Hey Nate glad you found this site! There are a lot of helpful people here. It will become your second home. I would be in a straight jacket without them.

As far as insurance the hospital social workers are extremly helpful(atleast ours were) with Medicaid. Once you recieve that I would go for a second opinion at MD Anderson which I believe is the top CCC for this cancer.

There is another young "survivor" on this forum named Bethers who has been extremly helpful to me and I am sure will post here shortly.
My sister had the same cancer as you, has recovered great from surgery and is now moving on to other treatment. Please keep us posted on your appointment and insurance and ask any questions that comes to mind. Someone here has gone through what you have. Also have someone with you for your appoinments to listen to the dr's because the first few appoinments for you will be like Charlie browns mom talking.
My thoughts and prayers go out to u and your family. =)

Hi Nate... welcome to the OCF. Sorry you are having to deal with this at such a young age. You will make many new friends here who are willing to share their lives and love.

It is wonderful that you were persistant and found a way to get yourself seen by an MD. Getting that biopsy only 2 months after noticing the problem certainly is in your favor.

As you make your way around the forum, you will find more stories than you can read but I do want to share briefly with you.

My aunt (more like a sister) is 67 years old. She had stage II SCC on the tongue. The dentist screwed around with her for several months diagnosing lichen planus and tongue biting. Finally she saw another doctor who did a biopsy. She had about 1/3 of her tongue and several lymph nodes in her neck removed in Feb. They also made a tongue flap "patch" to reform her tongue made from a muscle in her chest. She came through the surgery beautifully, never requiring a feeding tube or trach. She was in the hospital less than a week.

The pathology results came about a week later and showed perineural invasion (invaded the nerve) but no cancer in lymph nodes. If there had not been perineural invasion surgery would have been the only treatment, but since it had gotten to the nerve they recommended radiation which she completed in May.

You are young and obviously proactive. The new friends here will help you get through whatever treatments are recommended for you.

I do have one suggestion... have your mom and finacee look at this site as well. It has absolutely meant the world to me and enabled me to know what was "normal" and helped me to give my aunt encouragement and support.

We are with you, hon.

D

Well,I absolutely got no sleep last night and am getting ready for yet anotherlong day at the hospital. I never expected to support I have already recieved here, I am open to any opinion or recomendation. I have taken my mom with me to every appointment because I am still trying to understand. I will be on here after my meeting and let you guys know what they say. I was also told that a lot of doctors from MD Anderson practice at L.B.J. as well, Is there any questions that maybe I should write down and give to my mom to ask? If so, let me know, I am about 2 hours shy of my date with the doc's. Love ya'll and thank you again for being real, an being here for me.

Here is an important link. I will give you so much info and help in what to ask (page 4). It was written by OCF members...

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/board_images/GTI_draft.pdf

Hi Nate and welcome. Sorry you have to be here BUT you found a great source for support and information. As a caregiver I highly recommend you get your mom to join so she can ask questions and get support when you just aren't up to it. Like others have said, try to pack on the lbs. now. Congrats on being proactive on getting this diagnosed and moving on with treatments. As you will find out by reading other people's posts, it is not uncommon for this type of cancer to be misdiagnosed. You are lucky that you didn't delay seeking help. MD Anderson is supposed to be tops in the country for this type of cancer. I would give them another call and see what you can do about getting in there. Good luck with your appointment today and also A BIG CONGRATULATIONS on stopping drinking and smoking. It is not easy. Talk to your doctor about getting something to help with the side affects of withdrawing from both the alcohol and tobacco if you need something. Keep posting any and all questions. Someone on here will give you advise and encouragement.

Nate! Hope all went OK today at your appointments. I had tongue cncaer too. Diagnosed at 33. I had teh earaches and headaches and sore otngue too. Got diagnosed late. I'm stlll here. I eat most everything I like- very carefully and with small bites. My speech is impaired but gets better everyday.

My thoughts are with you and I hope you make a full and pseedy recovery adn get the treatment you need ASAP.

Big hug from California. We're pulling for you here! KATE

Hi Nate,
I was lucky to join this forum a few weeks ago because my dad has your diagnosis too. His surgery was today. I felt much more calmed after finding information about all this. You will too! This is hard but be positive! My dad didn't have insurance either but major hospitals have programs for uninsured people. We spent most of the past 2 weeks in the hospital looking for information, calling, visiting office from office. If you can go in person to apply for any of the assistance programs or state programs. If they give you any number call it right away. Don't hesitate to ask anything. You can look for this info in the hospital's website to have an idea of what papers you will need. Organize them very well so you can save time later. Print maybe 2 copies of everything and carry them with you in case you need to leave a copy in any office. If they ask you for additional papers bring them right away. Ask everyone everything. Ask, ask, ask, and then do what they ask you to do, bring whatever you need to bring right away. It helped in our case. It is all I know for now but I hope this helps you. I wish you the best.
Benfry

Hi Nate!! Welcome to OCF!

Please look into MD Anderson or another CCC, I would get another opinion or two to compare treatment plans. I had 3 and I worked as an Onoclogy Nurse and still choose MDA over drs I worked with due to the fact that MDA sees patients like us everyday rather than a few cases every so often.

I hope your appt went well today, keep us posted!

Hi, Nate -

I'm sorry you have to be here, but this site has saved the sanity of most, if not all of us. Whatever you will be facing, someone has gone through something similar and will be more than happy to share their experiences and give you real, practical advice.

Good luck with your visits. We are all rooting for you.

Marlene

Hello Nate

I guess theres nothing I could really say that you havent heard already. Remember that even though they are falling apart your mom and fiance are there for you so reach out and those around you will reach back youll see Remember to talk to someone weather on here or in your day to day life Dont let anything fester kay? If you ever need to talk just to talk or whatever we are here for you.