Hello. My name is Elizabeth and I learned of this website through my sister. She loves the computer and spends alot of time on it so she has researched alot about my cancer and discovered this website and this patient forum. I decided to try it even though I am not on the computer very often.
Anyway...I was dignosed with tongue cancer 3 years ago(2003) and underwent surgery to remove it. I had a pet scan at that time and also was told by my ENT to visit an oncologist which I did. He did not do further treatment after the surgery because they felt that all of the cancer had been successfully removed and had clear margins so I healed after a short period of time and tried to get on with my life. I did experience pain and tenderness at times but nothing to cause great concern. I had checkups and all seemed to be going well until around Thanksgiving,2005 I noticed some white patches on my tongue(left lateral) near where I had already had cancer removed. I monitored it daily and prayed that it was nothing to worry about but deep down I knew it was probably back. The first time it showed up differently though so I really wasn't sure. I made it through the holidays until New Years weekend and finally decided to tell my husband.
Of course we decided to go to the ENT and they saw me on Jan.3,2006. It turns out that it had come back and I am recovering from my second surgery of the tongue. This time I feel strongly that maybe I need to get more treatment but will have to wait until tongue heals more. I have an appointment with an oncologist for Feb.10 and am supposed to see what he thinks should be done. My ENT said he will possibly reccomend radiation or implants. I just turned 42 and my ENT does not understand why I have had this cancer. I do not fall in to the risk categories for this type of cancer and cancer doesn't run in my family. Is there any one out there with similar problems that has any ideas??