Hi all,I joined this group in 2004 after being diagnosed with stage 1 tongue cancer.All has been well since.Over the years I have had recurring pain on the side of my surgery which my dr told me was normal.I got two back teeh pulled in March and since then the pain went away(the teeth were ragged)well last weekend the pain came back,didnt think too much about it until Weds night I got my hubby to look at my tongue and he saw nothing.Thurs morning I woke up and looked still nothing.Well Thurs night when I looked while brushing my teeth my heart sank.There,not an inch from where my original cancer was was and ulcer.White around the edges and yellowish in the middle.Needless to say I got really scared.Friday I immediately go to see my Dr.She told me she really thinks it is just a regular ulcer,gave me Kenalog and told me to come back Friday and if it still there she will biopsy it.My question to y'all is have any of you a regular ulcer like this that wasnt a recurrance? Im trying so hard to stay positive but Im really scared.Thanks for reading this.

I had stage 2 tongue cancer in 2003; tumor the size of a walnut, needed all teeth pulled, radiation, chemotherapy, and beads inserted through tubes that went through my neck into my tongue. Cancer is a frightening frightening process, and I can tell you from my own experience that every little thing is seen by the cancer patient as possible recurrance. I have gone to my doctors so many times with pains and swellings that I were sure were the start of recurrance, and none of them were. Take heart in your doctors "pre-diagnosis;" he/she is better-trained in this than we are. As hard is it is, try not to assume recurrance until your Doctor thinks there is reason to be concerned. God bless, and good luck.

Guy
Thanks for the support.Im so sorry yours was so involved.I was very blessed that mine was barely a stage 1 and surgery was all that was needed then,Im scared,just like everyone of having it come back and be more aggressive and treatments being more severe.She was very encouraging,but of course said she couldnt come right and say it wasnt cancer again,no one can,thanks for your reply,take care

Sorry to be a pest,but I would really love to hear if anyone here that has had tongue cancer has had another ulcer that turned out not to be a recurrance?I am getting really panicky over here and could use someone to talk to who has been through something like this.Thanks

Hello paige

You have done the right thing and seen your doctor who thinks it is an ordinary (apthous) ulcer. These ulcers are common in the population, so why not you? So apply the Kenalog/Bonjela and do saline mouth washes for comfort. It should heal between 7- 10 days.

Relax and let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

quote:

Dr Vinod K Joshi

Dr Vinod K Joshi
thanks so much for replying.Im trying to not freak out,but I am .This place looks totally different from my other cancer.It just popped up Thurs night.It is painful,not extremely so,but it burns.I guess it is hard for me to believe Dr's sometimes because 3 different ones told me last time it wasnt cancer,but it was.
Also,wouldnt the Kenalog have made it improve by now? I've been using it since Friday night.Thanks so much for your time.

hi paige
i too can fully understand your anxiety about ulcer. i had stage 1 scc diagnosed last august had surgery septemberi have been doing extreemly well till sixweeks ago i had an ulcer develope on my gum i have been back to the consultant every 2 weeks for six weeks it will have to be another biopsy for definate diagnosis i am feeling so up then down it is a horrible situation to be in but the only way to be reassured. good luck to you

Bev
Thank you for your reply.I went back to my Dr yesterday because it was still there.She said it looked better to her and she was willing to wait another week but because Im so upset we would go ahead and biopsy.She still says she is 90% sure it isnt another cancer,but of course cant say for sure.She said that even if it turned out to be cancer that it was very shallow and early so it shouldnt be worse than before.I sure hope she is right,Im in some pain of course today from the biopsy,but the pain isnt what is so bad,its the waiting for the results as I am sure you know.
I hope yours turns out to be nothing,why are they waiting to biopsy it?I think the not knowing is the worst part.Im here if you need to talk,I sure understand how you feel.Good luck to you too.

hi paige
thanks for your reply
yes the waiting is one of the hardest parts , if my doc does a biopsy it will be my 7th one in total over 6 years they were all negative apart from last august it was such a shock, if this ulcer has not shrunk he will definatly do a biopsy my mouth is so scarred from surgery and skin grafts .did you have a lot of surgery on your tongue and what do you have for pain relief. this whole thing is a nightmare but has to be done i pray you have good results
bevx

Hi Bev
I was very lucky the first time,all I had was surgery,they took out a part of my tongue on the side about the size of a walnut.I had a hard time at first talking without sounding like Sylvester the cat,but that went away,I have had pain off and on on that side the whole time and scar tissue.The most recent ulcer they just biopsed was on some scar tissue,they gave me nothing for pain,I m just taking 600 mg motrin 3 times a day.The pain isnt that bad,it just hurts to swallow.Im praying this one isnt cancer,it would be so wonderful to hear those words next week.My thoughts and prayers are with you.