| Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: May 2006 Posts: 720 Likes: 1 | You're where I was almost five years ago, when my husband's dentist identified a white patch (leukoplakia) on his tongue that hadn't been there at his previous cleaning. The pathology report on an oral surgeon's initial biopsy of a very small part of the patch was "moderate dysplasia" (abnormal, but not cancer), but the report warned of a possible "skip effect" -- meaning that cancer cells could be hiding in an area not taken in the biopsy -- so there may have been something suspicious in what the pathologist, who specializes in oral pathology, saw. When the whole thing was removed by an ENT a month later, the report came back as SCC in situ, with a small bit superficially invasive.
Once he received a cancer diagnosis, my husband went to an oral cancer specialist at a comprehensive cancer center (CCC). Because the entire lesion was removed with clear margins, he has required no further treatment. He was checked frequently (every 6 to 8 weeks) at the CCC for the first year, then less frequently for the second and third years, and has now moved to yearly appointments; his dentist also checks him with a VELscope at each six-month cleaning. He's living proof that early detection does save lives.
I wish you and your wife all the best, and know exactly how you are feeling. Fingers crossed for a good outcome.
Leslie
April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
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So, err, how worried should I be?
| funkland | 02-16-2011 06:59 PM |
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| Karenj | 02-16-2011 07:45 PM |
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| Pandora99 | 02-16-2011 08:21 PM |
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| davidcpa | 02-16-2011 10:10 PM |
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| EzJim | 02-16-2011 11:55 PM |
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| funkland | 02-18-2011 11:07 PM |
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| EricS | 02-19-2011 12:04 AM |
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| Leslie B | 02-22-2011 12:55 AM |
Re: So, err, how worried should I be?
| funkland | 03-23-2011 02:20 PM |
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| David2 | 03-23-2011 04:53 PM |
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| ChristineB | 03-23-2011 06:16 PM | |
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