God luck Monday!

As i was told, oral cancer does not have any blood "markers" the way some cancers do. Your report sounds VERY similar to mine. When I was first diagnosed one person told me it was moderately differentiated and the other said it was poorly differentiated. I think the first one was just trying to keep me from completely freaking out - but what they didn't realize was that I had already done that when I heard the word Cancer.

One step at a time. At this stage it is impossible not to think about it every second, but if you can - try not to let Cancer steal every day of your weekend. It will already get more days that it deserves. Try - if you can - to push it to the back of your mind. You have done everything you can now it is your time to go out and eat anything you want (a few extra pounds going into surgery/treatment is a good thing), spend time with those you love and enjoy the beauty of nature.

Once you start treatment you will feel significantly better mentally. Actually DOING something is a comfort vs sitting and waiting.

Look forward to hearing about your Monday results.

Donna

sounds like you are in good hands (medically) and have found this board for mental support.... take everyone's advice -- they have been thru the worst and then some... and do try and put it out of your mind a bit for the next few days. Sending you best wishes, good healing vibes and prayers.
Ingrid K

Hi,
For what it's worth, I've been told that a lesion can be viewed different ways. That is why when you get a second opinion from a different cancer center (or more) they always insist on seeing your slides so their pathology dept. can have a go at it. I had mine viewed as moderately well diff. & well diff. (from one place), Then it was labeled "superficially invasive" by another, and then I was faced with a metastasis to a lymph node, called met. rather than reoccurence because it happened within about a month of the biopsy excision! My last stop called it "moderately well", and the lymph node a met. because there was no cancer left in my tongue when they recut. I am no expert, but I would say that judging the histology of the lesion is at least partly the decision/view of the particular pathologist. I am also sure that they try to quantify it as best they can to take some of the opinion of out it. (there's hedging an opinion for you)
Anne

Just a quick note to everyone who responded to me or just read my message.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. As you know this is the most confusing, terrifying, gut wrenching time - not knowing what is going to happen and not having many answers.

I was diagnosed with MS 5 years ago and didn't think anything worse could happen to me. Wrong...

You are all angels who have helped ease my mind and spirit.

Thank you again. God Bless you all.


Gail

Gail,
Welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place and sounds like you are going to be in good hands. everyone here is so helpful and encouraging. Let us know how the appt. goes on monday. Will be thinking and praying for you.

Just got back from Yale. After Dr. Sasaki examined me and took a chest xray, he presented my file to his team (16 other specialists).

They recommended surgery to remove lesion and then taking skin from my wrist to graft to my tongue, then chemo/radiation.

He said it shows no signs of spreading.

Wonderful hospital and team. They all came over to me to take a closer look at the lesion and each one squeezed my hand before they took a look. That meant a lot to me.

Gail,
That sounds good. I take it you've had all the scans--PET, C-T to find neck disease. And you don't need more surgery then?

I hope it all works out for you. Lots of us have had those treatments.

Anne

He said it was caught very early - had no signs of neck disease. He said I was lucky I had an earache or else I might have ignored it - like some people do for years. Will decide on other scans after the surgery before radiation/chemo.