the dentist to get my bridge repaired and this came out of the blue. I never felt anything different and never saw the lesion. But now it must be dealt with and we will see what it turns out to be.
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Welcome to OCF, Mia. This is a great place to get accurate information and first hand experiences with oral cancers. Try to avoid the general searches, you are lucky to find this place; it is a rare oasis of truly helpful and useful information. Best of luck as you continue the visits. 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: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Glad you found this place, Mia - It is the best place to be for the latest in accurate information, plus the knowledge and compassion shared by many who have experienced what you are going through. Try not to check Dr. Google - it can be a crazy maker! What you seem to have may turn out to be nothing serious. As mentioned many times on this forum, the only way to tell for sure is with a biopsy. Keeping busy is good and you can use the "waiting" time to check out the main pages of this site, where you will find lots of info on diagnoses and different kinds of biopsies. It can also help you to formulate any questions you might have for your doctor or for anyone here. Hope your diagnosis brings you good news and whatever it is, you have lots of support from everyone here.
Anne-Marie CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 383 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 383 | Welcome Mia, This is a great site with wonderful, caring people! I know it's hard not to borrow trouble so hopefully you will get underway and have nothing but the best of news in a short time frame!
Hoping and Praying for the best for you!
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: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | [quote=Steve F.]Welcome Mia, This is a great site with wonderful, caring people! I know it's hard not to borrow trouble so hopefully you will get underway and have nothing but the best of news in a short time frame! Hoping and Praying for the best for you! [/quote]
Thank you, Steve. Right now I am 4 days out from discovery and awaiting next appointment. Feeling numb and exhausted, something like an accident victim. We all need prayer here and I am returning your kindness/will pray for complete success re your newest challenge. With your attitude it's a sure thing!
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | Okay, here is my promised update. I got a call to go back in to the dental school Residents clinic. My appt. will be for 2:30 p.m. tomorrow, but he asked me to be there early, maybe 2:10 p.m., in case they can take me early. The resident will evaluate and assess the lesion. Based on what he sees, the plan would be to remove and/or biopsy the lesion. "Who" and "When" I assume will depend again on what he sees. I'm really glad they got me back in so soon. I will sleep better tonight, knowing that I am closer to finding out what is going on in there.
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
| | | | 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 | Good luck... I hope it's just a lesion!!! Let us know.
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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