| | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 8 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 8 | I was just diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer on the floor of my mouth. I am scheduled for an excision and having my lymph nodes removed on 7/11/13. What can I expect after surgery. At this point I am just really scared.
t1 n0 m0 Stage 1 invasive squamous cell carcinoma floor of the mouth. Wide local excision scheduled for July 11th.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 8 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 8 | I was just diagnosed with squamous cell carcima on the floor of my mouth. I am scheduled for an excision and lymph node removal on July 11th. Needless to say I am very scared. Any advice on what I can expect after surgery?
t1 n0 m0 Stage 1 invasive squamous cell carcinoma floor of the mouth. Wide local excision scheduled for July 11th.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 262 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 262 | Hi Trebs, I'm so sorry you're facing this. I don't have any advice but others here will have lots of experience to share. You found the right place to bring your questions and fears.
Lynn
53
T3N2aM0 HPV+
5/26/13 discovered painless superball-sized lymph node in neck
6/26/13 DX SCC R palatine tonsil
7/16/13 TORS tonsillectomy & selective ND, mets to 2 nodes
9/3/13 Cisplatin and rads begin, tolerated 1.5 of 3 planned chemo doses
10/16/13 Treatment ends
Dec 13 Ulcer appears at surgery site
Jan 17 Biopsy -- no cancer!
Feb 17 CT/PET Scan lights up tonsil bed & nasal cavity, docs say probably inflammation, don't panic, rescan when ulcer subsides
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 7 Member | | Member
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 7 | Hi Trebs, Waiting to have the surgery done was the hardest part for me. I had a mec cancer of the sublingual gland removed from the the floor of my mouth. I also had some lymph nodes removed on the left side. I can only speak from my own experience. The procedure went very smoothly, I had no pain and was back to work in a week. Hoping it is the same for you.
Mucoepidermoid cancer of the sublingual gland, diagnosed 9/09, surgery on 12/29. No radiation or chemo
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Exactly what type of surgery are you having? Will they be taking any bone or just tissue? Are you being treated at a comprehensive cancer center (CCC)? Have you gotten a second opinion?
The best thing I can tell you is that surgeons cut and when its gone, its gone forever. What is being removed cant be put back.
Your question is difficult to answer. So much depends on your current health and exactly what is being done. If its a minor surgery then you should be ok in a couple days. If the procedure is more involved it could be a few weeks until you are feeling better.
Best wishes with your upcoming procedure.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | What exactly have they told you they were going to do?
Have they Staged your cancer?
Where are you being treated?
How old are you?
Are/were you a tobacco user?
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Since your posts were duplicate, I have merged them so all your replies will be here on one thread.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | HI Trebs... The surgery is not fun. However in comparison to radiation - its a breeze. IMHO. That said you will be swollen, and stitched from the dissection. Likely there will be minimal pain as they cut the nerves. You will probably have the drains for a few days then they will remove them. This feels odd, but not entirely painful. You'll just be happy they are GONE. Because they are operating in your mouth you will be swollen there too. I am not sure if you are getting a trache - I would ask if you are. This makes a difference post op as you will likely not be able to speak for a few days. Bring a paper and pencil or something to communicate with - Ipad? The mouth may mean you might also have an NG tube in place. This is not painful just a pain. They need to give your mouth time to heal so they will restrict foods and fluids. The neck dissection will require you to have physio for your shoulder at some point. they cut a primary muscle when they do the surgery. If you do physio you will regain most function. My arm still gets tired more easily than the other but I have about 98-99% normalcy in it. I had a portion of my tongue removed as well, and a graft put in. So I looked like I'd been hit by a train for about 2 weeks. You may only look like you've been hit by a fiat 500..  Seriously though. It's an okay surgery and you will likely heal quickly if you have no other health issues. hugs and best of luck and try not to worry.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 8 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 8 | Thanks so much for the warm wishes and reassurance. I am going to be having a wide local excision of the area. The lymph nodes are were optional, but I think I have made the right choice. This was the first day of my 2 week "quit smoking" program and it has gone well so far. I have no other health issues so am hoping for the best!
I feel very lucky to be having the procedure in Mayo Clinic.
t1 n0 m0 Stage 1 invasive squamous cell carcinoma floor of the mouth. Wide local excision scheduled for July 11th.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Just a note about the nodes - I gather you decided for yes. Some people will tell you - likely unnecessary - It's possible, but the reality is even a stage one cancer can seed to the nodes. So what happens is they operate and remove only the tumor, then send you home. Several months later a node or two will pop up - and then you would likely have to have a neck dissection and possibly rads and chemo. I'm a better off safe than sorry girl. I started out a stage 2 with no nodes. In the 6 weeks between dx and surgery I had a node pop up. And up to that point it didn't show on any of the scans. By the time they got to it there was ECE (extra capular extension) and I ended up doing rads and chemo too. hugs. and good luck.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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