| Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 3 | Hi All,
I had a painful sore on the left side of my tongue since the beginning of April. I saw my regular doc about the 3rd week of April because I had what turned out to be a nasty respiratory virus. I mentioned the sore to her and she said, yeah, yeah, it's a cold sore. It'll go away. Without looking at it. I had a scheduled dental appt in May and my dentist confirmed what I knew--not a cold sore.
Dentist wanted me to see a periodontist for some issues and thought the peri could also evaluate the sore. Unfortunately, the peri's office was closed for a month. I made another appt with my regular doctor but she wasn't in. Her nurse tried to find someone to get me in for a biopsy. I finally ended up calling my insurance company to get help finding a participating oral surgeon.
I saw her on Monday (6/22). She didn't even talk about trying anything or wait and see. She took the sore and surrounding tissue and also some tissue from inside cheek on the right side. I have a follow up appt. 7/13.
I've been reading here for a bit. I wasn't planning on joining unless, well, the results put me here. But, this morning, while brushing my teeth the best I can, I thought I noticed some swelling under my chin. I talked myself out of it really being anything. When my daughter came home from work tonight, she asked why I was swelling up.
I'll call my oral surgeon in the morning but any guesses on why under my chin is swelling up? It's not hard or lumpy, just puffy. | | | | 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 | The rule around here goes like this... Any sore you have in your mouth for over 2 weeks that does not heal on its own, needs to be checked by a professional. I suggest seeking out an ENT who specializes in oral cancer patients. Too often an oral surgeon will simply remove the area (without regard to getting wide margins) then biopsy it only to find out it was cancerous and now further surgery is necessary. A biopsy can be done by an ENT or oral surgeon, not all dentists will do biopsies.
Hopefully its nothing serious and you wont need our site. We are here if you do and will gladly help you thru this.
Best wishes! 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 | Firstly do not wait two weeks for the results. Call daily until they have them.... And swelling may be an up infection as long as it's not firm then it may just need antibiotics go back and see your ENT... Hugs
Last edited by Cheryld; 06-30-2015 09:25 PM.
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: Jun 2015 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 3 | I just called the office and asked if my results were in. "Uh, yeah." And then "Can I put you on hold for a minute?" She came back and said the doctor isn't in this week. I asked, "You can't tell me?" She asked for my number and said someone would let me know when doctor is back. So. They really can't tell me without her? Or it's not good news. Waiting sucks.
| | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | You're right! Waiting sucks. You have great advice above. There could be a lot of reasons that you are having to wait. Once when my son and I were waiting for results for him and it was taking way longer that it should - was only because of his hospital had to get results from a different hospital. So keep calling, find out if there is an ENT there who specializes in Oral Cancer. It's probably not anything serious but you should let them know how stressful the waiting is. Cry a little if you have to. If there is a website for the hospital the doctor is associated with, you could look up information about the doctor or who has Oral Cancer as a specialty. Let us know what happens.
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: 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 | Waiting is the worst!
Many physicians have a policy of not giving test results over the phone, good or bad it doesnt matter. Try keeping very busy to help pass the time.
Good luck!!! 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: Jun 2015 Posts: 3 Member | OP Member Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 3 | My oral surgeon called this morning. The tissue removed from my cheek was a fibroma and the sore of my tongue was an ulcer. No HPV, no cancer, no dysplasia. I still have an appt on 7/13 for her to check my healing but it's going well. Thank you all for keeping me company while I waited. I have learned so much in reading your stories and will pass on your message of early detection. Best wishes to all of you. I'm so sorry you have to fight and live with this. | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | Great news Shannon. Thanks for spreading the word. Tammy
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT. PET 6/11 clear. R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in. March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 25 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Jun 2015 Posts: 25 | Great news Shannon! Be well!!
DX 6/5/15 Stage 4a SCC left lateral tongue, tumor involves 90% of my oral tongue LVI and PNI identified Med Port and PEG 6/23/15 Started Cycle 1 of Induction Chemo (TPF) 6/24/15--3 cycles in total 35 External Radiation sessions and concurrent chemotherapy (2 additional rounds of Cisplatin) Brachytherapy Remission as of 2/17/16
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