Hi! I am 4 weeks post 2nd surgery for tongue cancer. I'm an active 61 and still work as a high school teacher. This is a bit difficult with a hole in my tongue so I'm not starting again till next week. (Last little bit of tongue wound won't heal.)
I've had trouble with the left side of my tongue for four years. I had lichen planus; I had all my amalgam fillings out on the advice of a skin specialist and I moaned and complained about my sore tongue to all and sundry. Apparently it didn't look like cancer. Then on 3 September I finally had a biopsy and removal of the lichen planus too: of course scc was found, stage one and no lymph node involvement. Good I thought - shouldn't be too bad even if I did have to have a wider excision - 2nd surgery with Laser and tisseal glue. That went OK - not so painful - but the histology was strange - several other primaries - something about a multiple focus and something about an extensive field change. It wasn't explained to me at all well. I've seen only the surgeon and his staff and have asked that I can see an oncologist. It wasn't until I happened upon this site that I fully realised what a field change was.
In 1996 I had ovarian cancer stage 3C but miraculously I got over that. Phew! I not too sure about this one!

Hang in there Cecelia. You are at the right spot for advice and help and you WILL get through this - with the help of family and friends. Keep posting and let us know how you are doing. We're here for you.

Donna

Hi Cecilia and welcome.

sounds like a lot of information given with not much substance.Pin them down girl and ask some pertinent questions,then you can get the facts you need and use this forum for any help and support we can give.
good luck
liz

Hi Cecilia - So glad you found us! I would definitely make sure and get all your questions answered when you see the doctor. At my son's first few appointments, I had two other people go with me including a retired nurse friend of mine. We all asked questions of the doctors and it really helped to clarify things. Write your questions out ahead of time and bring a note pad to write down things you want to remember. Having someone with you is great for moral support, too!

Cecelia, I heartly concur with the suggestions above. Find an Oncologist that will spend time talking to you [preferably with a friend or another good listener]. There is so much info on the internet [good, bad AND overwhelming]that one can quickly become very confused. Staying focused and in the present will help you get through this. Amy in the Ozarks

Cecelia - Run a search on lichen planus in this OCF site - it will tell you more about it from others who got SCC from the lichen planus, my husband included. Then keep in touch...we're all here for you. Warmly, JaneP

When all else fails, read the instructions. No time to do that now so at risk of repeating myself, I'd like to thank all who replied to my initial post. This is a great site and I already feel more in control of my situation.
Cecelia