Thank you all for your responses and some thought provoking comments. I'm a worrier by nature and so it is hard for me to let go. I see this is what I need to do, so I hope with time, I'll be able to do so.

I don't think anyone expects to get cancer, but this was really out of the blue for me. I'm one of the younger patients that there are more and more of. I'm 31 and have never drank nor used tobacco, so the diagnosis really surprised me. I was very fortunate that the tumor had caused an ulcer in my mouth that hurt so that even the General Practitioner, ENT, and Dentist who dismissed my case didn't stop me and I found the Oral Surgeon who probably saved my life. But if it happened once, who's to say it won't happen again. Hence, my worry.

So I guess I just breathe and keep going. This board has been such a great source of information and support. Thank you all again.

--Aimee

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SCC of tongue, T2N0M0
Partial glossectomy, modified right side neck dissection 2/06

Last edited by Brian Hill; 12-29-2007 02:05 PM. Reason: I wanted to highlight her youth and that her cancer was missed by so many. Also that she had a surgery only solution.

Stage 2 SCC of tongue, surgery only 2/13/06. Margins & nodes were clear. No rad or chemo deemed necessary. Recurrence found 4/07. Surgery 5/22/07 with Cisplatin x 3 and 33 IMRT. Died 12/28/07.