Thanks to the holiday a lot of the folks i need to speak to are still on holiday, but someone was working today and paying attention and got my husband's appt moved up to next mon. What i am wondering, as each cancer is different and i am more familiar with breast and prostate, at what point is an oncologist called in? Right now his appt is with an ENT but to my understanding, yes he has dealt with this before but not his specialty. (still working on getting in to md anderson). Is this normal? Not worried or freaked currently, just strikes me as odd after other cancer type experiences.

Hi jklamert - How great you had someone paying attention over the holiday and getting your husband's appointment moved up to this coming Monday. An ENT is the best person to see your husband, but it really should be an ENT with extensive experience in treating oral cancer patients and MD Anderson is one of the very best places to be. "Tongue Cancer" is a rather general term and can refer to any lump or sore anyplace in the head and neck area. Sometimes "a lump is just a lump" and only a biopsy can tell for sure whether it is cancer or not. Some cancers grow faster than others so it is important to get moving quickly. Perhaps the ENT your husband sees on Monday can help get him to MD Anderson very soon. Hope everything goes well on Monday. Let us know what happens.

Whereon the tongue is the Primary, forwsrd part or Base of Tongue?

Hi JK - to answer your question, yes, it's pretty normal to be working only with an ENT first. Once the cancer diagnosis has been made, then the oncologist's (medical and radiation) get called in as well as a surgeon (if one is needed). As I understand the process, that's the way it flows. My hospital (not a CCC) used the doctor team approach and that's the way they did it.

take care
Tony

Hi, sorry for my delay in responding, we've had a couple crazy days! His cancer is on the front right side of his tongue. We found out in order to get him to go to md anderson we have to convince the doc at BAMC it is necessary and that he'll get treatment there that BAMC cannot provide. The army likes to keep active duty 'in house'. So i know i can bring up proton therapy, which isn't offered at bamc, but not sure what other info i can give to convince the army to let him go to md anderson. Wiill be doing tons of research before monday!

Its just crazy to get treated by a physician who isnt familiar with the disease. Oral cancer has a very high mortality rate. Almost 50% of all patients diagnosed will still be alive 5 years later. This alone is reason not to fool around with an inexperienced doctor and head for the big guys... a CCC. I dont know how you can convince the government into believing its critical that your husband gets properly treated other than quoting them alot of facts and figures. Its has been scientifically proven that patients treated at CCC's have better prognosis and overall do much better. Thats not to say other facilities dont do a good job but a CCC really is preferable if that is an option for you.

Good luck!!!

PS... Send me a PM if there is anything else I can help you with on this. I can lead you to many studies that you can pass along to whoever is the one making this decision. I know I sure wouldnt be very happy if someone who has no info at all about OC was the one who was going to decide where I was treated.

Ditto what Christine said push for md Anderson if at all possible this cancer has a high mortality rate. Hugs.

Hi. So I have been throwing myself into working on the property or working with the animals or watching movies non-stop just trying to get my mind off all this. Is that denial, too, or coping? I would definitely love and appreciate any info, links etc to stats, studies, numbers etc that I could print to present to the doc. The patient advocate said she could tell I have done my research and to make sure to present it to the doc we are going to see so I am going to print as much as I feel is necessary to convince them to send him to MD Anderson. As a dependant, if it were me they would send me no questions asked, but as he is active duty they will try to keep it in house unless I can show them that they cannot provide him the treatment MD Anderson can. Right now I know a smidge about proton therapy? I know that is one treatment/argument I have for MD Anderson. Working on gathering info on that, too. So any info at all on ANYTHING would be sooooooooooo appreciated!

Have you thought about contacting MD Anderson directly and explaining your situation? It's possible that they might have suggestions for how to present their level of expertise.

Years ago and not related to OC, my husband needed prior approval for an out-of-insurance plan physician. The new physician's office sent in a request for us, and it was approved.

Take a look at the US News top US Hospitals list. If this is an option, why would anyone want to go anywhere but to the #1 ranked facility on the list?


2013-2014 Top US Hospitals List from US News

I don't think MDA's IMPT is a selling point to convince the military since I don't think MDA would recommend using it over IMRT for this cancer at this point but Paul's our proton expert. The point I would want to press is that a CCC like MDA treat's thousands of patients like your husband and they are much better equiped to make all the multidisiplend decisions necessary to best treat him.

I agree with you. I now have to find a way to eloquently explain that sending him to a CCC would be financially a good idea for them. That's what it will boil down to-$. So while I will still try my absolute best to get him to MD Anderson, I feel fairly certain that the military powers that be will nix it. Just keeping my chin up and saying prayers and thinking positively! Monday is almost here!

GOOD LUCK, try crying, it always works with me....