| | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 | Thanks it is my first day so far but I will take it one day at a time. I have a few different ent to call tomorrow. This is hard to get out of my mind | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | Can't imagine how a hot noodle would do such a thing but I'm glad you got it checked out. Hopefully it will heal up by the time you have to go back to the dentist. Do try not to worry about it, it won't change anything but only cause you more anxiety.
Congrats on giving up smoking, please continue down that path taking it one day at a time, never go back!
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 | That is just when I noticed it.. the noodle came directly from the boiling water but again im not sure. the funny thing is three weeks prior to this I had a cancer screening at my dentist with my 6 month checkup. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Mike, it is not unheard of to have a dentist who does not do a thorough oral cancer screening. Sorry to hear you need to wait for a week.
The dentist will do a biopsy for you? Thats alittle unusual. Most dentists will send you to an oral surgeon or an ENT.
Hope you stay busy so you dont worry about this. The anxiety will not do you any good. It wont change the results. Good work on quitting smoking!!!! Its not easy to do, way to go!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Mike - Many dentists don't see a lot of oral cancer. When I first went to my dentist (about a year ago) and asked if he did an oral cancer screening, he said "Yes, with every patient" but I knew from reading OCF info describing what an oral cancer screening should include, that his "oral cancer screening" was NOT the recommended one. I gave him copies of OCF's info which included the Velscope. So recently when I had an appointment coming up I printed out LOTS of stuff from OCF and dropped it off at his office several days before my appt so he would have time to read it. The assistant at my dentist's office informed me that they had just gotten the Velscope. At at my next appointment I did get a complete oral exam following the OCF guidelines! The OCF info also has a special description for dentists and one for patients here: http://oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/index.html One other thing, as Christine mentioned, usually dentists do refer patients to an Oral surgeon which is what happened in my son's case. The oral surgeon is more likely to have seen and thus be more knowledgeable with oral cancer and know what it looks like. Hope everything goes well for you! Keep us updated.
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 | Thanks for all the replies . I will keep you all filled in on what happens. I am not too confident in my dentist I am hoping to find an ent asap and will work on that tomorrow. On a good note this is day 2 without a smoke. Even if nothing comes of this at least it would be my wakeup to quite smoking | | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 16 | Well I am hoping this is a good sign but we will see. Over the past 3 days the hole has gotten noticeably smaller. Also I am on day number four of no smoking | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Great job Mike!!!! Its hard to quit smoking.
Im a former smoker too. When I was diagnosed with oral cancer, I got a little angry one day and threw my cigs out the car window. I was on my way to some knid of test that I didnt want to get done and I was upset. My son was with me and I said to him...thats it...I quit, I will never in my life smoke another cigarette. I NEVER litter so it was completly out of character for me to do that. Its been 3 1/2 yrs and I still have not smoked again.
Its good news that the sore is getting smaller. Hope it completly goes away.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Mike,
Although it is hard to really tell too much from your photo, I think that there is a pretty good chance that what you have is a burn. The fact that it is getting smaller is a very good sign. Congratulations on kicking the habit. I look forward to hearing that the sore is gone.
Anne-Marie,
You are to be commended for getting your dentist to do thorough OC screenings and getting a VelScope. I wish more patients were able to do this.
BTW, it is more common than one might think for a general dentist to do a biopsy. It is not a difficult procedure and can legally be done by any liscensed dentist.
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: May 2010 Posts: 224 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 224 | is that a hole? kinda just looks like an open sore!! Hope it's just a bad burn!
25/female at diagnosis
Dx;stage 3 SCC tongue 03/25/2010
Surgery 04/13/2010
Trach,ng tube, peg feeding tube
Hemiglossectomy, right side neck dissection, 40 lymph nodes removed. Free-Flap transplant to tongue.
30 rounds IMRT ended July 15,2010
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