Hello, My name is Joel I am 44 years old and I have been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on the left side of my tongue. I would like to say its nice to have a place like this to go to and discuss this type of cancer. I have already been through cancer previously. I had testicular cancer when I was 28 years old and had about 6 months of chemo therapy. I was a healthy strong 28 year old...but that chemo was really tough. Anyway I beat it then...and in lots of ways it changed my life...I got married and stop running around and took responsibility for my life. I really didnt do anything physically to my body to get that but with this tongue cancer I did. I had a habit of smoking a few cigars a week and using a can of smokeless tobacco every 2 days. What is strange about all of this is I had a previous biopsy a year ago and it turned up normal. The ENT seemed to think this spot was caused by my teeth rubbing up against my tongue. Anyway after going to a dentist and having him smoothen out my teeth on the far left side it still didnt go away. So..I went to an oral surgeon. He took a lot larger sample, he actually cut most of this out of my tongue. It wasnt a pleasant thing but I survived. I was horrified when this biopsy came back as squamous cell. My wife posted a question a few weeks ago about my options for treatment under the name of Star 123. Option 1 being Surgery, to remove 1/3 of my tongue plus a neck disection on the left side, to remove the lymph nodes that this type of cancer usually spreads to. Option 2 getting rt of my tongue and chemo. I have had a CT scan of my neck and chest and a PET scan of most of my body. Both scans turned out to be fine. This is good news but I am a CT and MRI technologist and I understand that even though this imaging of me is a positive side I know it doesnt mean I am totally in the clear. I think this is the major reason why surgery is a good option for me now. Image wise there is no indication that this has spread. But like I said...I have been through this before with my testicular cancer...after surgery I was followed up with CT scans of my chest/abd/pel. Everything was fine till about 4 months later when I was hit with all this pain and had a scan the next day and there was a node in my abd that was abnormal. Even so...with all I have been reading online and reading what others here have done and gone through..I have chosen the surgery route..But I still have an appointment with my oncologist that treated me before later this week. Also my surgery was delayed due to insurance reasons. I am set to have it now on the 15th of May. Anyway..I am here to vent and listen to all of those with similar circumstances. I am also very scared. Still lots of things I want to do in this life of mine...it's funny how confident I am when things seem to be going fine...but throw a monkey wrench in the system and you have all kinds of questions and concerns and worries....you just dont know what to expect anymore.

Hey Joel
welcome to the group.You have a lot to consider right now,and the best advice i can give you is to get as much information as you can,discuss your options with the experts and then hit the bastard with everything you can,given the choices you have.

good luck
liz

Hi Joel

It sounds like you're facing pretty much the same operation that I had except for the amount of tongue removed (for me, it was the left half from tip to base). I don't know which I found more unpleasant--the biopsy or the radioactive injections into my tongue and the floor of my mouth the day before surgery.

The folks here are really helpful, whether they were carers or patients, and very informative. I truly hope that you and your wife find what you need here. Ask questions, lurk if that feels right, scream and holler if you have to--that's what we're here for.

You have every right to be scared--we all were at first. Remember that you're not alone in this.

I hope that everything goes well on Friday.

Julia

Hi Joel

I had an operation about 18 months ago to remove almost a third of my tongue and my lymph nodes on the left side. I, too, have had another cancer previously (breast in my case - six years ago now). Funny, isn't it - you almost think having had cancer once should mean you won't get it again, but of course it doesn't work like that! And it doesn't feel any easier the second time round.

Anyway this is to say that we are here for you (as you have already found out, of course), that I am thinking of you and to wish you all the best with you surgery.

Best wishes

Gwyn

Hi Joel

I also had an operation just over a year ago to remove a lump from the left hand side of my tongue with a neck dissection and the removal of lymph nodes. I have to say that I didn't find the operation difficult to cope with but then had to have radiotherapy which I did find difficult. But as I always say everyone deals with things differently.

If you have any concerns, worries of questions this is the place to be, an absolutely fantastic site, (one of which my consultant had never heard of!). I was feeling very isolated prior to being on here and only wish I had discovered it sooner.

I wish you well for the 15th May and don't forget to keep us updated on how you are doing.

Take Care

Sue

Hi Joel. I too had a small lump on my tomgue which they thought was just my teeth rubbing,after a few months and me more or less demanding a bi-opsy I too was diagonsed with the same cancer as you. My conultant removed the tumour and we thought all was fine.Within 3 months it had spread to my lymph nodes in my neck,which were then removed plus a little bit more of my tongue was taken.I then also had radio therapy which was horrendous but saved my life.I can just inagine how you feel at the minute,I can honestly say that at I have been there like alot of other people on this site. All I can say is we are all here for you to moan and groan at,shout and scream at or whatever. I too wished I had found this site when I was going through my original treatment.It would have really helped me. Good luck on Friday,let us know how you get on.

Big hug to keep you going,Sammy

Hi Joel,

I also had squamous cell carcinoma to the left of my tongue and one lypmhnode on the left. Diagnosed 11/14/08.I am 31. I did the surgery and the neck dissection. After the neck dissection the told me about the one lypmphnode and said I needed rt to make sure it didn't spread. I am now clear of cancer. The surgery itself I handled pretty well. The rt was another story because of the burning it did to my mouth. I lost a grande total of 42 pounds now. I also am currently seeing a Hemotologist as I was slightly anemic for years now I am very anemic. Feel free to ask me anything as I have been down the road you are headed.