Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#19836 03-03-2006 03:29 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 837
Cathy G Offline OP
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
OP Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 837
mcgee
Member
Member # 2787

posted March 03, 2006 03:19 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hello everyone, I am new here. My mother 70yrs just found out she has squamous cell carcinoma to her right lateral tongue. She first got this back in 1986 and they did surgery. then more surgery in 1988. Has been fine until 3 years ago had surgery on her tongue again because came back as dysplasia. Now it is cancer stage 2 on side of tongue. She had a ct scan of her neck and everything is normal. Went to ent dr. he is going to do surgery again, possible skin graft. told her that she will still be able to swallow the same. Since is has come back again he said she will have radiation. I questioned him testing any lymph nodes and he said he was not going to since ct scan was normal and she will be having radiation anyhow. I just very scared for her. My mother has never smoked a day in her life.
She has been going to the ent dr. every 3 months for checkups anyhow. She was just there in DEC.
I'm just a little shocked he did not see anything then.
My mother is in good health. I'm just scared for her to go through radiation and the side effects.

She has been dealing with this cancer so long. Had been fine since 1989 until dysplasia showed in 2003 and now it's cancer again. Just very worried about her. I try to stay positive to help her.
Thanks for listening. I would appreciate any feed back.
I will continue to pray for all.

Thanks
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 1 | From: ohio | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged


Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
#19837 03-03-2006 03:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 837
Cathy G Offline OP
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
OP Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 837
mcgee,

I'm sorry to hear how long your mother has been dealing with this. Is her ENT tied into a comprehensive cancer center? Given her history, I would recommend that she get the full input of a team of head and neck specialists that represent all the relevant disciplines: surgery, chemo and radiation. In the "Other Resources" section of this website, there is a list by state of the major cancer centers.

There are many of us here who never smoked and still ended up with this disease. Radiation can be difficult, but if it turns out your mother needs this as part of her treatment, she can find plenty of support and helpful advice here. Do you (or other family members) live close to her in case she needs a support system for the next round of treatment?

Please keep us posted on what you find out.

Cathy


Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
#19838 03-04-2006 01:36 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 58
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Offline
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 58
Cathy, thank you for posting my message where it belongs. This website is all new to me.
Thank you for also responding back.
I will check into seeing if my mother is tied into a comprehensive cancer center. I think she is.

It sounds like you are doing so well, since 1989 and cancer free. That is GREAT.
I just wanted to ask you a few questions about your situation if that is ok.
where on your tongue was your cancer? And did you have neck dissection because of lymph node involvement or was that your choice.
My mothers biopsy just stated invasive moderately
differentiated SCC. I asked the ent DR and he said it was a stage 2.
Did you have any chemo or just radiation?
My mother is having surgery this wed and will be in the hospital for a few days. Then radiation in about 4-6 weeks.
Did you have radiation first or surgery?
How was the radiation? Did you have a difficult time eating?
When you have your tongue surgery did they get clean margins?
I will be asking the radiologist oncologist if my mother needs chemo also. We did go see him first and he felt that she should have surgery first and then radiation after surgery. He did say that at this stage she is very highly curable.
I appreciated any information that you may have to offer. Thanks again
Michelle

#19839 03-04-2006 04:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 837
Cathy G Offline OP
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
OP Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 837
Michelle,

My tumor was on the left side of my tongue. Given the location and the results of my preliminary tests, my cancer team felt the best approach for me was surgery first. They held off on the radiation decision until after the surgery was finished. Although the surgeons ended up getting clean margins (and there was no indication of lymph node involvement), the pathology reports seemed to indicate that it could be fairly aggressive, so my doctors pushed strongly at that point for radiation. (At that time, chemo wasn't typically a part of the treatment -- it has become more common in recent years.)

Radiation was tough for me, as it is for many people, but thankfully most of the effects were temporary. (Also, these days there is more that can be done as a preventive measure to try to preserve salivary function.) For about the last half of my treatments, and for several weeks afterward, I had problems with mouth sores, painful swallowing, occasional infections. and overall fatigue (and I was 39 and otherwise in good health at the time). Some people are able to keep eating in some fashion -- generally soft or semi-liquid foods -- while others need to have a tube inserted to get the daily nutrition they need. Your mother should be sure that she has a plan in place with her medical team to maintain her daily intake requirements.

Cathy


Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5