Hi, I'm new here and hope that everyone here is doing well. Two weeks ago, I was told by my family physician that he believed that I had tongue cancer. In fact, in his opinion, he was 95% certain that this is what I had. Although I must mention that my doctor had a son pass away with cancer. My doctor immediately scheduled me for an appointment with a Nose Ear and Throat surgeon. That was on November 28, 2003. The surgeon told me that he did not believe that I have cancer, rather, that because I'm a smoker I have problems dealing with stress and smoking is how I alleviate my problems. Unfortunately for me, that does not explain the hole in my tongue, behind the last molar! After some research on the internet and viewing some photos of tongue cancer I believe that this is what I have and that I caught the cancer in it's earliest stage, but the QWACK that I saw doesn't think so. I am also extremely nervous after having read a story on the internet about a man in England who was misdiagnosed 19 times. HELP!! My wife was relieved when the QWACK told us that he believes that I don't have cancer, but now my wife is worried that perhaps the QWACK we saw could be wrong. I don't want to alarm anyone in my family needlessly. I am 39 years old and I am not afraid of dying ( a process we will all endure), however, my wife would like it if I stay around a lot longer than just the expected 5 years or so. Furthermore, I have a 16 year old son who needs a lot of guidance and a 15 year old daughter who would be devastated as she clings to her old man and holds him in such high regards. Can anyone out there please tell me what to do. Perhaps someone out there has gone through the same experience of a false diagnosis or a second opinion.

MarkT, You will find a lot of these kind of stories. The only way I know you can be sure is to have a tissue biopsy removed and sent to a pathologist for microscopic analisis. You should contact the ENT Dr. and ask him to do this. At the same time contact your family physician and discuss things with him GET ANOTHER REFERRAL. The ENT may be right but without the biopsy there he could not be sure.

Take care and let us know how it works out.

MarkT, I too am waiting for a biopsy and am unsure of what my problem is. I have an ulcer in the back of my throat that's been there for about six months. I've seen about five different doctors for it, my dentist two times and an oral surgeon. the first time I saw my dentist he must have pretended to see it as he said "ah, yes, I see it is a little red, but it doesn't look at all like my dads oral cancer did".....when in fact, it is white and erroded looking. Finally, five months later (and five doctors later) I went back to him again and he did see it this time. Because it's hidden in a fold he couldn't the first time. He said "probably nothing serious, BUT....if it is cancer, best to catch it early".....I was furious. I was wondering and just what in the hell is early, seeing that I tried to get you to see this five months ago? So, here I sit, waiting til next week to have a biopsy taken of it. I looked at the pictures online of oral cancer too, which I really wish I hadn't of done now, as a few of them look just like mine too....but from coming into this forum I've had some of the people tell me that there are so many other things that it could be. I don't know how much of these topics you've read, but these people are real survivors, some of them have made it past the five year mark you mentioned, and I'm sure a lot of them that haven't yet, will. Some of them have helped me more then they'll ever know just by sending info and being upbeat and reminding me not to get ahead of myself and to wait and see before I freak out. I do hope you're tests come back okay. Shelley

Hi folks,
I do know how concerned you are having been there this summer.........is it, isn't it? It was and given the knowledge, I dealt with it. This site is wonderful for medical, emotional and spiritual support. Mark, the cigarettes have got to go. I know...smoked for forty years and stopped in August. I liked smoking but when I came face to face with the fact that they were, in fact, killing me, I was able to quit. Not easy but I did it. One day at a time. I too am an alcoholic and have found that the principles learned in AA can be applied to most everything. My but ain't life just grand! A struggle on occasion but beautiful on the whole! That is why we cling to it!
God bless
Judy U

MarkT,

Did you talk to your family dr. after seeing the ENT? If not, please do so and ask him for a referral to another ENT. If you can't get in to see another ENT soon, then ask the first one if he will do a biopsy. Many people are misdiagnosed, especially in the early stages. You definitely need another opinion. It is possible your family dr. is overreacting because of his son and the ENT is right, but you need to be sure.

Rainbows & hugs,
Rosie

Hi Mark, I had a lump on my neck for a couple of
months. I went to see a doctor who told me not
to worry, it was nothing. A month later, it was
still there, and at my family's insistance, I
went to another doctor. This doctor (ENT) ordered a CT scan and needle biopsy. The pathologist who
did the needle biopsy did a while-you-wait test
and said everything looked normal. Just to be
sure, he did another needle biopsy, and sent the
samples to his lab.
I had a follow-up visit scheduled in a few days
with the ENT and almost canceled it because I thought I was fine, and this thing would go away.
The day of the follow-up, the ENT was scheduling
me for surgery..the lab results were positive
for cancer. I was in disbelief, but I'm glad they
caught it when they did.
O-O

Hi Mark,
I went to my dentist and showed him the sore on my tongue thinking he would say rinse with salt water, instead he did a biopsy right away and the result was tongue cancer. So maybe you could check with your dentist.

Hi Mark,

I found one of the hardest parts of dealing with things early on was the uncertainty. I too searched the web for as much information as I could find. Let me say to you what many said to me. You are not a statistic. I was heading for a depression when I came across the 50% stat. Someone here(sorry to the kind person who it was that I can't recall at the moment) pointed out that the statistic includes even those who don't do anything and those who don't follow through with things etc etc.

If it does turn out to be cancer you should know that things will get tough for awhile but it is something thatcan be beaten. I'm not a doctor (nor do I play one on tv ) but I do know that the way in which you approach it can have a major impact. You already mentioned a few good reasons to put up a good fight: your wife and kids.

If you haven't aleady gotten it done, I would strongly suggest getting the sore biopsied. That way you will know for sure if you are dealing with cancer. If it comes back that you don't have cancer great! If you do, well ok, then you'll know what you are dealing with and what options for treatment are available to you. Whatever the results we will be here for you.
My prayers are with you.

Peace,

Fr. Mike