| | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 4 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 4 | Hi everyony I was recently diagnosed with scc on the base of my tongue, am having surgery tuesday to remove tumor and reconstruct the tongue with a flap from my forearm. they say 7 to 10 days in hospital, is that what most people can expect. They are also taking the lymphnods out on the same side as a precaution. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 381 "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 381 | Hi Jeff, sorry to hear your diagnosis. I had the same surgery, although lymph nodes on both sides were removed.
If you need any info, some cheer leading, or just a shoulder to lean/vent on, let me know.
We're all here for support, and wishing you the best of luck on Tuesday!
Tina
Diag: Aug. 13/12
T3N0M0
50% + glossectomy and bilateral radical neck dissection, removal of nodes zones I - V
Surgery October 11/12
Chemo/rad on hold due to clear margins and nodes
Sept 21/13 clear CT with anomaly thought to be the artery, being watched closely.
Dec 16/13 - anomaly confirmed artery, all clear
nickname: "get 'r done"
Plans: kick cancer's butt
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 4 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 4 | How did your surgery go, how long were you in the hospital, were you able to eat after it | | | | | 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 | Welcome to OCF, Jeff. Wishing you all the best with a successful surgery and speedy recovery.
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: Sep 2012 Posts: 381 "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 381 | Surgery went really well. I was in hospital for 9 days - mostly because I had the trach for that long, and other drains, etc.
As soon as the trach was out I started eating yogurt (it was the best I had ever eaten). After hospital release, I did pureed food for a few days, and then started eating solid food with small bites and lots of water to wash it down. I am 2 weeks post hospital release, and eating almost normal, although in smaller quantities.
My tongue is still swollen, so I sound a bit like the godfather, but I'm talking understandably (I'm a lawyer), and I'm back to work, almost full time.
Tina
Diag: Aug. 13/12
T3N0M0
50% + glossectomy and bilateral radical neck dissection, removal of nodes zones I - V
Surgery October 11/12
Chemo/rad on hold due to clear margins and nodes
Sept 21/13 clear CT with anomaly thought to be the artery, being watched closely.
Dec 16/13 - anomaly confirmed artery, all clear
nickname: "get 'r done"
Plans: kick cancer's butt
| | | | | 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 | Hi Jeff. Welcome but sorry you have to be here. Everyone seems to stay in hospital for a different length of time, depending on what they do and how your body reacts. The removal of lymph nodes is called a neck disection and they will test the removed nodes to be sure they do not contain cancer cells. What have they told you so far about your diagnosis? Are you being treated at a cancer center? HUGE advantage to being treated at a cancer Center is that all the disciplines which might be involved in your care make decisions jointly and you benefit from the expertise of surgeons, radiation doctors and chemotherapy doctors. Keep posting with your questions!
Donna
Last edited by Pandora99; 11-04-2012 11:42 PM.
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: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Jeff, Where are you being treated? BOT surgery is kinda unusual. Are there nodes involved? Has your tumor been tested for HPV? How large is your Primary?
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 | It sounds like oral tongue not base of tongue... Jeff I'm assuming its on the underside of your tongue correct? The treatment you are receiving is for oral tongue not BOT - do you have lymph nodes involved?
I had similar surgery was in for ten days - minimal pain - as I was numb from the neck dissection - I looked like something out of a horror film for two weeks after that things were okay. At day 21 I went to Mexico for a week and could eat almost everything there - spoke okay. Etc.. You'll need physiotherapy to repair your shoulder and neck.
Best of luck on your surgery.
Ps the trache sucks like there's no tomorrow!!! Bring a pad of paper and a pen! Or an iPad. Usually the trache they put in for the first few days is not fenestrated. Therefor you cannot speak.
Hugs- you'll get through it.
Last edited by Cheryld; 11-05-2012 07:42 AM.
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: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | My thoughts exactly on the BOT tx.
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: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | Jeff, I'm sending every good thought your way for tomorrow. I know you'll pull through with flying colors!
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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