Hello everyone. Well, I am a new member to this site and to this board. I hope that hearing from others who have gone through similar situations will make me understand better what is happening.

Thursday of last week I noticed that a white patch/sore on my tongue that I had had since August of 2013 was getting worse. I had it looked at by a doctor who then referred me to an ENT back in September and he gave me Prednisone and some type of antibiotic mouthwash to use. Two weeks later I had a follow up and it had mostly healed except for a small white patch that had remained. He told me to get it removed but I figured it was nothing and went on my way. When it began hurting again I finally did some research online, scared myself, and made an emergency next day appointment and had it biopsied. While waiting for my results, I read an infinite amount of posts on both this board and in other locations on the Internet mostly trying to find out how long a biopsied tongue hurts for. I didn't see anyone else complain about it too much, but it was not fun. Anyway, I finally got my biopsy results back today and turns out that I do have Stage 1 squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

I am 25 years old, can count the amount of times I have ever smoked on one hand and only drink socially. I am 90% positive that I am HPV16 negative but they sent it off today for additional testing. Anyway, I am scared. I had a CT scan done today too (which as I was sitting here typing luckily came back clear) and I have a doctors appointment tomorrow morning for a second opinion. They said that they have to do another surgery to check the tissue surrounding the cells to make sure they are clear. I know that many here have faced much worse and I am truly sorry for what you are going through. My heart goes out to you all. I am so scared though. I don't do well with surgeries and I am prone to anxiety and I just want to tell someone who will understand.

If you made it this far in reading my introduction, I thank you.

Hi Kfisher and welcome to our family!

I understand your fear, it's quite natual, however it should be relatively easy to control if you try.

First, let's start with the worst of the news, you have cancer. Fortunately, you caught it at stage 1 and are young and resilient. This means that your case should be fairly easy to treat, and almost surely means that you will come through this with flying colors. Don't spend any time trying to find descriptions of the treatments, you will learn all that when the time is at hand, and that's plenty soon enough.

The best part is that stage 1 is usually quite curable. Focus on this fact for the present, you are among the group with the highest probability for a complete cure! Not all of us are in that group, I am not.

So you've got a curable condition. Now the treatments are not going to be pleasant, but whatever they might be or might not be, they will have a definite start, and a definite end; and once behind you, they will only be a memory!

Fear of the unknown is what's plaguing you at the moment, and that fear is always worse than the reality. If you click on the link at the top of my signature block and read my own intro, you will see that I'm not exaggerating when I say that.

I'll quit now but others will be along to add a lot of other useful information for you!

Again, Welcome to the family!

Bart

Welcome to OCF. Your 'patch' could be any number of things. Glad to read your CT came back ok.

Hopefully it will not be anything serious and easily cured.

Best wishes!

Welcome Katherine,

I'm fairly new to this forum as well, but it seems like a great group of folks and sharing your fears with people who've walked in your shoes will definitely help ease your mind. Waiting for test results has always been the worst part for me because I'm always thinking of the "what ifs." Just take a deep breath and focus on the things you can control (easier said than done right?).

I was 28 when I was suffering from a constant sore throat. I glanced in the back of my throat and, "huh, that's funny...my left tonsil appears to be covering half my throat up..." I went to an ENT (after figuring out what ENT stood for), and he said, "huh, that's funny...your left tonsil appears to be covering half your throat up..." He told me it was probably nothing; put me on prednisone and antibiotics (just like with you). The enormous tonsil was still there after a few weeks and I had it biopsied. It was stage 2 non-hodgkins lymphoma. Like you, I never smoked, never did drugs, wasn't a heavy drinker. But my brother died of lymphoma; guess it's in our genes. Long story short, I caught the cancer early and I'm still in remission, 10+ years later.

So you've caught it even earlier. I know you don't have the same cancer I had, but you can beat this thing!! Like I said, just focus on what you have control over. And listen to Bart! Have you read that guy's history?!? Shot at, declared DOA after an airborne car crash, not to mention all the chemo and radiation. I think he's some kinda cyborg. :-)

Welcome Katherine! You have found the best place to get information. I was Stage 2 on the tongue and am out 6 months from surgery. It's a tough surgery..... But it will save your life. When you find out details of your treatment let us know so we can tell you what to watch out for and expect. Stay strong.....try not to stress out. It will be over soon. Your stage is very curable.

Katherine,

I am a survivor and you are going to be also. Two things to take the the bank, you have cancer and its treatable. I know its easier said than done, but get a comfort level with your docs, read other blogs who have gone through what your going to go through. Ask for advice which you are already doing. Get your attitude ready to kick cancer butt!

Hey Katherine - two things to be aware of - even stage one cancer can move to your lymphnodes so keep an eye on your neck post op, and chances are your cancer is not HPV related usually it is confined to the base of tongue and tonsil area. Regardless knowing for sure is good, welcome and ask any questions you need to. Hugs.

Thank you all for the words of encouragement! It's really nice to hear some positivity from people who have been there/done that. I really appreciate the support.

Hi Katherine - Just one thing I would add to the excellent suggestions above. You mentioned being anxiety prone and that is treatable, too. So if you're anxious about the surgery, do mention your feelings to your doctor. He/she might be able to prescribe something for you that would help. Try to give yourself a time limit when you start being anxious - one minute or so and then switch to something more positive to occupy your mind. It takes practice, but it works! You caught this very early and you will survive this. My son was at Stage 2 and he's doing fine, now 7+ years later! Don't Google stuff. It's a crazy-maker. Come here often and you will get all the most recent, accurate information available.

Welcome! I am very sorry about your circumstances that brought you here, but everyone here a r e great I know it's scary. I have the same cancer except mine is stage 3. The surgery was hard but it got easier everyday. You will learn so much here and ask any questions you have. I know I do we are all here to support you! You are no longer alone!♡

Anne-Marie, I took your advice and told my doctor that I was anxious about the surgery. His response was "Tough. You're a big girl, put on you're big girl panties and get over it." Haha. I was not expecting him to have quite that brazen of a bedside manner... Although it made me laugh and I appreciate his no BS attitude, I am hoping that the doctor I see on Friday says something a little bit different .

Thank you TheresaC. I appreciate that and hope you are doing well!

[quote=kfisher]Anne-Marie, I took your advice and told my doctor that I was anxious about the surgery. His response was "Tough. You're a big girl, put on you're big girl panties and get over it." [/quote]

Big girl panties can also be used to gag jerks, Katherine. Just sayin'.........

Welcome to OCF. You're doing a great job taking care of yourself and doing everything you need to right now. I'm so glad you caught this early, you are going to be just fine!

That doctor was probably absent from class the day they discussed bedside manner. OR - he sees a strength in you that you did not realize you had. And if he made you laugh - that's good! Hope your Friday appointment goes just great.

Actually, that's horrid. I am glad you found humor in it, but there are more tactful ways to say it. One thing about this disease - if you are timid, and anxious by nature, fighting it will be a true test of your stamina and mental endurance.

The reality is - he's not far off the mark, but there are things he can do as a physician that will make things easier. The treatment and the fear of just the word cancer are hard enough of a battle without him making it worse via a blase attitude. I think if it were me - I would definitely be seeking a different dr. I don't expect hand holding - and to me his skill as a dr. far outweighs a bedside manner - however, unless he does this all the time - (I mean specifically an ENT/Surgical oncologist at a renowned cancer institute considered to be at the top of his game) his bedside manner wouldn't be worth putting up with.

The one thing I do have to say... time is of the essence here, so a quick surgery date is best. Hugs and good luck tomorrow.