| | Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 1 "OCF Canuck" Member | OP  "OCF Canuck" Member
Joined: Mar 2012 Posts: 1 | Hi. I'm Rod. I'm 46 and was a smoker. I smoked for about 20 years. I actually quit this morning... the same morning that annoying little ulcer under the left side of my tongue was diagnosed as cancer.
So... yeah.
They biopsied it at said that it was in the early stages.
The doctor said we'd meet again in a couple of weeks to discuss the next steps.
He seemed pretty optimistic.
There was no "gloom and doom" in the exam room.
So, here I am. | | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Welcome to the forum, Rod - sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us. You should find a lot of support for your upcoming treatment and your smoking cessation (good job!) on these boards.
Maria
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | | 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 | Hi Rod. Welcome to OCF! You have found the best place to get info and support. Glad to hear you have quit using tobacco. I know its not easy, I quit cold turkey too. With your new diagnosis you will have alot of people asking what they can do to help. Make sure you write down every single person's name and contact info and tell them when the time comes you will let them know. Here is a link from the main OCF pages which has info to help you get thru the beginning steps of setting up your treatments. OCF main pages treatment info Wishing you all the best with everything!
Last edited by ChristineB; 03-01-2012 04:46 PM.
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 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | Welcome, Rod. You have come to the best place possible to be. I only wish I had found it when I was first diagnosed. So glad that you quit smoking. Also glad that your cancer seems to have been caught early. Good luck on your journey, and keep us posted. We are all here for you!
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful 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 | Welcome - glad it was caught early!!! Best to catch it now - I had the same cancer but I'm not a smoker or drinker - but quitting smoking is a good thing.. Glad there was no doom and gloom. That's awesome - usually surgery is the primary treatment - then depending on size/ aggressiveness - possibly admiration and chemo. - keep an eye on your neck - look for any lumps and bumps - sometimes it can move quickly. Even after surgery if you get te okay and need no follow up treatment - make sure to keep an eye out for issues in your mouth and lumps in your neck... Sorry you had to join our group - but glad you found us! Take care!
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: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 | Welcome, Rod.
I had the same kind of cancer as you, but had no risk factors. You're so fortunate that you've caught it in the early stages. The only thing that concerns me is that you are not seeing your doctor for another couple of weeks. Are you meeting with any other team members in the meantime, such as a medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, nutritionist, or nurse? Are you scheduled for any pre-operative scans? This is a quick-moving cancer and every week counts. I hope that there is some kind of plan to get the wheels in motion before you see your surgeon in two weeks.
Best wishes for the best possible prognosis and outcome! You've met up with a great group of people here!
With care,
Kerri
37 y/o fem at Dx (23 wks preg @ dx on 3/16/11)
SCC L oral tongue (no risk factors)
L partial gloss/MND 3/28/11 @ 25 wks preg
T1-2N0M0; no rads/chemo
Tonsillectomy on 8/6/12 +SCC L tonsil T2-3N1M0 (HPV-)
Treated with 35 rads/7 carbo & taxol (Rx ended 10/31/12), but many hospitalizations d/t complications from rx.
Various scans since rx ended are NED!
Part of genetic study for rare cancers @ MGH.
44 years old now...I wasn't sure I would make it! Hoping for 40 more!
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | Hi Rod,
I agree with Kerri. Why wait for a few weeks. Push to get going NOW. OC travels very fast and if you are in the early stages, you want to stay that way. It took quite awhile for us to get going and it had spread to many lymph nodes. DON'T wait if you can help it. Also, hopefully you are seeing someone that has experience with OC.
This is a great place to be with tons of support. We have all been through one phase or another so you're in good hands!!
Keep in touch!!
Kathy
Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2009 Posts: 329 | Rod,
Why wait a couple of weeks it's time to get moving on this now!! I agree with everyone above.
My suggestion go to a Cancer Center this is nothing to wait on.
Hope all goes well.
Take care,
Connie
SCC. of the left lateral tongue, anterior two thirds, T1 possibly a T2.
Left partial glossectomy, left selective neck dissection 4/21/09. Nodes clean, No Rad, No Chemo.
CT Scan 9/11 clean, CT Scan 9/12 clean
Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. A+.
My hometown Lockport, NY.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Write or phone the Ottawa Hospital at: www.ottawahospital.on.cato explain to them that you have just been diagnosed and would like a referral to the Cancer Centre. This really is important. While your ENT may be competent, it is critical that your care be under a "multidisciplinary" group - meanning a group of surgeons who handle head and neck surgery, radiation and medical oncology. The group approach to making decisions is definitely beneficial to you. Let us know how things go. These people are used to these calls so do not feel uncomfortable making it. 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: Feb 2012 Posts: 34 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2012 Posts: 34 | HI Rod
Please dont wait for a few weeks.. tongue cancer is considered as a naughty one.. it moves fast.. and even after extensive radiation therapy it can just crawl up back...
and its very beneficial to have 2 groups advising you. Not just surgeons, surgeons can be very quick in determining whats wrong, but oncologist can determine what is right treatment and when is right.
I wish you luck, and this is a really great group. Seriously
Al
CG to Ida (33yo f)Tongue CA Stage 1
02/07/11 Biopsy
15/09/11 35x IMRT done
07/11/11 CT Scan - Cleared!
02/12 - Abnormal bump discovered -
27/0212 -Biopsy done
It's back!!! wTH....
Surgery Done , 3cm margin and 55 negative nodes cleared
Rehab begins
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,248 Posts197,137 Members13,320 | | Most Online1,788
Jan 23rd, 2025 | | |
|
