My name is Katy, I will be 28 years old in April. I am married to Terry, 35, and have two daughters who are 4 and 1, Ryleigh and Raegan.

I am not sure where to start, but I was diagnosed with cancer October 30, 2013. About 4 years ago I noticed a small spot on the under side of my tongue. It never hurt or was uncomfortable. About 8 to 10 months ago I noticed the once small spot was a red, irritated section from front to back on the right side of my tongue. I saw my PCP and was given Kenalog paste, an oral steroid to treat the place. I also took Acyclovir 800 mg 5 times a day for 10 days. The place shrunk, but within three weeks I had a large tumor on the right side of my tongue. I was referred to an ENT.

At the ENT we did a biopsy of the tumor and found out it was cancerous.Squamous cell carcinoma Stage 2. Surgery for a right partial glossectomy and a right neck dissection to remove all lymph nodes was scheduled for November 7th. Surgery went great, negative margins all around, the lymph nodes were all cancer free. My speech was nearly normal, I could eat most everything,things were going great. I followed up December 12th to find that I did have a small place, but it did not hurt and was likely scar tissue.

I was scheduled to start back to work January 7th. About 1.5 weeks prior I noticed a place in the back right of my tongue. It was very swollen and hard, the same pain I felt with the first tumor. I let it go for a week thinking it was irritation from a cold I had. After about two weeks there was still no change. I had been back to work about 2 weeks at this point. I decided to take a day off and go back to the doctor early.

Friday, January 17 2014, the doctor felt my tongue and was convinced that we had another cancerous tumor. He wasted no time setting me up with a surgery appt for Thursday the 23rd (last week). We also consulted with a Radiation Oncologist who decided I will undergo 6 weeks of radiation this time. The tumor was much larger this time and did cross the midline. He had to remove the right side and then hollow out the inside of my tongue as well.

I go back to the radiation oncologist on Feb 13 to start treatment, get a CT scan, make my mask, etc. I went for post surgery follow up today and there is a place in the back left side of my tongue that is hard and causing the same pain. We are unsure if this is a tumor again, or possibly trauma from the surgery less than a week ago.

I am scared, hopeful, nervous, anxious, terrified, angry, confused, just so many different emotions all at once. I am sorry that we have to meet in these conditions, but glad that I have a place to come and talk to others who have been through this. I apologize for the novel and if some things do not make sense. This is obviously just bits and pieces of my story. I look forward to knowing you all better through this journey.