Hello all. I'm new here, and glad to have found this site. I'm a 35 year old active male. I had a really sore tongue a few months ago that lasted a few days, kind of like a canker sore. It went away so I ignored it. The problem is that the white patch associated with the pain stayed. I also noticed slight sensitivity to tooth pastes and similar things. I finally decided that it was weird that this patch hadn't gone away so I scheduled an appointment. The doctor set me up with a biopsy. He told me he was concerned because he felt a rough part in the middle, and was pretty certain that it would come back as "pre cancerous". Of course at my age and how health conscious I have been, this kind of blew me away. I'm still cconfused I guess. Although I've been doing some reading and see now that it is affecting younger people. Ugh. Anyway, any thoughts on what the doctor said? I don't have my biopsy until Tuesday the 4th, and I've been doing pretty good at staying positive, at least outwardly, and have been staying busy. If its been here a few months, at least that I've noticed, I guess I'm worried that its not just "pre cancerous", but full fledged cancer. Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated, and I definitely plan on sticking around and giving updates! Thanks in advance.

I am also new here and sure hope it is something simple. But what I have been told here is "it not cancer until the doc says it is". My sugestion find a ENT and get is biopsied ASAP. The more you know the better the out come.

Hockey dad is right - a biopsy is the only way to know for sure. It is affecting younger healthy people I'm not as young as you but read my info at the bottom of this post... I was darn healthy - your de. Sounds great. Most would have blown it off. Good luck and I do hope it's nothing,

Welcome to OCF! Only thru a biopsy will you know for sure what you are dealing with. I know its not easy to deal with waiting but you are doing the right thing by staying busy. A sore could be all kinds of things besides cancer. Hope it turns out to be nothing serious!

Best wishes!!!

I hope it turns out to be nothing either. I just know that after the doc looked at it, he seemed pretty certain that it was cancerous. Well he used the term "pre cancerous", but we'll see I guess. My biopsy appointment is tomorrow morning, but of course then I'll have the other week or so of waiting for the results...lol. Anyway, I appreciate the responses. Its nice to know there are others out there to help with answers.

We had a 14 yr old girl in here that was really scared. That kid beat it and must be living a hppy life now. She was a toughy. Age has no meaning at all.

DB,

I know your nervous we all were when we played the waiting game. I hope it turns out to be nothing too, but IF it is cancer please go to a Cancer Center. They are up on the latest in technology believe me they are the best.

Hope everything turns out in your favor, keep us updated.

Take care,
Connie

Hi DB - you've come to the right place for lots of the best and very latest accurate info, plus some very compassionate and helpful people to help you through the waiting and afterwards IF it is cancer. My son was only 33 when he had a sore under his tongue and he put off seeing a doctor about it for several months but he is doing fine now almost 6 years later. When you doctor said "pre-cancerous" it probably means that IF it is cancer that it is in a very early stage. Whatever the results of the biopsy, you will have all the support you want with everyone here. The waiting is absolutely the worst so it's good you have been keeping busy. Hope everything goes well. Let us know how the biopsy goes tomorrow.

Hi, DB, where in Ohio are you? I hope that your biopsy will be just fine, but if not, you have come to the best place in the world for support and advice. Good luck with your biopsy, and keep us informed.

Geez, I didn't even notice DB7 was another of us Buckeyes. I'm praying you are going to get good news. Too many of us get bad. Welcome to our home with the greatest family in times of stress.

Anne, thank you! Just curious, did your son have any symptoms to go along with the sore? Its great that hes doing fine, and that you come here to support others!

Oh and i live in the Columbus area! Thanks for the latest posts. Ill check back after the biopsy. I think todays appointment is just the initial screening or whatever, as required by my insurance. Im not sure if the actual procedure is being performed.

Good luck today and push to have the biopsy done ASAP. Take care

Another buckeye here. I agree get the biopsy ASAP. Speed means a lot. As if it nothing, no more worries. If is a problem, you found it as fast a possible. But I'm pulling for nothing.

Go buckeye.

Hockey Dad,
What part of Ohio are you living? I live in NW Ohio and was treated at the North Coast Cancer Campus in Sandusky, which is a branch of the Cleveland
Clinic.

Madison, 30 miles east of Cleveland. The Siedmen center has a campus in Mentor. Its only 12 miles from my home. And it is between home and work. I am not sure if the Clinic has a campus east of the main capus in cleveland.

I am tring to get opinions from both ASAP.

I have my pet scan tomorrow at UH Siedmen. I was asked to get a cd of the pet scan. The cleveland clinic wants a copy. I am not sure how to get this done.

Just tell them when they do it that you need a copy. They should be able to get you the disk pretty easily. The report is what takes a bit. You might want to just get it all together, but see what they say!
Good luck tomorrow!
Kathy

DB7 - To answer your question, my son did have some pain associated with the sore that grew to a lump about the size of a small walnut. The doctor told him the reason there was pain is that the cancer was wrapped around a nerve and that most people do not experience pain with his type of cancer (squamous cell or SCC). Good luck tomorrow and stay in touch with us.

Ok i had my appointment and it went well. He commented on the size of the white patch and said that he agreed that a biopsy needed done. I got it set up for September 18th in the afternoon. He too asked me if i had any other symptoms. Not sure what symptoms i should be watching for. Doing my best not to do the internet searching deal, choosing rather to rely off the information on this site, and from you all. Ill keep you posted.

It's good you have your biopsy set up. Maybe you could see if they would reschedule a little sooner? For me, waiting even one day was excruciatingly stressful. You could ask them to let you know if they have a cancellation and can get you in sooner. If your stress level is high, tell them about that, too. When my son was scheduled for an appointment with the ENT for two weeks away, I was in such an anxious state I could barely talk on the phone. So when my ex-daughter-in-law called to ask how Paul was doing, and I told her, she volunteered to call the doctor to move up the appointment. That was on a Friday and we got the appointment for the following Monday! (She's a good talker) My son was not too happy about his ex-wife being involved but I was happy. When you see the doctor, bring someone with you if you can. THey can help you remember what the doctor said and ask questions of their own. Make a list of your questions. I've even faxed the doctor my questions a had of time so they could be ready with answers in case they have to look them up.

The biopsy is tomorrow. What should i expect pain wise afterwards? He said hes going to numb my tongue and cut the suspect area out. Curious as to some of your experiences?

Is this a biopsy or a surgery? A biopsy is taking a teeny tiny sample. The tissue my doc has taken for a biopsy is very small, about the size of 1/2 a grain of rice.

The bigger the area the doc removes, the more pain you will have. Im sure they will give you pain meds. Make sure you fill that prescription on the way home while you are still numb. It will be sore for a couple days with each day becoming easier to tolerate.

Results will take about a week to come back. Try to stay busy to keep your mind off worrying.

Best wishes!!!!

Double whatever the doc tells you to be safe.

Hi DB7. I too am a newbie to this world, also glad that I found these kind folks. I had a fine needle aspiration that honestly, didn't hurt too much- she numbed the area beforehand. (ok, I turned green and almost passed out, but that's because I'm a wuss about stuff like needles. Have a feeling I'm going to have to get over that Real soon!) Last Thurs had a laryngoscopy. They did some looking around, and took some biopsies too. That was under general anesthesia, so painless until after, and even that was just a moderately sore throat. I wasn't given any pain meds, and only took some OTC Tylenol that night and the next day. I hope this helps. I get fitted with my mask tomorrow, so believe me, I fully understand your fear about all that you're going through as I am just now going through it myself. As have said, the wealth of knowledge on this forum has been invaluable in preparing me. I just have to ask..... Aston Martin fan???

DB7 - I too had BOT primary last year and had a biopsy done. It will be pretty painful after the numbing wears off but should only last a few days. You will need soft foods for a few days afterwards and be careful when chewing to avoid biting the area. It shouldn't be to bad after 2-3 days but everyone does recover differently so just be prepared. Good luck and try to stay positive while waiting for the results.

Thanks guys! No sorry, not a Martin fan...lol. ive been doing good at staying positive. Continuing to play sports and running/cycling. Ill just deal with the results when they come. Im pretty sure theyll come back cancerous as two different oral surgeons have both said thats what it looks like. Im just anxious to get started so i can tackle this thing, and very fortunate to have found all you guys! Were any of you displaying any type of symptoms prior to your diagnoses? Well anyway, ill type more later and check out some pf these other boards. Take care!

A typical BOT SCC presentation first shows itself as a painless lump on one side of the neck and no other symptoms.

Strange as it may seem, I noticed my cancer because I tasted pepper in the back of my throat every time I ate potato chips. Knowing there are no taste buds back there I took a look. That was three 1/2 years ago.

Best wishes for your biopsy results.
I love that you are keeping busy and have a great attitude.
Just wanted to add that I had no symptoms either but did have metalic taste for a while before my biopsy.

Well, back from my biopsy. Holy heck it hurts. Just like you guys said, as soon as the numbness wore off, it was on! Where I messed up was I took some Tylenol instead of what he prescribed, and it did absolutely nothing! I'm guessing this was a little more than a biopsy, because he took a good sized sliver off the left side of my tongue. Wow, hurry up a couple of days! They numbed me up, and cut a decent sized chunk out. I'll keep you posted as to what the results are in a week or so. Still staying positive and even playing volleyball tonight...lol. (dumb, i know)

Fingers crossed it's nothing. Best of luck to you.... I swear we all should have our biopsy results done at the vets - my dog's results were back in 48 hours...

hahaha, no kidding!

Three times - seriously told my vet - next time I need a biopsy I'm going to him.