Where do i begin!
My brother has had a sore throat and a hoarse voice for about 6 months. He recently went to the doctors after being fed up with my nagging. The doctor prescribed antibiotics for an infection that didn't work so was refurred to ENT at the local hospital. With in the following week he had 2 different cameras down his throat, a barium swallow 2 biopsies and a scan. I was so impressed with the speed they did all this. The result was abnormal cells at the base of his tongue(cancer) he has been refurred to a team of specialists at another hospital. The appoitment is tomorrow. What can we expect? I no i've left it a bit late to ask but im at my whitts end really as i don't no any one who has cancer of the tongue

Sorry to hear of your brother's trouble. I've had/have cancer of the tongue and had a few surgeries, some chemo and radiation. Just know that every story is different and that being as agressive as you can is important. Cancer doesn't sleep. Be prepared for a "new normal" as we call it. Some of the things you will start talking about will make you weak in the knees. The surgeries and procedures can be a bit daunting, but I'm here to tell you that it's no gloom and doom. Just going to be a bit hard for a bit. The cancer location has driven my options (oral tongue or front of the tongue is treated first with surgery in the states and base of tongue is given different chemo treatments) This is a stateside protocol and I realize it may be different on your side of the globe. But know that in the states about 45,000 people a year get Head and Neck cancer. Though it's not as widespread as some (lung, breast etc) it has some good treatments.

Again, sorry to hear of your brother's cancer, but hope you can be a source of strength for him as he goes through this period of life.

Best wishes on the appointment tomorrow.

Bob

just wanted to say good luck to your brother for tomorrow's appointment,no matter what you should both think positive. we found the doc's great they talk you through everything and all the options, it can be very scarey but they can do so much these days, let us know how u get on.
Jennifer

thankyou for both posts, didnt expect a reply so quick and i cant tell you how much i appreciate it.

surgeries? does that mean you had more than one opperation

Much to say - I am going to pm you some information as I had sent pm's to another about base of the tongue and it will just be easier to copy and paste - Pembo is right, cancer affects everyone differently - kudos to you for reaching out and being as proactive as you can. Good to go on the appointments too for an extra set of ears and be sure to take pad n paper to take notes -more in a bit on the pm's...

just sent you a long pm - hope it helps - Pembo has had mreo than one surgery but he also had oral tongue cancer with base of the tongue it is normally chemo and rads together but may vary - listen to the doctors ask for the TNM staging and gives us all an update when you can....

Went to see new consultant at Dery city hospital today for the first time. He made it quite clear to peter my brother that he has cancer at the base of the toungue and a lump in his neck, but he was very nice and easy to talk to. He has to go through the same tests again as he wants to do them him self for some reason.
After that they will stage it and decide what treatment he will have. So really we are no further forward. Peter is going into hospital on monday till wednesday. Monday he starts on a detox programme as he has a drink problem which the doctor says together with smoking is the cause of the cancer. I feel so sorry for him, he must be so sad but hes not one to talk about his feelings. I did tell him he could stay with me rather than be on his own at home as he never married but i gave him dinner and he went home.
On a brighter note i would like the say a big thankyou for all those that got in touch its lovely of you all.
Oh and also they have given us a speciality nurse to talk to. we can ring her any time too which is comforting.
Next up date will be monday as far as i no but would love to hear your stories.
Ellen

jennifer
how long was frank in hospital for when he had his opp

Hi Ellen, Frank was diagnosed on 13th feb, went into hospital on 17th and had his operation on 6th March, he had his peg tube inserted on 27march and came home from hosptial 3rd April. He is due to return to hospital next tuesday for 6 to 8 weeks, he will be an inpatient while receiving his treatment because he is feeding through the peg tube. He will have to have both radio and chemo therapy. Frank too had a drink problem and he smoked very heavily until 5 years ago. When Frank first went into hospital he too went through the detox procedure. I wish Peter the very best of luck for Monday. Like Frank he has to cope with the news of his illness and trying to come off drink at the same time but so far Frank has coped really well with both, we know the easy part is over and we have a long road ahead but for now are thinking positive and living for 2day.

what was he doing in hospital from 17th feb till 6th march

they did a biopsey, ct scan, mri scan, lots of tests to see where cancer was located, if it was spreading etc etc and an ecg to see if his heart would be able for the op, they let him out at weekends but he had to go back in each evening to hold his bed, if he missed a night in hospital they would have had to give his bed away. he met the team who would carry out the op and the team from the hospital he would have to go to for radio therapy treatment. also during that time he was on meds to come off the drink

peter had yet another camera down his throat today but still no ct scan results, i'm sure they have lost them. We are hoping he can come home tomorrow. He is in very good spirits but has no idea of what lies ahead. I think at this stage ignorance is bliss for him

Hi Ellen

We too had to wait for ct scan results but they had told us that they wouldn't give us the results until they had gathered all the "evidence", they said they normally do several tests then give all the results together incase different scans show up different things, they explained to us they didn't want to come along with different news each day so waited until they had them all done then gave us the "big picture", maybe they plan to do same for Peter. Frank has check up this morning to see how recovery is going and got word yesterday he starts his radio and chemo treatment tomorrow (for 6 weeks).
Hope all goes well for yee.
Jen

hi ellen
i am sorry to hear your brother has this awful disease,i too had base tongue cancer 2 years ago now,i had ct scan bone scan and mri scan done.i had a biopsy done and when i met with all the different doctors the plan was for 4 lots of weekly chemo and 6 weeks of radiotherapy i did'nt need surgery as it was described to me as superficial graze on the base of my tongue.the treatment worked and 2 years later i am now eating but still not enough so i still use the peg at night to make sure i get enough calories etc.anyway welcome to the site and i wish your brother good luck for whatever treatment his team will be planning for him.love shirl xxx

hi all,
bought peter home today, he was on a real downer for some reason. I expected him to be more chearfull because he was comming home. I told him he could stay with me if he didnt want to be on his own but he wanted to go home.
He is so hard to reach, he don't say alot. Going back to the hospital on friday for a discusion. I suppose that means they will tell us the out come and what they are going to do. They havn't mentioned his voice box at all, i'm wondering if they are saving that one till last. His voice is so gruff and his throat is really sore, his neck hurts and his ears. He has developed a cough too especially when he eats.
Next update is on friday.
Ellen