Hi, this morning the primary dr. told my dad he has a cancerous tumor on his upper gum. We are scheduled for a biopsy tomorrow. He just finished a successful bout with lung cancer and we are devestated. We need hope and feedback from whoever can help us through this. Thanks.

I know this is a frightening time for you and your father. You should get more information from the doctor after the biopsy results and you know more about what type of treatment to expect. Keep posting on the board; there is incredible support here. Did he have his lung cancer treatment in Rhinelander? I live in Duluth and one of our businesses is in Rhinelander so I do get over that way. I am a two time tongue cancer survivor, the first time in 1987 and the second time last year.
ilene

Dear ilene, how great to get a response sosoon. How could they tell it is cancer just by sight. We are so frustrated cause now they say it it just a consultation tomorrow. The lung cancer surgery was done in Wausau. Will depend on the site for help and support. the dr. gave us no info. at all as to size, color, etc. thanks for all your good thoughts. so scared.

I had assumed that he must have had a brush biopsy for the doctor to say it was cancer and needed further biopsy. My experience has been that the doctors might say that something concerns them but that they can't be sure without the biopsy. I don't know enough about the diagnostic procedures to know if they can be pretty sure just by looking.

Daughter, I wrote you a reply last night and then AOL kicked me off. Waiting for the results of the bio's is always a trying time. I had four of them done in less than a 10 year period. My first three were cool, just pre-cancer. So I just continued on smoking, on the fourth one I was out. But anyway, keep us posted, you can get a lot of advice from this board and a lot of support. And of course you can always vent, we all do at times. Take care and let us know how your Dad makes out. Anne.

I've said it before here, and I will repeat it. While it may seem visually obvious to a doctor, NOBODY can make a difinative diagnosis of any type of cancer visually without a biopsy. That is the realm of the pathologist on the cellular level. Even the really obvious lesions should always be phrased with "this looks like_____, but we will need a biopsy to confirm my suspicions". I can't tell you how many times I've heard the doctors be wrong.

HI everyone, how greatto have this forum. Yesterday the specialist dr. took a biopsy and in confidence told me that she really does think it is cancer, but curable by either surgery or radiation. My dad is so weak from his lung ordeal that I think that if it is (and I know I am jumping the gun) he would not survive going into an operation. Have any of you had success with just radiation alone, or should we really consider beefing him up on like 8 cans of ensure daily. I know we are not drs., but personal experiences would really help. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Keep the faith, and thanks so much for this site.

Hi everyone, this morning it was confirmed that it is gum cancer. Now we are at a loss of what to do next. They want to compare the lung cancer tumor with the biopsy of the gum cancer to see if it is a new cancer or a spread of the lung. PLEASE reply if you can give me any hope that this can be curable. This year has been a nightmare, and since my hubby and I are the main caregivers, this is so hard. Any feedback on your own experiences would be so appreciated. Brian, it sounds like you have gone through a lot, and still have hope. Please respond. Thanks.

Daughter, Please hang in there and wait to see what the comparison between the lung cancer and the gum cancer. They may be two different types. Most oral cancers are squamous cell carcinoma. I have been clean from cancer for almost two years now. They may refer you to a different type of doctor. I had a general surgeon and an oral maxiofacial surgeon. They had worked together as a team on many cases such as mine for quite some time. Stay calm and have a list of questions for all the doctors. What are your Dad's option, what stage is the cancer etc. I know it is hard but try to stay calm. It has been a rough year for you and your family, but as someone once told me,
God will give you only has much as you can handle. I keep telling him I'm done, but he just keeps giving me more. Please take care and your Dad and your family are in my thoughts. Take care. Anne.

Not to belittle medical treatment anywhere but I am very familiar with your location and I want to suggest that you consider going somewhere for a second opinion. I can suggest the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. My first oral cancer was treated there and my surgeon (Bruce Campbell) is still there; he trained at MD Anderson. They have an excellent department. I had some surgery done in Duluth when the cancer returned 13 years later and when that cancer turned out to be more agressive than orginally thought, my surgeon here sent me to the Mayo clinic. More surgery was done there but even the Mayo docs said there was no reason not to have my radiation done at home (that turned out to be wrong but that's another long story) The difference was that while my local doc has seen many cancer patients he does other things as well. The Mayo doc specialized in head and neck cancer as does the doc I mentioned in Milwaukee. I think its at least worth a trip for a consult. In the end he will have to decide what he feels most comfortable doing but I think it is best to be armed with as much info as possible.