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#190800 09-26-2015 01:06 AM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 91
Neicy Offline OP
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
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Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 91
I have been doing pretty good keeping my obsessing in control since my surgery. Today I had my fifth monthly "clear" check up. Surgeon felt all around and said "Looks good...see ya next month!"
So, I get not a mile away in my car when I start to feel all around on my jaw and notice this one spot on my left jaw (cancer was on right tongue and floor of mouth) that kind of feels a bit sore when I press on it. So now I have been pressing on it for hours and guess what?? It kind of hurts now. I have been looking up all sorts of stuff and making myself crazy. I figure to call the dentist Monday and find out if my wisdom tooth is still there on the lower left. I don't even know. I guess I could call the surgeon back and see if I can run in there Monday as well. I feel like I am acting like a nut job. I just had an appt today and the Doc was fine with everything.
Any insight or suggestions or encouragement or kicks in the butt appreciated.
Thanks. Denise


Biopsy tongue 3/24/15
Diagnosis SCC tongue/floor of mouth
Partial glossectomy, resection and right neck dissection done
4/22/15
T2aN0M0
05/01/2015-no further treatment indicated at this time,
monthly check ups for two years
Neicy #190804 09-26-2015 05:42 AM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
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I can see an oral physical exam hurting after a visit, and constant checking on your own behalf, having been there myself a number of times, often taking pain meds in preparation, but as it is often said, any unusual symptom lasting more than two weeks should be brought to the attention of your doctors, and often I waited less than that, and would for peace of mind. Can't really say anything other than that being your doctor is the only one that can.

Good luck.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






Neicy #190807 09-26-2015 12:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 1
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 1
Nervousness comes with the territory. You know if you poke on something hard enough it is going to hurt. Please put your mind elsewhere for a couple days and lightly run your hand around. I'm sure you won't feel anything that the doctor who just checked out the same area. Not to say doctors are never wrong but my motto is detecting even an aggressive cancer a few days later is going to make a difference.

Meanwhile, chant "it's not cancer until it's proven" for a few days. You can do it.


Don
Male, 57 - Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com
Neicy #190837 09-29-2015 01:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 79
"OCF across the pond"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
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"OCF across the pond"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 79
Good evening just wanted to offer a few words of support to say I'm totally with you , and can fully relate to feeling your going crazy !! I'm smiling to myself as you have just described me , and I drive my Mike insane too. I constantly am checking inside my mouth with a torch and a mirror , then I get whoever is about to check , and then still not satisfied I then start checking and inspecting and comparing what's in their mouth to my own ! Then is the old Google researching with the odd bit of self diagnosis added to the mix. So much so that my mum refers to me as Dr Diane ! Lol
I have been behaving like this since my diagnosis and to date have no evidence of any further disease , have had a couple of scares and additional biopsies that have all turned out to be okay .
I sort of tell myself I'm being vigilant about my own health , and staying one move a head , I'm ready and almost waiting for something else to occur . Then on the other hand I'm thinking I'm obsessed and it's not healthy to think this way .
Then I take a breathe and say to myself , girl your doing just fine you've been to hell and back but here , back at work , functioning to the best of your ability , and so what if your constantly seeking reassurance , who wouldn't ?
So I shall kick us both in the butt gently shall I!
Good luck with everything thinking of you and keep us posted .
This really is the best place for help and support from people who really know what your going through and where your coming from.


Di 47 none smoker / drinker

T4 SCC left tonsil
1 Cistplatin,30 RAD finished treatment on 4/12/2013
Trismus
First MRI scan appears clear
TX
NG tube 9 weeks
acute vommiting, syringe driver 9weeks
2 month checks
Neicy #190839 09-29-2015 07:17 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 91
Neicy Offline OP
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
OP Offline
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 91
Thanks so much for your nice responses everyone. Yeah, Di...I guess we are both a bit crazy, over-zealous,hypervigilent...whatever we wanna call it! I just want to catch anything as soon as I can as catching this early the first run for me has made all the difference in both prognosis and treatment...
So, I actually was able to see my dentist yesterday morning (and even conveniently on the way home from my night shift at the hospital...the office opens at 7am on Mondays...good to know!)...my wisdom teeth are both still there on the bottom and totally impacted; I am gonna go to the oral surgeon who did my original biopsy for a consult on getting those out. I want to do it as she thinks the little swollen spot on the jaw is related. She gave me some penicillin and it is going down already. I hate worrying but I love the feeling after facing it and having it checked out. Either you know something is up and can act on it...or you skate by and it's nothing or something else entirely. I felt great when I walked out of that office.
Thank you again everyone for the support. I was kinda crazy before the cancer by the way.
Denise


Biopsy tongue 3/24/15
Diagnosis SCC tongue/floor of mouth
Partial glossectomy, resection and right neck dissection done
4/22/15
T2aN0M0
05/01/2015-no further treatment indicated at this time,
monthly check ups for two years

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