My husband has had a painful white streak on the side of his tongue for months. Finally, today, he had a biopsy taken.
He is extremely worried, so much so that he is making himself sick. He is a very anxious person on a normal day, so you can imagine how he is doing now.

How can I help him? I really don't know what to do.

I am trying to find more information on those symptoms, but of course I can't find anything conclusive online to help me.

Waiting for any kind of test is very stressful, but there is a lot of information on this site. It helps to keep busy so that you think about other things. My son's first indication of his tongue cancer was a very painful large lump on the side under his tongue. I think most of the time there is no pain but my son's cancer was wrapped around a nerve and he kept putting off seeing the dentist and when he finally did, he sent him to an oral surgeon for a biopsy. It's good that your husband had the biopsy. Did they say how long it would take to get the results? Until you do, it's best not to assume it's cancer until the biopsy says it is. If it seems your husband is way too anxious, you might check with the doctor to see whether he thinks something to relieve the anxiety would help him. There is so much good information on this site - way more than anyplace else so maybe you could start with the main page at http://oralcancerfoundation.org/ and click on "Diagnosis", or any of the other links. There are also a couple of search functions there, as well as on this page, upper right for specific things that take you to a discussion thread. As a caregiver to my son, I found that looking up stuff helped me to keep busy. If you can think of something your husband enjoys doing, that might help or maybe seeing a funny movie so that the waiting time doesn't seem so long. I am sure you will be hearing from others here with experience more closely resembling your husband's. When you go for the results of the biopsy, it really helps to have someone go with you and your husband. The more people there are at an appointment, the better able you are to remember what the doctor said and it can be very reassuring later when you try to put together what was said or recommended. Think about taking care of yourself, too. Do you have family or friends that you can talk to? There are some really caring and compassionate people here, too - so come back here anytime you need someone to listen or answer questions, and let us know how you and your husband are doing.

Hi newmom and welcome to the ocf boards. I have no magic words to ease the fear and anxiety, but can tell you that when my aunt had the biopsy done, they let her know up front that they suspected it was SCC, do when the results came in we were not surprised. I attended her appointments to be an extra set of ears, and between me and her husband and some good note taking, we were able to discuss the outcome after the initial emotions.

With that said, the quote one sees here all the time "it ain't cancer till they say it is" is worth holding on to. Also any enjoyable activities can be a good distraction.

I hope that you have a good outcome on the biopsy and won't need the experience, strength and hope that I found on this sight. But if you do, this is a wonderful and supportive group that can help you know what to expect and help to understand what the patient is dealing with.

Will keep you and hubby in my thoughts and prayers.

D

Welcome to OCF. Hoping for the best with the biopsy. Waiting seems to take forever! Try your best to keep busy so it will keep both of your minds off the anxiety over worrying. Dont waste time thinking "what if", go out and enjoy things together. If it would turn into something and Im saying IF!!!! Then you can make your plan, right now focus on everything good in yoru lives and enjoy

Thanks ChristineB, Penners, and Anne-Marie for your responses and advice... I greatly appreciate it!

The dentist office said it could take anywhere from 48 hours to a week to get the test results back. He had a brush biopsy done. I have decided that, even if the results come back normal, that he should have a brush biopsy done at every check up. Reading about oral cancer, I had no idea how it can go undetected for so long...

I always try to welcome new members. But secretly I hope that they dont have to be here. I wish there was a cure and that not one more person would EVER have to go thru another cancer treatment.

Newmommy, a biopsy is not something that is done if there isnt something there to biopsy. Im sure you have been reading and learning so much info that you are on overload. Im hoping it turns out to be nothing. Im not a statistic minded person since Ive beaten the odds enough already but, there was a recent post that our founder Brian wrote. It mentioned that in any month someone could have something irregular in their mouth, 90% is not cancerous. (Im not sure if the figure is correct but its a very high number) I hope this helps to ease your mind. Wishing your husband calmness as he waits for the results.