Hi Kim,

Sorry to hear what you are going through.

Just want to expand a little on what Gary said about the possibility that the node was probably there already. I too, was diagnosed with a Stage I SCC of the tongue, in March of this year. The biopsy was done in my office and when the results came in I immediately scheduled a consultation with the chief of head and neck surgery at my local comprehensive cancer center. While waiting for the appointment, my oral surgeon ordered a CT scan, which was done 6 days after the biopsy was done. The results came back, all nodes clear.

When I saw the surgeon he said that he would not have ordered the CT scan as in his opinion, there is a 15% error possibility in CT scans and that he always performs a modified neck dissection along with the tongue surgery. (PET scans were never discussed and I never even heard of them until I joined this forum.) I had to agree with him and we did the neck disection, too.

Lucky for me, the 30 nodes removed came back clear.

Now I am telling you this, not because I have any way of knowing whether your nodes were really clear at the time of surgery, but to back up what Gary said, that possibly exists that the node was already there, but missed. If this is the case, then as strange as it may seem, this should make you feel a little better about the situation.

I was told that I did not need chemo or radiation and I accepted that advice. If I had been told I needed either or both, I would have done them. You are goig to a CCC and that is the best place to be. They will suggest what you need done and you will do whatever it takes to lick this thing.

I wish you good luck and be assured that there are many people here that will give you the encouragement that you need to help you get through this.

Jerry