| | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 | Hi my friends...
It's been so long or short... the last time I was here I got so depressed I didn't want to leave any message. But now I am very scared again because we received news from the pet scan, my dad has to get checked this friday, I'm desperate.... there is a spot on the bottom of his tongue, we didn't tell him yet. I pray to God it is treatable... any words will help...
My Dad:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Stage 2, Right side of Tongue
Dx 7/19/10
Partial glossectomy and neck dissection 8/18/10
Reocurrence: 04/2011 Base/back of Tongue right side
Surgery: Partial glossectomy, flap 06/15/2011
Rad and Chemo finished on Sept/ Oct 2011
Recovery and assimilation. Enjoying life
| | | | | 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 | Yes, its been a while. We are still here and able to help you. First CALM DOWN! Getting upset is a natural reaction to hearing such bad news. Its ok to be scared. Best to try keeping busy so it will take your mind off of this.
PET scans are known to have false positives. Its happened to me and many others on here. Another thing to remember, a recurrence is not always the worst possible outcome. Your father has options as he hasnt had radiation. Ive gone thru oral cancer 3 times. I know several members who have had it twice and a few who have had it 3 or more times. Think positive! I hope when your father has a biopsy the results come back negative for having cancer.
Best wishes to your father!
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: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 | Thank you so much for your reply and wishes Christine!
I will try to think positive and keep myself busy... it's so hard... thank you
My Dad:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Stage 2, Right side of Tongue
Dx 7/19/10
Partial glossectomy and neck dissection 8/18/10
Reocurrence: 04/2011 Base/back of Tongue right side
Surgery: Partial glossectomy, flap 06/15/2011
Rad and Chemo finished on Sept/ Oct 2011
Recovery and assimilation. Enjoying life
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Benfry - I do remember you from the last time you were here and I know it is so hard to wait and worry about tests and all the "what if's", but Christine is right, it's best to keep busy. And when you start worrying, try to give yourself a time limit of just a few moments and then force yourself to think of other things. One of the best things I found that helped me was to exercise or go outside and walk around a little bit. Sometimes all I could manage was to stand up and bend way over and touch my toes a few times, take a warm bath, eat some chocolate, read. When I couldn't sleep at night, I would vacuum the carpet or do some other physical thing. Think about all the good things that could happen and they really could! I'm hoping for the very best for your father and for you!
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: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 | Thank you so much Christine and Anne-Marie,
I've been trying to keep myself busy. I am feeling more calmed I guess it is normal to feel anxious. I will focus on the good things. My mom just told me on the phone that my dad can't eat and has pain, he's been eating soft foods because something hurts when he eats so I just can't wait to take see what's going on so that we continue the with this fight...
My Dad:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Stage 2, Right side of Tongue
Dx 7/19/10
Partial glossectomy and neck dissection 8/18/10
Reocurrence: 04/2011 Base/back of Tongue right side
Surgery: Partial glossectomy, flap 06/15/2011
Rad and Chemo finished on Sept/ Oct 2011
Recovery and assimilation. Enjoying life
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 | So I have bad news...
My dad's cancer is back, it is in the base of the tongue, his surgery is scheduled for june 8th, he is very depressed, I don't know how to cheer him up.
The good news is we are together... My mom and I will be taking care of him after his surgery, we were explained the surgical procedures he will have done, but I am more concerned on what is next. We feel guilty we didnt get a PET scan earlier. I guess that doesn't matter now...
My Dad:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Stage 2, Right side of Tongue
Dx 7/19/10
Partial glossectomy and neck dissection 8/18/10
Reocurrence: 04/2011 Base/back of Tongue right side
Surgery: Partial glossectomy, flap 06/15/2011
Rad and Chemo finished on Sept/ Oct 2011
Recovery and assimilation. Enjoying life
| | | | | 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 | Im sorry your father is facing a recurrence. Best wishes with his upcoming surgery!!!
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: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Sorry to hear about your dad - hopefully he will come through this quickly - they are doing surgery for BOT - I thought that was usually caught with rads and chemo?
Or do you mean under his tongue? Not base off his tongue ( which is down the back of his throat) regardless - he does have other options after surgery - rads and chemo - it's not a 100% guarantee but according to my rads guy it cuts the chances of recurrence down by half. Hopefully things will go well easily for your dad will say a prayer for him and your family!
Good luck!
Last edited by Cheryld; 05-15-2011 08:17 PM.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 | Hi everyone, I'm just desperate, depressed because my dad is very worried he will loose his speech... I really don't know what is going on yet  We just got back from my dad's appointment with his surgeon. We will go to see his primary oncologist tomorrow morning to explain to us where exactly the tumor is and what is the surgery about. In my plain words, the plastic surgeon explained to us that he will close the hole in the tongue that the surgery to remove the tumour will leave. He will take a piece of the skin in his forearm or his chest or belly and transplant it to the site site of the removal surgery. If things go well, the transplated tissue will stay put. The plastic surgeon said that his speech won't be the same, and he will be sent to speech therapy, and there is a chance he wont be able to talk, but that is known until after. He mentioned he recently had two patients, one that was able to talk after the surgery, and one who was not (which caused us so much pain but also hope). I don't know if I mentioned it earlier but my dad doesn't want to have his surgery done, he thinks he will get better with some home remedies, this is so sad because I understand where he is coming from, he is very affraid, and so are we and I hate having to hold my tears and tell him everything will be okay.. I'm sorry, I am not feeling well, this is too much.. please someone tell me how to keep strong.. I better post a new topic with questions
My Dad:
Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Stage 2, Right side of Tongue
Dx 7/19/10
Partial glossectomy and neck dissection 8/18/10
Reocurrence: 04/2011 Base/back of Tongue right side
Surgery: Partial glossectomy, flap 06/15/2011
Rad and Chemo finished on Sept/ Oct 2011
Recovery and assimilation. Enjoying life
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | It's weird that they are grafting to the base of the tongue - usually they graft to the oral tongue- I'm just wondering if tou have all the information.
Clarify what you can tomorrow - good luck. And tell your dad home remedies are not something to risk your life over.
Hugs
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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