Hi all!

I had a lesion under my tongue for a few months. It wasn't really bothering me - just annoying sometimes. I saw my dentist in October and November 2016, but I forgot to mention it and I guess they didn't check my tongue. I went back to the dentist in February because I wanted to get it checked. The dentist did a biopsy and a few days later the pathology report was back showing SCC. Of course, now I am pissed at myself for not taking care of it sooner. Sigh.

The biopsy wasn't tested for HPV. Seems like that would be standard for a case like mine. I want to learn about the HPV status and how that might affect prognosis, recurrence, other cancers, etc.

I am scheduled for a partial glossectomy on 3/17 (St Patrick's Day!). They think they will be able to close the opening with sutures - so I am hopeful that I won't need a graft. My lymph nodes looked good on the CT scan, but there is a small (8 mm) asymmetrical node on the R side, so they will remove those nodes.

I am scared, of course. My surgery is still 2.5 weeks ago and I am scared that the cancer is growing and spreading every day. I am currently at T1 and just pray that the surgery shows no spread.

My main concern is my 6 year old daughter. I haven't told her anything yet, and I don't want to use the word "cancer" with her. So many people equate cancer with dying, and I don't plan on dying!!

So glad to have found this group. Oh, and for what it's worth, I am a 40 year old female, never smoker, rare drinker, otherwise healthy (I think!).