In July 2002 I had a lesion removed from my tongue (carcinoma in situ).
Last week (Tuesday May 27) I had a lesion and margins removed from the same area. I have not received the results yet (results take longer in Canada). My pathologist said that the lesion bled when she examined it and that she didn't like the look of it.

I would like to get some feedback about what kind of follow up I need to be doing whether the results come back as carcinoma in situ or worse.

My first surgery was done in a dentistry department of a major hospital in Toronto Canada. I am a 31 year old female (non-smoker, non-drinker). I had an oral surgeon freeze my mouth, take out the lesion, put in a few stitches and I was out the door in forty minutes. Same thing this time around.

In December I pushed for a CT scan of my neck lymph nodes from an ENT and he said that the results were fine (I believe they were between 1 and 1.4).

I would appreciate any advice on any follow up I need to do if it comes back as carcinoma in situ or Stage 1 (do I need an MRI? what kind of doctor should I be seeing?)

If there are any Torontonians out there who can give me the names of doctors I would appreciate that as well. I have been treated at Mount Sinai Dentistry Department.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Sandra,

I don't really have enough experience with this to give advice, but your situation sounds similar to mine. You can read about my experience in the introduction section of the forum, I posted in late April about my Stage I scc of the tongue.

Good luck to you!

Sandra, First Hello,
then I don't want to add extra worry for you but with squamous cell carcinoma you don't want to "under" treat the problem. This cancer has a nasty reputation for sneaking back. I don't know the Canadian system well enough to give you exact instruction but you need to see specialists with regard to radiation treatments (as a possibility) and specialists in head and neck surgery ENT. A CT scan is not sensitive enough to detect microscopic cancer spread. I suggest you not wait around you are much too young to take a chance. Obviously I do not know if you need any thing further for treatments but you need to seek out people that have a lot of experience with this cancer, and the treatments availiable.

Take care

P.S. let me stress that the course of treatments you are getting may indeed be the standard. But if it were me I'd want 10 or 20 qualified opinions to verify that fact.