| | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | The area where my tongue is tethered to my mouth on the left side - from my 2004 surgery (free flap/neck dissection), is now sporting a red looking spot/sore/thingie. Had appt @ CancerCare today - surgeon will see me again in 2-4 weeks and if unchanged at that point he will do a biopsy.
He says he doesn't think it is anything to worry about - but he knows how I fret so he wants to be sure so that I rest easier. I always think this is his way of "managing me".
How many spots/lumps/bumps have I been through? How many sleepless nights?? How many hours have I wasted with catastrophic thinking???
I am disappointed with myself in that with all I have learned in the last almost 7 years, I seem to still have a hard time calming my fears.
I will pray for strength and listen again to The Power of Now so that I can live in the moment and not "go there".
Just venting...thanks for listening.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | 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 | Donna, I am so sorry you are having a problem and even thinking about the possbility of a recurrence. You have been thru it twice already and know the drill. Do your very best to stay busy so your mind isnt working overtime thinking 'what if'.
Hope you do not have any more sleepless nights. Maybe try listening to some beautiful Christmas music. I especially love listening to a Chistmas CD a dear friend made me which includes Susan Boyle. Her voice is amazing!
Prayers and ((((HUGS)))) being sent your way!
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: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | Donna, I know your fear. I pray that it is just a sore and will go away in a few days so you can ease your mind.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Me, too, Donna. I just sent up a BIG prayer for you to have no reaccurance, and that it will disappear and clear up soon so that you can relax. I guess all of us worry about things in our mouth areas that seem to pop up overnight and that causes us to freak - I know it does me. So, hopefully, my prayer, and all the others from your Fellow forum members, will be answered soon.
Julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer | | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Donna Donna Donna
Blaming yourself for being human? It's all very well to aspire to Tolle's exhortations, but 99% of the world are not living them day to day. How could you help but worry.
Repeat after me this Holiday mantra: Sometimes a spot is just a spot. Take a deep cleansing breathe and repeat again. Afterall, that is all you really do know NOW.
Oh, and you know that your experienced surgeon does not think it's anything to worry about (code for it's not cancer)
I happen to know that you have a very eclectic collection of Christmas songs, ranging from Susan Boyle thru Il Divo to Kenny G. So I join in Christine's suggestion to put them on, especially Susan Boyle's "Make Me a Channel of Your Peace" - a new favorite of mine.
Peace and Love
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Hi, Donna,
Whenever I am going through the "what ifs", I always find a good funny movie helps me release some stress. There us nothing like a good long laughing jag. Some of my favs are "Planes, Trains, Automobiles," "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "Heart Breakers", "Raising Arizona". I'm sure I have more but that's a good start. It will help pass the time before your next appointment, too.
My best to you-
Anita
Anita (68)
CG to husband, Clark, 79,
DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
PEG 7/21
Botox injections
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