| | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 3 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 3 | Hi everyone, my name is Steve,I am 52, and I have just had a biopsy on a lump on the right side of my tongue. Needless to say I am very worried about what the results will be.
I feel like I have dodged a few bullets over the last 4 years and am worried that I may not dodge this one!
In 2010 I had a min-stroke caused by a blood clot to the back of my brain. A follow up scan on my head and neck found I had a 20mm mass in my thyroid gland. This was biopsied every 3 months for a year, on the last biopsy it had changed to cat 3 suspicious tissue and I had a right side hemi-thyroidectomy in 2011. The mass turned out to be benign.
Then in early 2012 I was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and had green light laser prostate surgery just before Chrismas in 2012.
About 3 months ago I noticed a lump on the side of my tongue and a nasty taste in my mouth. I went to the GP, who referred me to the Maxillo-facial clinic. They refered to the ENT clinic who did a camera examination of my throat and vocal chords and diagnosed Laryngopharyngeal reflux. He explained that the acid was causing my tongue to swell and the nasty taste. So I was prescribed Omeprazole and Gaviscon Advance for 4 weeks. I then returned to the ENT clinic and saw a different consultant who said he did not agree that the reflux was causing the lump on my tongue and ordered an urgent biopsy.
I had the biopsy on the 11th October and now have a 2 week wait for the results.
I was a heavy smoker (40 a day) for 25yrs. I quit in 1999.
I was also border line alcoholic, but have not had a drink since 1996, I feel like my past is catching up with me!
Always look on the bright side of life!
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Welcome SteveM, only a biopsy can tell if it's cancer or not, and unfortionally, there is usually a wait for the biopsy results. It could be anything, other than cancer, and everyone here knows how you can be anxious. The only thing I would say is to keep busy, until then, and if positive, you're not alone in this journey, and may be easily treatable. Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | Hi Steve,
The wait for any test results can be brutal. We all feel your angst.
My Bill had the same history as you...smoked for a long time and quit in 1997. He has a family history of colon cancer so he was watching the other end, so to speak, with regular colonoscopies but the throat cancer was a shocker when it came in 2007.
Glad you found us and keep posting. If it is cancer, we will be here for you through the next steps.
Last edited by debandbill; 10-14-2013 07:01 AM.
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 381 "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2012 Posts: 381 | Hi Steve, waiting sucks. The best I can say is keep busy on other stuff (do that project at work or home that you've been putting off). Trying simply not to think about something makes you think about it more.
Good luck and keep us posted.
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 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | Hi Steve:
Everyone else has already told you what several things to do right now, so I won't repeat them.
What I will do is welcome you to the forum and tell you you couldn't have found a better group of people to associate with. This group supports their members with a capital "S".
You have questions or just need someone to listen; we're right here.
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)
09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 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: 6 | Steve, wishing you all the best with your test results. Try to stay busy to keep from worrying too much about the results. Here in the US a biopsy takes a week or sometimes even less to get the results. I suggest calling to inquire about the results a little earlier than the 2 weeks. They may have the results.
Hope its good news!
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 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Steve, seconding and thirding. The dreaded biopsy results wait is always nerve-wracking. Let us take some of your anxiety - we'll share it!
Hang in there buddy.
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 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Lots of good advice above! Staying busy really helps, especially if it's doing something physical. When the worry and the "what-ifs" attack try to just give them a time limit, like two minutes and switch to something more positive like all the good stuff you've done so far to take care of your health. Push for results as soon as possible - tell your doctor or whoever answers at his/her office how you are feeling and that you really need the results as soon as possible. Let us know what happens.
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: Aug 2013 Posts: 54 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 54 | Steve, Welcome and hang in there. The waiting is awful, I know. Hopefully....you get a good result. Praying for you
48 yo female, quit smoking 4yrs ago, light drinker, Stage 2 SCC, Bx3, Dx 8/22/13, surgery 9/11/13. Partial glossectomy, bilateral neck dissection levels 1-4. Tongue reconstruction with flap from forearm. 87 Lymph nodes CLEAR. Tongue margins good at 1 cm. No further treatment planned. Monthly monitoring planned for upcoming year then periodic monitoring for next 4
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 3 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 3 | Thank you everyone for the kind words and advice.
My passion is motorcycles, so I am spending lots of time in the garage tinkering with my bikes to keep my mind occupied.
I will phone the hospital after one week to see if the results are back. Over here we have the NHS (National Health Service), and things do not usually happen very quickly. My biopsy was cancelled by one week because the hospital lost my notes!
Always look on the bright side of life!
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