Hello all,

I have been very encouraged by all of your posts and of your overall optimistic outlook. I finally decided to get the courage up to register and participate in the forums so that hopefully, I can receive some of that optimisim when I might need it and help add my own encouragement when someone else is in need.
Our background. My husband of 29 yrs(healthy 47yr old, Never smoked,or chewed and only occasional beer at the weekend BBQ kind of drinker) was diagnosed w/SCC the first time in 2005. He had a small area on the left anterior portion of his tongue. It was suprisngly superficial and all screening of the rest of his mouth, neck and throat appeared clear. He had surgery on his tongue and tests post-op confirmed SCC with the margins clear. follow up treatments (radiation, chemo) were discussed but we decided to hold off at this early stage. We were put on frequent checkup appt's and all went well until November 2007.
End of November 2007 my husband noticed the same tell-tale signs in the same area of his tongue as the previous surgery. December 7th 2007 he had another surgery on the left anterior portion of his tongue. Post-op findings. Same. SCC with margins clear. All PET scans and other tests remained clear. This time we had even more intense conversations on following up with radiation and chemo my husband hx was submitted to the hospitals radiation board for review and recomendations. We talked to our surgeon and ENT and our radiation Dr. Overall the stats and opinions were split even with the board of radiologists. After much soul searching we opted for holding off.
In late June of 2008 my husband noticed a lump in his left neck that was tender to the touch. He went directly to his Dr. and had all the usual scans and labs and biopsy. The tests confirmed SCC in the left lymph nodes. He saw his surgeon on Monday for evaluation and ended up in surgery on Tuesday July 8th. They removed 3 nodes the surrounding tissue and a portion of two layers of his muscle in his neck. All his nerves, salavary glands and tyroid are intact. They did remove his tonsils.(Only as a precautinary measure because they appeared inflammed. They tested clear) Test results post-op revealed of the 3 nodes removed 2 were cancerous and the tissue removed around the nodes had clear margins He has healed from the surgery and has had his teeth cleaned and 3 top molars removed 2 on the left and one on the right. 2 were crowns and one had decay. They advised it was better to have them out now then to have to worry about any problems in the future with them after radation and chemo. We agreed.
Hubby flew through all his surgeries. But I must say the last 18 days since he had those teeth removed has been a rollcoaster. Whew! They have been the most trying days so far and I'm so very glad it seems we are getting that chapter in our book behind us! ~deep sigh of relief~
So here we stand ready and willing to start treatment tomorrow (radiation and chemo) so we can get this over and get back to our everyday life. Third time's the charm! Right? ~grin~

I'm looking forward to chatting with y'all and send all of you my best wishes.

Ija

Hi there and a very warm welcome to OCF.
Sounds as if you have had a fair old tussle with the beast so far,and i must say you sound extremely upbeat as you enter into round three.This wiil help you over the next few weeks,which you may find more difficult to cope with than the straight surgery and recovery,but be assured the old security network is in place here any time you need us.

good luck

liz

Wecome to the greatest group of people to be around anc chat with.

When does he start his Tx and what type/frequency of chemo is he getting? Also have they ever tested him for HPV?

Hi David. His tx starts today. He will have chemo once a week during his 37 week(5 days a week)radiation regiment. I'm not sure the dose. Just that they said it will be low dose and he shouldn't even lose his hair. I will ask today exactly what it is they are giving him. I know he will receive an injection before every treatment to help protect his salavary gland as well. I think that is the ethyol they keep speaking of. And no, I don't believe he has been tested for HPV.

Ija

Best to you and your husband over the next several weeks and beyond. Great place to come with all your questions. Wish I had known about OCF during treatments.

Good luck and use this site often as you travel down the Tx road. We are survivors and caregivers alike so we've been there and can help you both tremendously.

You're new to us but already a vetran when it comes to the cancer war. Glad to meet you. There is such a wealth of knowledge and support here it is incredible, and I know you will enjoy getting to know everyone.

Donna

Hi folks. I'm scared in Virginia! I'm 66 (turning 67 in early October) I'm beginning my radiation for base of tongue cancer on Tuesday at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Md. I would be most appreciative of any helpful words, thoughts or bible verses! I've completed 2 rounds of chemo and will have just the cisplatin once a week along with radiation. Actually the chemo will be on 2 weeks off one week thoughout the radiation. Radiation will be 7 weeks. I'm T4N1Mo. (not sure where to put that so it goes at the bottom like others.)

Welcome, though sorry you have to be here. As you can see from my signature below, I was also BOT. I'm now 14 months out from the end of treatment and doing well.

You are at one of the best facilities in the country, so you can certainly feel good about that. What have your doctors said about surgery -- either for the primary or the neck?

Eat lots and lots before Tuesday. Get used to drinking lots of water. Be religious about rinsing your mouth with salt water/baking soda mixture. Get an Rx for "magic mouthwash" (your docs know what that is), and follow your doctors' orders precisely. Everyone's experience during treatment is slightly different. Whatever your experience is, it is doable, and it is finite. Be determined and just get through one day at a time. Pretty easy at the beginning, not so much at the end.

Stay close to the OCF site, as there is lots of good advice and support to be had here. Best wishes!!