#43357 05-27-2004 10:45 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 50 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 50 | Thanks for all the inquiries on the results of my test. I apologize for the lateness of my reply. I am happy to report that the margins came back clean and the nodes taken from my neck were also clean. I am to see the Dr once every six weeks for a year. Once every two months for a year, and then less often for another three years. So I am feeling pretty good and giving thanks for the good news. The surgery was not too bad, I have a slight speach impediment now, but hey, I can live with that. Hope all is well.
John | | |
#43358 05-27-2004 10:52 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | John,
Congratulations -- that's great news!
Speech impediments often have a way of lessening or going away entirely after some healing, so it could be just a short-term thing.
Please stay in touch with us.
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#43359 05-27-2004 12:17 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | Platinum Member (200+ posts) Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 | Great news John!!! Words we love to hear: "clean margins" and "negative for cancer." I agree that your speech problems may lessen over time. I was scared to make phone calls for a few weeks after mine, but now people forget that I've even had surgery to my tongue when they talk to me...
Tongue cancer (SCC), diagnosed Oct. 2003 (T2 N0 M0). Surgery to remove tumor. IMRT Radiation 30x in Dec 2003 - Jan. 2004. Recurrence lymph node - radical neck dissection June 2004. Second round of rad/chemo treatments ended Sept. 2004.
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#43360 05-27-2004 12:42 PM | Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 95 Senior Member (75+ posts) | Senior Member (75+ posts) Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 95 | John Great news . When your speech comes back mac\ke sure you Yahoo.Diane | | |
#43361 05-27-2004 12:50 PM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 Gold Member (100+ posts) | Gold Member (100+ posts) Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 | John,
Fantastic!!! Your speech will improve once the swelling goes down. It may take a few weeks, just be patient.
Lynn
Stage 3, N0, M0 oral tongue cancer survivor, 85-90% of tongue removed, neck disection, left tonsil removed, chemo/radiation treatments, surgery 11/03, raditation ended 1/04, lung mets discovered 4/04,
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#43362 05-27-2004 03:33 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 372 | John, Great news...what stage were you in and did they mention anything about the need for possible radiation? I didn't see that info in your signature and can't remember your other posts. Not trying to worry you, but Dan's nodes were negative and he got a neck tumor 4 months later. I found out they only took a few nodes even though he was stage 2/3 and the tongue SCC was probably quarter sized by then. I wasn't ready this board then and didn't realize how important questions about radiation as prevention would have been. We will never know if it would have made any difference, but it was never even brought up...just trying to make you aware of some things we were not at the time.
Praise God for your clean margins and may He continue to give you healing.
Debbie
Debbie - Caregiver for husband, Dan, diagnosed with tongue cancer 7/03. Partial gloss., mod. neck dissections, graft. Recurrence neck tumor 12/03. Radical left neck dissection 12/24/03-unable to get all the tumor. 8 weeks chemo/rad beginning 1/12/04.
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#43363 05-28-2004 01:13 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | John,
I agree with Debbie's point about getting your medical team to address the radiation question. My team was quite confident they had clean margins, but there were certain characteristics of the tumor that caused them to push strenuously for radiation. I didn't like hearing that at the time, but in retrospect, I have to wonder if that was a key factor in keeping it away for 15 years (so far).
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#43364 05-28-2004 02:26 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Congrudulation's John,
We love to hear good news!! Have yourself a great weekend!
Dan
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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#43365 05-28-2004 08:56 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 50 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 50 | I was stage 1. Radiation was offered as a possibility, but was really not recommended initally pending results of the tests post surgery. As the tests came back clean, I do not think the Dr will recommend raditation. But I am interested in other opinions. | | |
#43366 05-28-2004 11:17 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 Gold Member (100+ posts) | Gold Member (100+ posts) Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 164 | John,
My first cancer was "microscopic" and the physicians opted out of radiation too. Problem is if there is even one cell left behind that reproduces then you have a reoccurance. With the stats being so high for oral cancer reoccurance, I might really discuss this with the physicians. I'm not sure if radiation would have prevented a reoccurance, but then it might have. It's good that you're getting information now rather than later. The other issue is if you have radiation now, then radiation later might be out or limited. This is really where it's hard to make a decision. Pray for wisdom and discernment during this difficult time. I will be praying for you too.
Lynn
Stage 3, N0, M0 oral tongue cancer survivor, 85-90% of tongue removed, neck disection, left tonsil removed, chemo/radiation treatments, surgery 11/03, raditation ended 1/04, lung mets discovered 4/04,
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