Hello to everyone.
I thought that I would post to introduce myself and get more documentation on these cancers.

Beginning in 2008, I had sores on my tongue. After seeing my GP, he referred me to an ENT where the sores were biopsied. Those results came back as "displastic." The ENT then said that he didnt know what they were and they were likely Lichen Planus. At this time I was 26 years old and had a social smoking habit of 2-4 packs per month. Later that year, I quit smoking; as my wife and I were going to have a child.

Then in October/November 2010, the sores began to hurt again. I had always ignored them because of the ENT calling them Lichen Planus. This condition was described to me as being painful during times of stress.....(aka, work...). However, this time the pain did not subside after a few days.

Now, this January, at 29 years old, I began to ask my new GP about the sores. She then refers me to an oral surgeon who takes biopsies. These were returned only a week later as Squamous Cell Carcinomas. Since this Oral surgeon was not a surgical oncologist, I was referred again. I was blessed that this oncologist squeezed me in the next day.

February 14 - Oral biopsies
February 21 - Cancer diagnoses
February 22 - Visit with surgeon
March 7 - Partial Hemiglossectomy, right side; left lateral skin excision

I am now dealing with the healing process. I am sure that I will have many questions

Welcome to OCF HSH. You have come to the right place to get info about oral cancer. This website and forum has the most info all compiled into one place.

It looks like you were diagnosed and treated very quickly. Will you be having any other treatment such as radiation? It wasnt that long ago, how is your healing coming along? Please ask if you have any questions. To help you heal quicker, try increasing your protein intake. Congrats on quitting smoking, even a light smoker can struggle to quit. Hopefully the tobacco habit will continue to be a thing of the past.

Best wishes with your recovery.

Hi and welcome! I had a similar diagnosis- a lesion on my left - was told it could be lichen planus, and then found out it was carcinoma.... Am almost 6 weeks post op... They did the hemi - did they do a dissection? Recommending radiation? Either way... Best of luck healing.

so sorry to hear another one young join the ranks, but there are a few of us on here. I too was told it wasn't cancer and had a 5 month period of battling with docs and finally got my biopsy and it was same as yours.

Sounds like we had almost same surgery, but i had right side neck dissection as well. My question is what stage was it? I am assuming no lymph nodes were involved, and that you probably had scans, but did you have any scans to make sure no lymph nodes were involved? Also was it a partial glossectomy or a hemi-glossectomy? Partial is only part, and hemi is half, i had a hemi glossectomy and the removed whole right half of my tongue in order to get clear margins.

Glad to hear you are healing, I am almost a year out, and I am also hoping you don't have to have rad or chemo!

Any luck on the baby process with your wife yet?

Hope all is well for you otherwise and hoping you don't have too many issues with any part of healing!!

The surgery was listed as a partial-hemi glossectomy. I guess this gave the surgeon the option to check on thing and take what was needed. I my case, I was very lucky that the DR only had to take about 10% of the forward poution of the tongue. I did not have to have neck dissection

As far as staging, I do not know.

I did have neck and chest CT scans and head and neck 3T MRI scans that did not indicate any spreading of the cancer.

The follow-up visit confirmed (by pathology) that the margins of surgery came back clear. Our continuing treatment is going to consist of monthly visits and quarterly scans to catch any signs of recurrance. No current plans for radiation or Chemo.

I guess as far as the healing process, I was doing my self a favor; iguess. Once they discharged me from the hospital, I went straight to GNC and got high protein meal replacement shakes and also ate scrambled eggs. It seems that the DR was very skilled, as the biopsies hurt worse than the actual surgery (with the exception of the skin graft donor site).

And yes, my wife was pregnant when I quit smoking and we have a gorgeous 3yo daughter now.

HSH, adding my welcome. I'm glad to read of your successful surgery and its (relatively) minimal nature. Please stick around here and keep us apprised of your progress. And really glad to hear both about your daughter and your quitting smoking!

david2

so you have never known your stage? that's really kind of odd. Right after I got my pathology, I had blood tests and scans to determine the stage! And stage also helps with prognosis and everything, so very odd that you aren't sure of ur staging.

But I am glad all is going well with your healing and your family!!

Glad to hear you are doing so well! Just keep a close eye on things - and don't skip your appointments... Good luck!