Hi Amy,

I'm sorry to read about your situation and I want to wish you luck on January 12th.

I always wonder where the theory that if it doesn't hurt, it can't be cancer, came from. I see this so many times on the board and I know, that I had pain in my tongue before my diagnosis was made. Also, any sore that doesn't go away in a maximum of three weeks should be biopsied.

I can't tell you how many of my patients have given me a hard time when I suggest a biopsy. You would be amazed. Since my cancer, it has gotten a lot easier to convince them.

I feel like I need to comment about whether a doctor should tell a patient whether or not they think that they have cancer. This is a topic that really has no right answer. If you tell someone that you think it is, they will worry until the results come back. The worrying won't change anything, and they have been miserable for nothing if the results are negative. On the other hand, I think it's wrong to play it down and say it's not, when it could be. After all, the biopsy is being done because "it could be". My choice has been to say that it probably is nothing, but we will have to wait and see what the results are. This to me, takes the middle road and doesn't get the patient any more upset than they already are, just because they need a biopsy.

In my case, neither I, my oral surgeon in my office, my hygienists or my partners thought I had cancer. SCC can look so different each time it presents itself, that unless it has a classic look, anyone can be fooled. However, as I said before, putting off a biopsy longer than 3 weeks, is not a good practice.

You will probably have some options for replacing your missing teeth with some grafts and implants. Depending on the amount of bone removed, a fixed bridge may also be possible. Right now all you have to do is get the surgery done and get on with the healing. The waitng is a very difficult thing to do.

Again, good luck and keep us posted.

Jerry