Had my biopsy done a week ago and find out tomorrow with another visit to the OS. Dentist found a white mark on the right side of my tongue about 5 weeks ago and recommended I get it checked. CHewed tobacco for 2 years but quit three years ago.......dumb move I know but it was an Army thing when I was deployed. Anyway.....nervouse and can't sleep. The OC says is does not look like any start of oral cancer he has ever seen in his 25 years bot the only way to be sure was the biopsy. I certainly hope this comes back negative.

Praying for negative results on your biopsy, W. Let us know so we can do the Happy Dance for you
julieann

I've been reading around on this site for a bit and realize there are alot more people in my position that have waited for results and been through much more. Seems like there are some amazing people here.

Funny thing is my OS receptionist called this morning and told me there was a mistake in scheduling and I needed to reschedule my apointment for next Thursday. I got a little heated and told her I'm getting a biopsy result and she was basically asking me to wait another week to find out if I have cancer or not. She apoligized and "squeezed" me in tomorrow due to my complaint.

Good luck, and glad they moved your appointment up closer. Waiting is the worst.

Welcome to OCF! I wish you all the very best with your biopsy results. Hoping you dont need our forum. If you do, we will help you.

Good luck!

Fingers crossed its nothing

Wow......relieved but nervous at the same time. Biopsy came back as dysplasia so I'm off to an ENT guy Tuesday for a consult. Feel like I dodged a bullet on this.

Have to say after reading the stories from all the amazing folks on this site I almost feel guilty that I am a lucky one. I am a religious man.....and if you guys don't mind I'll say some prayers for all of you going through treatment!

Peace to you all and if you don't mind I'll keep checking in from time to time after I have this removed to see how all of you are doing.

So glad you're clear

Congrats on your great results!!!

Great news!

Great news

Great news! Put this scare behind you and get on with your life! & thanks for the prayers...

Great news!! So happy to hear, although I enjoy having people to talk with who relate I would like it even more if no one ever needed to join our group again.

I have to say the anxiety is still with me even though I was not diagnosed with SCC. I have an apt with an ENT surgeon this evening to see where to go with the diagnosis of dysplasia. Iwish I had thought to ask if the dysplasia is mild moderate or severe.......guess Ill find out tonight.

Anybody ahve any suggestions as far as quesitons to ask the ENT doc tonight?

If you do a search on the main pages for dysplasia or any other subject you see that interests you and it might give you some ideas for questions to ask the doctor. What I've done in the past is type out my questions double spaced and have two copies, one for the doctor and one for you. If someone can go with you, that helps to remember what was said and you can check back later with each other to make sure you understood everything. I like your signature line "Life is Good" and there is always something you can do to make it even better! Let us know what happens with the ENT this evening.

Anne Marie,
Thanks. My wife and I already typed up a bunch of questions for the doc. Mostly about chances of dysplasia coming back as cancer after removal and that sort of thing. I called my OS office and the found out the dysplasia is "mild to moderate"........any thoughts from you wonderful people on what that means?

And yes....life is good.....no matter what it gives me I'm in it for the long haul.

See my signature below: My husband's initial diagnosis of a leukoplakia (white patch) on his mobile tongue was moderate dysplasia. As Brian Hill told me when I first asked here about dysplasia seven years ago (boldface added by me):

[quote=Brian Hill on 5-9-06]
Dysplasia are those cells which are no longer normal, but they are not really malignant yet ... an in-between state, so to speak. Dysplasias also do not always go completely over to the dark side, but they are a step in that direction ... and having them removed or watched very regularly is prudent. Dysplastic leukoplakias can often return after surgical removal, many times done with a laser, sometimes via a blade excision. Keep an eye on things even after the removal from now until forever.[/quote]
Most dysplasias do NOT turn malignant; my husband was one of the unlucky ones. He was referred to a local ENT for an excisional biopsy of the whole area because the pathology report of the oral surgeon's biopsy of a tiny area raised some concerns even though no cancer cells were found.

By the time of the excisional biopsy (a month after the oral surgeon's biopsy), his leukoplakia had indeed become malignant -- but it was caught at the very earliest stage possible, it was removed with clear margins, and it required no further treatment. He is regularly checked by his dentist and has been referred a time or two to the oral surgeon; fortunately, those referrals didn't result in discovering anything serious (or even vaguely concerning). He also has gotten regular checks by a cancer specialist ENT at Johns Hopkins, whom he saw as soon as cancer was officially diagnosed and who was the one who said no further treatment was necessary.

Leslie,
Thanks for the info. Last week when the OS said it was not cancer and dysplasia I felt relieved but after reading and researching I am not so convinced I'm out of the woods. I am hoping the ENT spec I see tonight does not say "we'll monitor it" and wants to remove it. I've seen stats that mild to moderate dysplasia have anywhere from 3%-12% chance of "turnign to the dark side" as you put it. I don't like those chances.....my question is what does "monitoring" do? I go back every 3 months to have them eventually say "well now you have SCC guess we should have removed it when it was mild dysplasia"? Am I thinking correctly here?

With the odds you mentioned, your chances of the dysplasia developing into cancer are very slim. You are very very lucky!!!! I understand your concern but please try to focus on the stats of 88-97% of all dysplasia will not turn cancerous. Those are some pretty great odds!!! Going back to get checked out every 3 or 6 months is substantially much easier than what an oral cancer patient goes thru.

Wacko,

Not trying to be the bearer of bad news here.....but my OS and I "watched" my leukoplakia for a year. During that time I had 2 clear biopsies. I was the. Released from "watching" it. 6 months later my spot was the size of a Lima bean and somewhat painful. I made an appointment with the OS to check it again. 3 rd biopsy showed invasive SCC that had gotten into my tongue muscle. Stage 2 at diagnosis. I am scheduled for an 8 hour surgery next week to remove it, reconstruct my tongue, and check my neck for spread into my nodes. YES ..... The odds are in your favor.. ..... But WATCH THAT SPOT LIKE A HAWK! Mine went to the dark side QUICKLY and aggressively. I'm just glad I was still checking it frequently.

[quote=ChristineB]With the odds you mentioned, your chances of the dysplasia developing into cancer are very slim. You are very very lucky!!!! I understand your concern but please try to focus on the stats of 88-97% of all dysplasia will not turn cancerous. Those are some pretty great odds!!! Going back to get checked out every 3 or 6 months is substantially much easier than what an oral cancer patient goes thru. [/quote]

Christine,
I know going back to get checked every 3 - 6 months is much easier than someone with SCC......I feel terrible hearing what people go through. I'm willing to get checked out every 3 - 6 months but I'm questioning why keep going back to check it.....wouldn't it make more sense to remove it now? See what Chemteacher is going through and it makes me feel more like removal is the better option.

BTW......went to see the ENT last night and she says my teeth are sharp on the right side and wants me to go back to my original dentis to have them smoothed out.....and come back in 6 weeks to check the biopsy spot. I asked her a ton of quesions......like what are the chances this could turn to SCC in that amount of time and she says nill to none. I asked her if she has ever had a patient with dysplasia that she was monitoring get SCC and she said no. I'm so darn fed up with trying to figure this all out.

Should I go see another ENT?

I do completely understand your concerns. The fear of the unknown combined with a watch and wait approach can be overwhelming. If seeing another ENT would help to ease your worries then yes go see another ENT. Sometimes it helps just hearing it from another qualified doctor. I would recommend taking care of the sharp teeth as well.

Hi there... I would absolutely take her advice go have the teeth smoothed. So that they don't irritate your mouth at all... I am certain that is how my problem got started... bad molar, worse cap... etc..

This should give that area an opportunity to heal. Cells grow and they die and get sloughed off. Hopefully, by taking care of the problem the dysplasia will clear up and you will heal. Do go in three months to have a check up again or sooner if it doesn't get better despite having done what she suggested. It is ideal to go to a top ENT, however this one sounds like she is doing her due diligence. No one can predict cancer. I know its fearful to even contemplate, no one can foresee the future all you can do is whatever you can to prevent it from happening and it appears you are doing that. Mental state has a great impact on cancer - I truly believe this because it puts a lot of stress on the body, which compromises other normal functions.
So go and have the tooth smooth, take away the irritant, then see what happens. Monitor it, and go back even before the three months if you are still concerned. Most importantly - relax ;o)

Cheryld,
I think your response has helped me the most. I've been so worked up over this it is effecting my overall happiness. I've made an apt to have my dentist smooth out my molars and will go back in 6 weeks and just take it day by day. I feel better already.....relaxed. Just remembered small game hunting season opens next week and my son is begging me to take him so I'll just look forward to that and.......relax!

I'll check in with all of you soon with what the ENT says after she checks it in 6 weeks.

Peace to you all.....and in my prayers!

Whacko, first, thank you for your service, Brother!

Second, use your military training to help you control your anxiety. Discipline your mind so that when you start to feel it, review everything that you know about the subject and examine what steps, if any, you have not taken that you reasonably could have taken.

Then, if there are any steps untaken that could improve your position, take them.

At this point, with nothing you could do, undone; direct your thoughts away from the issue stressing you. You know that you can only do what you can do, all else is in the hands of God/Fate and worry only causes you to miss what is good in life.

Life is good, brother. It is also uncertain, so focus on living in the now, not in the "what if" which is what anxiety amounts to.

Good luck, brother Whacko!

Bart

[quote=Bart]Whacko, first, thank you for your service, Brother!

Second, use your military training to help you control your anxiety. Discipline your mind so that when you start to feel it, review everything that you know about the subject and examine what steps, if any, you have not taken that you reasonably could have taken.

Then, if there are any steps untaken that could improve your position, take them.

At this point, with nothing you could do, undone; direct your thoughts away from the issue stressing you. You know that you can only do what you can do, all else is in the hands of God/Fate and worry only causes you to miss what is good in life.

Life is good, brother. It is also uncertain, so focus on living in the now, not in the "what if" which is what anxiety amounts to.

Good luck, brother Whacko!

Bart [/quote]

Bart,
Thanks for the advice. Went hunting with my boy last night....struck out on small game but had a wonderful time in the woods for a few hours. And I found the ability to relax.

Update.......went to the dentist to get him to smooth the teeth as requested by the ENT. He told me the ENT is crazy (we are actually friends so he can forget professional courtesly when we talk) and that the teeth are not rough and not at all causing the dysplastic spot. So....he and the OS I went to called the ENT and discussed my case....they have her in agreement that an excision needs to be done......scheduled for 3 weeks out! I'm actually feeling better about it......guess the only way to truly have closure on this is to have it completely removed and have a pathologist tell the full story.

As always peace and prayers to all of you!