HI - Just wanted to say hello. I have a feeling you will be hearing from me alot in the very near future. I have lots of research to do, my story is below (sorry for the length), and unfortunately I do not have all of the details, but should by the end of the week.

My father, age 63, a life long heavy smoker and very, very heavy drinker finally decided to see a physician (for cataract surgery). During the routine check-up it was discovered he needed double bypass surgery and also a large mass was discovered on his tongue (this is all in the past 3 weeks). They were not able to perform a biopsy on the tongue until the heart situation was stabalized. He had successful bypass surgery this past Tues. Prior to the heart surgery they did a CAT SCAN and PET. The PET has shown the "cancer" (although not official because of no biopsy) is on the tongue, throat and lymphnodes. He is scheduled to have his biopsy this Tuesday. Obviously, until a biopsy is done, none of the doctors are talking about "what stage" the cancer is or "treatment" options, but I can see it on their faces and hear it in their remarks, that they are very anxious to get moving on the tongue mass. Of course the weak heart does not help the situation.

Based on this very limited info, can anyone give me any info on what I should expect in the coming months. I understand that this is most probably not Stage 1 or even Stage 2. My father says that he noticed the mass about a month ago, but the doctors just keep saying there is no way that has not been there for months & months. My father did stop smoking this past January, so I have a feeling the mass was there months before this, but really started bothering him (i.e. bleeding)!

Thanks for listening - Federalhillgirl


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