| Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | Thank you, Cheryld. I will.
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | [quote=Anne-Marie]Glad you found this place, Mia - It is the best place to be for the latest in accurate information, plus the knowledge and compassion shared by many who have experienced what you are going through. Try not to check Dr. Google - it can be a crazy maker! What you seem to have may turn out to be nothing serious. As mentioned many times on this forum, the only way to tell for sure is with a biopsy. Keeping busy is good and you can use the "waiting" time to check out the main pages of this site, where you will find lots of info on diagnoses and different kinds of biopsies. It can also help you to formulate any questions you might have for your doctor or for anyone here. Hope your diagnosis brings you good news and whatever it is, you have lots of support from everyone here. [/quote]
I'm so sorry, Anne-Marie, for not acknowledging your kind post. Thank you for the encouragement. And Christine, Jeff and Don, also. My mind is not working right today. I'm only able to think about my appointment this afternoon and try to prepare for it. But I'm not an ungrateful, rude person, really.
Last edited by Mia; 01-27-2015 10:06 AM.
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | No biopsy today. We will monitor it closely for any further changes. Nothing yet says "Looks cancerous. Biopsy right now." Next appointment 02/13/15.
Whew! Feels like I dodged a bullet.
Last edited by Mia; 01-27-2015 06:49 PM.
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
| | | | 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 | Mia, congrats on your good appointment. Not all leukoplakia will turn into cancer, but some will. I still suggest you be proactive and seek out an experienced ENT who specializes in treating oral cancer patients. Even experienced doctors cant tell just by looking if something is cancerous. They can only give an educated guess. By doing a biopsy, it would give a definitive answer if it is cancerous or not. Here is more info about leukoplakia... Leukoplakia info from main OCF pages More detailed info about Leukoplakia 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 |
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: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | [quote=ChristineB]Mia, congrats on your good appointment. Not all leukoplakia will turn into cancer, but some will. I still suggest you be proactive and seek out an experienced ENT who specializes in treating oral cancer patients. Even experienced doctors cant tell just by looking if something is cancerous. They can only give an educated guess. By doing a biopsy, it would give a definitive answer if it is cancerous or not. Here is more info about leukoplakia... Leukoplakia info from main OCF pages More detailed info about Leukoplakia [/quote] Thank you ChristineB, for the information and for caring. I mentioned getting a second opinion to my dentist. He said "You can, it won't hurt my feelings." for what that's worth. I asked for a referral to an ENT and he said the University Dental School clinic does not refer to specific outside doctors, but I could find one on my own. After reading these two sources you gave here, I am even more convinced I need a second opinion and a BIOPSY. My dentist said he thought there was no reason to "put me through" a biopsy, since in his opinion the lesion is not dangerous at this time. He would recommend and do one if there are changes of a certain type, like thickening or ulceration. That was about the gist of his opinion. So I'll report back on my efforts to get a 2nd opinion at an ENT or oral surgeon. Thanks for the encouragement to take it seriously and not be put off, poo-pooed, and made to wait and see how it develops by the dentist.
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Mia - Good for you for doing some research and being pro-active about getting the best health care for yourself! You are worth it! I just have two comments:
1) Regarding a referral to an ENT, I don't think you should feel obligated to go to the one your dentist recommends and since he did not recommend one, that's good because sometimes they work together and have the same ways of doing things and you could end up with the same diagnosis. You could ask your family doctor or any other specialist you know to recommend an ENT that specializes in treating Head and Neck Cancer patients. Then see if there is a web site for the particular hospital they are affiliated with and check the website for that doctor's education, research and experience treating Oral Cancer patients.
2) Re: "My dentist said he thought there was no reason to put me through a biopsy" - I don't know what he meant by that, because when my son had his biopsy with an Oral Surgeon, it was no big deal, and done right in his office. Also, the Oral surgeon referred my son to an ENT, and even made an appointment two weeks away, but by the time we got home, I was a basket case of worry, and couldn't bear the thought of waiting TWO weeks! That same day, my ex-daughter-in-law called the ENT for me, pretended to be still married to my son and got the appointment moved up from Friday to the following Monday! It doesn't hurt to ask for stuff. Especially where your health is concerned.
Anne-Marie CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 87 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 87 Likes: 2 | [quote=Anne-Marie]2) Re: "My dentist said he thought there was no reason to put me through a biopsy" - I don't know what he meant by that, because when my son had his biopsy with an Oral Surgeon, it was no big deal, and done right in his office. [/quote] I agree. The mental anguish part of the biopsy is something you're already going through anyways, so it can't get much worse. Might as well get it checked and give yourself some peace of mind. The physical part was basically nothing. In my case, all the doctor did was take an instrument that looks like a cross between scissors, pliers and those silly eyelash curlers I remember seeing my aunt use back in the '70's. Doc got me to open my mouth wide, he took a little snip off the tongue, and plopped the little nub of flesh into a little jar with some formaldehyde. That was basically it. Didn't hurt. Bled for about 5 minutes, but he gave me a little roll of gauze.
The part that was more uncomfortable in my experience, was actually the nasal endoscope (where he sticks a camera-on-a-tube down your nose and checks to see if anything else goofy is going on. Of course if you were one of those silly kids who used to put a piece of cooked spaghetti down your nose and pull it back out through your mouth, this probably wouldn't bother you either. I however, was not one of those kids, and found the endoscope pretty uncomfortable.
Dx 2014Jan29 (42 yr old otherwise fit nonsmoker) SCC tongue stage III T3N0M0 subtotal glossectomy, partial neck dissection, RFFF, trach, NG tube 2014Feb25 16 days in hospital RAD 25 zaps 2014May5-2014Jun9 Back to work, paddling & hiking shortly afterwards
| | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 383 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 383 | Mia, Good news so far, but yes, I would find someone for "Another Look." Keep us posted! Wishing you the Best!
SCC right side BOT/FOM; DX 1-25-06; Neck dissection/25% of tongue removed 2-17-06. Stage 2 Recurrence 7-06: IMRTX35 & 3X Cisplatin ended 10-18-06. Tumor found 03/18/13; Partial Glossectomy 03/28/13 left lateral tongue. Nov. 2014; headaches,lump on left side of throat. Radical Neck Dissection 12-17-14; Tumor into nerves/jugular; Surgery successful, IMRTX30 & 7X Erbotux. Scan 06-03-15; NED! 06-02-16; Mets to left Humerus bone and lesion on lungs-here We go again! Never, Ever Give Up!
**** PASSED AWAY 10/8/16 ****
| | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 11 | Thanks for the continuing encouragement, everyone. I have an appointment back at Anschutz on 2/13 and will insist on another opinion/referral.
Newbie, age 70, nonsmoker/nondrinker 01/22/15 - Leukoplakia of right lateral/ventral tongue found by dentist 01/27/15 - Appt.re evaluation. Dental Resident's opinion: lesion not dangerous at this time. Wait & see how it develops.
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