Hello, First time here on site. Lichen Planus turned south (cancerous) for me on my tongue. Surgery removed tumor and 20% of left side of tongue in early February 2025; concurrently 30 lymph nodes removed but tested negative for cancer. Still given "Stage III" due to the way the "cancer was directing itself." Recommendation is for "standard" 6-weeks of bilateral radiation to both sides of neck and cheek to tongue.

My fear is that radiation will trigger LP which in turn will go south again.

Do any of us with tongue cancer every forego radiation or do we simply follow oncologist/radiologist advice and live with the related long-term side affects that aren't nice, but hope we're on the "right side" of the 50% chance that it won't reoccur?

Where are the clinical studies that follow patients who opt not to go with radiation treatments?

Thank you for any insights.

Hello M,

I am so sorry to hear of your recent cancer diagnosis and surgery. My SCC was stage 4 on my tongue and in one node. I chose to do radiation and no chemo as recommended by my oncologist. I was told my chances of it coming back dropped in half if I did radiation. I did some research and found a few articles that backed this up. Unfortunately, I do not recall how/where I found them, Mayo Clinic website? or this website or ? or National Cancer Institute?

Sounds like you are aware the side effects from radiation are significant. They are getting better and supposedly proton therapy has less side effects.

I received standard radiation treatment and now nearly five years out have had lots of root canals, starting a bridge install tonight, saliva is enough to eat crackers again, food mostly tastes normal..in other words, I have most of my life back. I feel better than ever, to be honest, but I think that is just because I am more grateful for every day now, and my faith is on full blast these last five years.

Wish I had more info for you on this. Tough decision. I do know of one patient that chose not to but the oncologist was not pushing it and they were stage 1.

Hopefully others will jump in here.

Stay safe and keep the faith,
Nels