Hi Y'all. So my husband was just told on Tues, just a couple days ago, that he has tongue cancer. Has had a ct scan, and mri is tomorrow. We are being referred to an ENT 3 hours away. We haven't been told much other than a large part of his tongue will have to be removed/rebuilt from arm and thigh and a neck dissection. The appt lady said the first appt avail isn't until the end of the month, over 3 weeks away. (She doesn't know it was an appt re cancer.) So I am concerned that we won't know anything else, have questions answered etc for weeks. And isn't it better to begin treatment sooner rather than later? He's had this huge thing on his tongue since Feb. I am trying to figure out if this kind of treatment delay is normal or if I should be concerned and try to get it moved up? Sigh. Any advice would be much appreciated!

You are correct to be concerned and yes you should push to get the process started promptly. This cancer has proven to be very aggressive and like all cancers the sooner it can be treated the better chances of positive outcomes.

I see you are in Tx. You need to call MD Anderson ASAP (even try them today?) and get him evaluated by their team. Unfortunately this is a life changer and you want the best possible outcome and your best chance on average is to be treated by a comprehensive cancer center, like MDA, where all the specialists he will need are under the same umbrella.

If he is a tobacco user he needs to stop NOW.

We have many registered members that have had the exact Tx he will most likely have which is a combination of surgery first, then concurrent radiation and chemo and they will be extremely helpful to the both of you. I only had to have the radiation/chemo so I will be helpful when that time comes.

Thank you. I was feeling as though I may be biased, as it is my husband, or unjustified in my feeling of urgency. His is active duty army so we have certain 'standard operating procedures' to follow. Our first stop, the one that is 3 wks away, is BAMC in San Antonio. MD Anderson has been brought up and I intend on pushing for there. I just lost my Dad to prostate cancer 6 wks ago and it was MD Anderson that got him over 6 more years than he should have had. I am thinking of going to see the patient advocate here to address this 3 plus wk wait and trying to get him in sooner. According to the Army's own access to care standards he should be seen within 7 days. I just feel so blasted overwhelmed right now and despite the fact I have held together so far, between losing my Dad and now hubby's dx, well, he's more worried about me right now. Sigh. So, I guess first thing Monday I will be in the patient advocate office. Thank you! I think this forum may well be the 'glue' i need to keep it together for the kids and my husband. (Oh, he's not a smoker!)

Welcome to OCF! You have found the very best site to help you get thru the upcoming battle. We will support you both with info and moral support.

Im very sorry to hear about your father passing away recently. Im sure this has made your husbands diagnosis even more scary.

Stick with us and we will help get you both thru the upcoming hard months.

HI, I am Retired US Army and if I were in your shoes I would get the Chain of Command involved ASAP!!! They are there to watch your 6 and have the pull necessary to get your Warrior the treatment he deserves,also argue for treatment at a Cancer Center, not a Military Hospital!!! Stay Army Strong Bob Whyte

Thank you! I am already feeling soooooo much better and more capable because of y'all! Thank you HUGE! I think I may well be here a LOT!

You visit this site 50 times a day if you want. You and your husband are the exact reason this site was started by Brian Hill. The reason all of us continue to help others is because we were helped. I guess Brian was the first to start this play it forward thing.

We'll be here. Let us know how you go, and we hope for a smooth ride and good outcomes.

Hiyah, I was diagnosed with tongue cancer last November. It's not an easy road, but you will get to the other side of all this. You get the strength from inside, it will be there for you. You will get through x x x

Hang in there Army, you will get through this just fine. You have a great support team here at OCF, everyone always willing to go the extra mile to help. They helped me immensely get through my OC ordeal.

If possible have your husband join the forum also. It's great that he has a wonderful and involved caregiver like yourself, but there is sometimes a little lost in translation him getting all his info through you. Reading the forum and website for himself he will think of questions he never thought of before. And that just makes him a better, more educated advocate for his own care.

Take care, keep fighting, you will get there, but it will be a rocky road along the way.

Tony,
Old B-52 Bombardier