| | Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 1 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jan 2010 Posts: 1 | Hello,
My name is Mark, I just turned 34 Sunday and will be undergoing surgery within the next week.
Around August or so of this year I noticed a lump forming on the lower left underside of my tongue. At the time I just happened to have a very sharp loose filling on my back bottom molar, pretty much exactly where the lump was forming. I wrote it off as irritation from constantly grinding on the filling. Being busy with work and life in general I put off going to get my tooth fixed until early/mid November. I remember thinking to myself as I left the dentist's office "oh good now this sore on my tongue will finally heal up. Long story short...three weeks later and I notice the lump is bigger and getting sore to the touch. Im not much of one to go to any doctor unless I think Im dying, but for some reason I knew there was something suspicious about that lump, so I went to my primary doctor. The first words out of his mouth were "Let me get you an appointment with my ENT buddy, that could be cancer."
It took three weeks of waiting for appointments and for biopsy results and a CT scan to learn that I have stage II SSC.
Im feeling pretty lucky so far, the CT scan covered the top of my nasal cavity to the bottom of my lungs and nothing abnormal was detected other than the tumor on my tongue.
My first proposed treatment plan is just a single surgery to remove the tumor and remove some lymph nodes to send in to make sure the CT scan didnt miss anything.
Im going to see another specialist tomorrow for a second opinion, armed with my CT and biopsy results of course. Either way Ill be in for surgery by this Friday at the earliest, and next Friday at the latest.
I have to say that Im dealing with all this rather well. I dont feel sorry for myself in the least bit. I was a pack a day smoker for 15 years and spent almost every night of my early to late 20s drunk after work.
Just introducing myself. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 | Keep us posted. You will find a wealth of information and support here. Don't be afraid to ask questions or share feelings. I did find that feeling sorry for yourself or asking why was not very useful. It is better to put that energy into getting well. Wishing you the best.
Sharon, 57; Hard Palate; T1, High Grade, DX 6-12-09, Surgery, maxillectomy 7-14-09, 33 RT (9-2-09 to 10-19-09); Prothesis (obturator). None smoker, non drinker.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Mark, you are so young but, in some ways, that is a good thing as you have lots of fight in you and probably good healing ability.
Wishing you strength as you start this journey. I would encourage you to have a workup done at a Comprehensive Cancer Center to give you a team approach to your treatment plan.
You can put your information in your signature (go to the top.."My Stuff"...scroll down "Signature" to fill in your info)so you don't have to repeat yourself in each post and it gives us the information we need to supply helpful answers. See the bottom of my post.
Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 388 | Welcome Mark - You're about our son's age, so you kinda get taken "under wing" with us : ). Therefore, you keep us (all) informed and let us know how the surgery goes, ok? Like the above poster mentioned, come in anytime you have questions, concerns, or just want to talk to those who have "been there". We're with you all the way!
Husband: 3 SCC gum and cheek cancers 2002, 2005, 2006: surgery only. Scans clear after removal of small, well differentiated, non-invasive cancers. No radiation. 4th SCC lip diagnosed 4/13/07 - in situ, removed in biopsy. More lip removed 2/8/08 - dysplasia. 2 Biopsies 3/17/09 no cancer (lichenoids)
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Mark,
If you check my signature, you will see that I had the same procedure as you almost 5 years ago.
If you would like to email or PM me, feel free to do so. Just click on the underlined wilckdds on the left and then click on view profile.
Good luck.
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Wecome to our world Mark and as we all do, I wish you the best . You will beat this stuff even tho it might take awhile to get back to normal. Mastiff lover. My son has one and so does his Surgeon buddy. The Dr had his here this past Sat. Damn , that dog is well over 200 lbs. Please keep us posted as you go on. You have my prayers and well wishes. Jim
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 | Good luck, Mark.
You will find a wealth of information and support here - don't be shy about asking questions.
And if Jerry asked you to email him, do! He was an angel to me and many others here & can put your mind at ease.
Marlene
Marginal mandibulectomy 6/17/08 resulted in DX of Stage I SCC - gingiva (3 mm) right mandible, buccal side. Clear margins. Occasional social drinker. Smoked last cigarette in 1979. Clear pet: 12/08; 7/20/09. Yay!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Mark, SCC of the tongue can be quite aggressive so if I were you I would want another opinion from a CCC. See this link: http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/resources/cancer_centers.htmI would also question the need for a ND. Remember ENT's are trained surgeons so that's one reason why you might benefit from a team approach offered at a CCC.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 | Mark,
I recommend you consider a second opinion (preferably from a major CCC) before letting them remove those lymph node.
Neck dissection surgery (ND) to remove nodes can have very serious long term consequences.
ND surgery should be done by a very experienced team.
Don
TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary
FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm
PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm
HiRes CT 6/21/08
Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08
PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08
35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo
Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | Welcome Mark, sorry you need this site but glad you found it. I've drawn a lot of comfort and courage from the good folks here and hope you do as well.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
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