I was totally shocked to be diagnosed with anterior tongue cancer on 4/23/09, being an apparently very healthly 61 year old. I had ignored a "cold sore" for nearly two months, big mistake! Now I've had a neck dissection, L1-3, and no positive nodes, for which I am very grateful. Tumor was small, 1.6 mm deep, but margins were <5 mm and showed focal angiolymphatic invasion, and my tongue burns at lesion sight 6 weeks after surgery so I'm worried about residual cancer at primary site. My ENT/surgeon says to just watch it monthly, but I am considering going to U. of Iowa for 2nd opinion. Should my primary site still hurt? Did any of you have these pathology findings and was additional treatment recommended?
I would appreciate any information and I am inspired by the aht bravery of all of you who have much worse situations than I do. Thanks!