Thank you! And yes- I am trying to remain positive!! My tongue just feels so differently this time- consistently painful. I guess knowing that the worst is treatable makes me feel better. I am with Sloan Kettering now. They are smart, kind & compassionate thus far.
I'll let you know what the result is when I hear back. I think a trip to the zoo with my daughter tomorrow is a great way to enjoy the wait!!

Thank you for sharing your stories. It's so helpful!

Sally

Hi Sally, as long as it is low grade dysplasia, you need not be too concerned as it is 100% treatable as the risk of low grade dysplasia transforming into high grade dysplasia and eventually cancer is low.

Hoping that it gets caught early.

Wish you luck.

Many of us here know how hard it is waiting for the biopsy result Sally.
Great idea to do that zoo trip and anything else to take your mind of things until you get the result on Friday.
I have had to wait much longer to get biopsy results including the last one earlier this year which was clear.
I am wishing that ALL CLEAR result for you too.
Gabriele

My positive result came back a day early. Partial glossectomy & ND is surgery is already scheduled for Sept 16. Doc said T1. Is the early stage diagnosis usually accurate after only a small biopsy?
Also- the neck drain that they mentioned being the need for a typical 2-3 day hospital stay- can anyone shed more color on this?

My husband and I are going in to speak with the doctor about everything next week- but I just thought I would pick your brains first.

Needless to say- I am an emotional wreck- but am dong my darnedest to stay positive & make sure that my head stays on straight to make sure that I know as much as I possibly can going into this!!

Thank you!

What did the positive result show? Is it squamous cell carcinoma? Thats what most of OC patients have, but there are a couple of other types of slower moving OC. Have you considered going for a second opinion?

A drain is normal for surgeries. It is not a big deal. All it does is to help drain the fluid which will help get the swelling down. I had a drain for most of my operations and they have been the least of my worries, its really nt a big deal.

I know you are afraid. It really will be ok!!!!! None of us patients have wanted the battle but we have fought hard and gotten thru it. I know you have been thru several surgeries which are not easy. You can do this! You have all the info on this forum to help you with whatever treatment your doctors suggest. The members of OCF are wonderful with giving emotional support. Dont worry, we are here with you!

Thank you! Yes- it is SCC. The doctor told me that it showed Stage 1 cancer. I am so scared.

Hi there... sorry the results were positive but it's an early stage thank heavens. The staging seems right, it's usually based on size and then lymph node involvement. Usually a ct or PET depending on your hospital, will determine that for sure. But if it's a tumor, based on size what I was told if it's under 2 cm then it's t1 2-3cm t2 - then if there are nodes involved the staging can change but usually it's more than one or two nodes that makes the difference. So he must have some idea of how large it is. Im not sure if you've had a ct, PET or MRI, that usually gives you a little more definitive. Mine measured 2.4 x 1.4 was a stage 2, I had one lymph node involved, that didn't change anything.

Try not to be worried. You're lucky you were diligent. It was caught early - Did they tell you if it was well differentiated, moderate, or poor? there are other things too like, was there peri neural involvement. Likely not since its so early on. These things along with the results of your neck dissection will determine whether they offer you radiation and chemo.

It sounds like they arent rebuilding your tongue, just removing a small bit. which is good, less surgery, and a quicker recovery. Take care!!! good luck...

I'm sorry that you got a positive result. It sounds Ike you caught it early. Like Christine said, the drains are no big deal. I actually went home with mine and had them removed a few days later. It didn't hurt at all to have them removed. My doctors said my tumor was T1 after my biopsy and that remained accurate after they removed the whole thing. The staging changed because they found 2positive nodes after the ND. I know it's scary but you are doing all the right things to get well. It's going to be okay.

Sally, sorry for the bad news but not to worry too much as it seems to have been caught early. Incisional biopsy (small biopsy) is usually very accurate. T1 stage means that tumor is small but doctor will arrive at final staging only after surgery and histopath reports for the samples removed which will include tumor, margins and nodes from neck dissection.

Has the doctor recommended CT/MRI prior to surgery?

It is not a complicated surgery - glossectomy is surgical removal of part of the tongue along with functional reconstruction, if required and your will have selective neck dissection where they will remove several nodes from neck and suspected structures for histopath analysis. Again, this is a functional neck dissection so it will not affect your head and neck movement though for couple of month you may have pain and may require exercise and/or physiotherapy. Drain tube is important to prevent fluid retention while your wound is healing. You may be in hospital for 3-5 days till nasogastric tube is removed and you are able to eat and swallow from mouth. You may have to go home with a drain pipe as it take few more days to reach minimal drain.

Once you have recovered from surgery and depending on histopath report of the structures removed during surgery, doctors will plan further treatment. In high risk cases, usually chemoradiation is done with weekly Cisplatin and 60 Gy dose of Radiotherapy delivered in 6 weeks.

Take good care of your health and try to regain weight post surgery to be ready, if further treatment is required.

Hi Sallyanne,

Sorry you had a positive diagnosis, but you caught it early and I'm here to tell you that over six years later, I had the same procedures that you are going to have and all is well. Don't be concerned about the drain. I too, went home with it and it was removed a few days later. The neck dissection was a piece of cake, but the tongue surgery was quite uncomfortable for a time.

I was back at work seeing patients 3 1/2 weeks after the surgery and the only lasting result of the surgery is that my neck is numb. No big deal.

Bear in mind that if you do have any positive nodes, it is likely that you will need radiation and of course your staging would change.

If you would like to talk about anything, send me a PM with your phone number and will get back to you right away.

Good luck.