Hello everyone!! My name is Susan and my sister was diagnosed with Stage 2 tongue cancer yesterday by a deep tissue biopsy. My family and I are devestated. She has been a long term smoker but you never think it would happen to anyone in your family. Well were we ever wrong.. I was wondering if anyone had treatment in NYC on here? We are so confused on who to go to. Any information would be greatly appreciated. She os getting out of the hospital today and we would like to follow up with a speacialist as soon as possible.
In NYC you have access to one of the finest Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCC) in the world. Run, don't walk her to Sloan Kettering.
I also want to point out that if your sister hasn't stopped smoking yet, she must stop immediately. The success of her treatment can be strongly compromised by her continuing to smoke.
Good luck and welcome to OCF, the best source of support and information on the web. Come here often and you will become part of our family of very special people. It would be good if you can get your sister on here, too.
Look for posts by SusanW, who is also in NYC and whose husband is currently being treated at Sloan. (To find them, click on Advanced under the Search box in the upper right corner of each forum page; then type SusanW into the Display Name Search box.)
If you have any specific questions for her, you can view her profile (which includes an e-mail address) or send her a private message by right-clicking on her name in any of her posts, or click on User List at the top of each forum page and find her profile.
Susan,
If you look at my signature line you will find that I was a heavy smoker. I quite two weeks after diagnosis (only a smoker can relate to taking 14 days to quit). If your sister needs any help in that regard, let me know. I have a few tips that might help.
Leslie, you are so good at finding posts. I've used you as a resource since the day I got on here.
We use Sloan and I can't say enough good things about it. We are half way through the treatment and every person we have met has been professional, empathetic and very knowledgeable. Feel free to shoot me a message if I can answer any questions about Sloan.
Welsome to the boards. Sorry you had to join us. This is an amazing place for support and family.
Thank you so much for your responses! I am just in such shock right now over this. You can only hope you make the right decision for the right doctor. She was misdiagnosed for 7 months now and we finally found someone to do a biopsy, which came back yesterday as cancer. It is uplifting though to come on this forum and see so many survivors. We are debating between two hospitals right now Sloan and Mt Sinai. My sister is saying which ever one has an appointment first is the one she is going to. She just wants it out!! I will try and get her on here but I think she is in the denial state. Again thanks so much and any information would help..
Leslie,
This will take a few weeks at either facility. She wants the first shot at killing this disease to be the only one she has to take. That means going to the best center. I think Sloan is the best for Oral Cancer in your region.
As Jerry says get her to a CCC ASAP.
I don't know if I'm supposed to say things like this so feel free to delete this post if I'm out of line. For this kind of thing, I think there is no contest between MT Sinai and Sloan.
And the advice to go to a CCC is invaluable.
Thanks so much Brian! She has Decided to go to a Dr. Genden in NYC who works out of Mt Sinai. He is currently doing the robotic surgery and she spoke to 2 people who had the same cancer and went to him and love him. She is going to meet with him in a week and see how it goes. We also called Sloan too and gave them her record but they have to let us know if the Dr will take her case. Thanks so much to everyone that posted. I am still in shock over this. I am so glad that I found this site for support!!