Hello. I am a 52 yo female and have just been dx with scc of the oral tongue on 2/13/13. I noticed a very sore pimple like thing underneath my tongue on Dec 27. I didn't think much of it as I have suffered from oral erosive lichen planus for years (which ironically has now cleared up) and am used to odd sores popping up and then disappearing in my mouth. This one did not clear up but grew at an alarming rate in about a month. I got it biopsied and it came back moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma stage 1. I had a CT done as well and so far there is no involvement in my lymph nodes. My ENT said that there were 2 treatment options. One was surgery with radiation and the other was chemo with radiation. My ENT recommended chemo with radiation as he said I could always opt for surgery later. If I choose to have surgery with radiation, my ENT recomends that I have it done at Wake Forest University. I am going on 2/20/13 to Wake Forest for a consultation or second opinion. I have no idea which option to choose as both options have valid points and valid drawbacks. Of course I want to choose what has the highest survival rate, but was told they are about the same with surgery being only slightly higher. I dont know how much slightly is. (should have asked but I was reeling from the dx)If I could be cured or go into remission and keep my tongue that would be nice, but I dont want to let fear of the surgery and rehabilitation, influence my decision and lower my odds. I also dont want squander valuable time trying to decide. I will be armed with more info at least after my consultation. My knee jerk reaction is to cut this thing out NOW but knee jerk reactions arent always the wisest. Also since my biopsy, my tongue has become numb at the tip and I dont know what all that is about. when I extend my tongue it feels as if there is a string tied to the tip holding it back. All of this happened as soon as the anesthesia wore off after biopsy. Forgot to ask ENT as I was so stunned by diagnosis. Sorry my post is so long. Thank you for listening.

2/13/13 Dx scc anterior 2/3 of ventral surface of tongue
3/8/2013 partial glossectomy neck dissection at Wake Forest
1 out of 61 nodes had cancer but was encapsulated
4/22/13 rad tx started; 30 sessions over 6 weeks at Wake Forest
6/4/13 finished rad tx
9/5/13 PET scan NED