I was just diagnosed on November 14th. I am 30yr old mother of two boys. I have never smoked or used tobacco.My cancer is on the left side of my tongue and one lymph node. I am awaiting my pet scan and results to see if surgery is completely necessary or if I will just be doing radiation. I am really scared especially because of my job. I talk on the phone so surgery may have me looking for a new career. I have been with my company for 11 1/2 years. Any advise is welcome.

hi there...so sorry to hear your news but you have come to the right place. you will find a lot of support here.

your situation is very similar to mine. I had to have an operation on the right side of my tongue and also a neck dissection so that lymph nodes could be removed. I was terrified, like yourself i have young children and a job where i needed to talk on the phone a lot! To make matters worse it is my own business so the whole lot was under threat. I have to say the following months were not easy, after the operation i recovered quickly and managed to make myself understood within only a couple of weeks. I also had to have chemo and radiotherapy which really knocked the stuffing out of me. But all i can say, and you will hear others saying it too, there is light at the end of the tunnel, everyone reacts differently but you can pull through this and you will find an inner strength you never knew you had.

I was diagnosed in march 08 and had my operation in april. I'm now speaking differently but everyone understands me which feels great, even on the phone. You can do it, stay as positive as possible and believe in yourself. Keep in touch!

Dear Mom of two boys, welcome to the club that no one wants to join. I understand this maybe a quite distressing time for you, however I wish simply to address your your initial concerns. Why this disease arrives to the youngest and most undeserved of people I wish all of us knew, but I have just tried to cope with the cards I have been dealt. So like you, although 14 years older, this is my story in brief, to the present time. Same as you, tongue 80% replaced using my left thigh, 34 glands removed, radio and chemo. Thats it, all since April this year. Today I rekon I am about 90% of my former self, and I am working so hard to better this. I am having speach therapy, I can speak most words and I am told this carries on improving, certainly I have no body that comes to mind that fails to understand me. In fact, and I digress, I feel pretty good, now, and am finding people to be so endearing to my misfortune. I communicate in a more pronounced way, and whether I could rejoin my former company in an international sales role I would't know just yet, as I am still recovering. The biggest hurdle for me has been the self conciousness of speaking again, and the absence of food. Both these subjects are under control now, giving a feeling of being born again, some people would say I have two tummy buttons.

So if I can be of any help, like there are so many good people on this site and out there, the door is always open. I can't say any of this has been easy, but its DOABLE. And dont worry about your job.

Take care Nigel

Hi Mom

I am so sorry to welcome you, but please know that you're not alone. The people here are really supportive and helpful.

Like you, I never smoked or used tobacco, but TA-DAAH! I ended up with stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma on the left side of my tongue. My surgery was three and a half years ago; the docs did a hemiglossectomy and free flap resection. I was extremely lucky--I didn't need radiation, chemo or even speech therapy. I didn't talk for about a month (just didn't seem like a good idea--didn't want to rip my stitches). When I finally started talking again, my brother-in-law said I sound virtually unchanged. Until recently I had a job that was about 85% phone work. Those callers I felt comfortable enough to tell about the situation were surprised that I sound as clear as I do.

If your docs haven't already mentioned it, ask them about the prospect of a resection.

Hi Mom, I was 28 when I was diagnosed and my son was 10 so sort of know how you feel. It's obviously a distressing time for you all but as Nigel says, even though times can get tough it can be done. Make sure you ask for all the help and support you need at your drs and the hospital, and if you dont feel like you're given enough then shout a bit louder. Hagg.

Hi Mom of Two,

I have had tongue cancer and tongue cancer treatments that run the whole spectrum...surgery, chemo, radiation. The interesting thing is how well you are able to talk after having different stages of surgery...some folks won't know at all of your surgery...but of course we jump to the most difficult scenario in our minds. Fight that urge to think WORST case, as you may be very surprised at how well you can speak. At the moment I do not have a tongue but a flap taken from my arm. Today I'm working 8 -10 hours a day in a technical environment where I need to participate on conference calls....and though I'm not unnoticable in my speech, I am understood (with no tongue).... go figure,... who knew that was possible. So do yourself a favor and stay away from the "dark" areas of thinking. You can face this head on. I notice you are from Ky (USA), if your speech becomes a disability you will have protections by the law, but just know that you may do very well!! I didn't believe it at first....but it's true!!

Stay strong, stay positive and put on your "fightin' clothes" and get after it.

Pembo (Tampa Fl)

hi mom
sorry that you are now a member of the club that no one wants to join,having said that,you will get a lot of support here they are a great bunch of people from all walks of life.i too like you was diagnosed with cancer on the left side of my tongue,because it was what they called superficial mine was treated with chemo and radiotherapy together,i won't deny the treatment was harsh and i did not cope with it very well but it did the job.i suppose i was talking in a whisper for a couple of weeks but then my voice came back and i don't talk any different then i did before.i wish you all the best in your treatments whatever they will be.please keep us informed of your progress and any questions just fire away.take care love shirl xxx

Hi Mum of 2, i read your posting with sadness.
What can I say that would be useful right now/
well dont panic just take on step at a time one hour at a time if need be we all have do do that sometimes.
Any conselation i had mouth and neck cancer and i had to have part tounge removed due to the radiotherapy and i too was out of work after struggling for the first 5 years to survive.
I was at my job for over 15 years and its been difficult but now have ajob P/T which I enjoy.
I amsure in your case its willnot be drastic surgery and most of the people I know with Toungue Cancer have been able to talk better than me and i envy them silly but true.
When people hear Cancer they freak but you have to keep it in perspestive its another desiese that alot ofpeopleget and recover from to lead a good life and sometimes better life for the experience.
please keep posting

cheers

Paul

I met my oncologist and she says I am stage three due to the lymphnode. Tuesday afternoon I will have my results of my PET scan. My dr called me late Thursday to tell me to go to the hospital friday morning and get an ultrasound of my liver. My CT has shown a spot there. While at the ultrasound the tech said she couldn't find anything and she had to call the dr's office to ask where it was on my liver. So I have a small fluid filled cyst on the back of my liver hidden under my intestines and bowels. The tech said it is nothing and some people just have those types of cysts in their body. So no need to worry about spread to the liver. Now I will have my PET tomorrow. My oldest keep asking questions about how I feel and why do I eat so slow. I just tell him it hurts to chew on the left side. My little one has no clue but knows when I am in pain. I found a local community wellness program I am thinking about joining and my husband says whatever I want to do he will go when he has time. They also offer stress management. Also have a yoga class. That sounds relaxing to me. I will have to add some pictures of the kids when I figure out how to.

Thanks for all your encouraging stories and support.

Having surgery tomorrow! They are removing the tumor from my tongue. They are only taking a chunk out of the left side. Also have decided on a neck dissection though the lymphnodes are clear but swollen.

Good Luck mom

You'll be worried but you will get through it ....good luck. x

gordon

Thinking of you Mom - best of luck.

We wish you well.

Mimi

Hi there Mom of two
You won't see us of course however we'll be beside you every step of the way.
All our positive vibes and best wishes.
Love from Down Under
Deborah

Hi Mom of Two...

My heart goes out to you. I'm also 30, and was diagnosed with stage two SCC of the tongue on October 29th - only a couple of weeks before you. They put me into hospital on Nov 10, for a partial glossectomy and neck dissection. They took 25% of my tongue, and found early metastasis into one lymph node, but thankfully it was microscopic.

It was definitely rough. My first flap failed and died, but the second one took and I'm out of hospital and doing really well now. I've been given the choice for having radiation or not.

Like you, I've never smoked in my life and hardly drink.

If there is anything I can do to help, just as someone who can share this experience with you a little, let me know.

All the best, and I'll be thinking of you.

Tamara

All is well I am talking okay now. I slure my s's a little bit but for the most part everyone says I talk fine. My neck is healing fine. One of the lymphnodes did come back positive. So I will be starting radiation at the end of this month. 25 treatments.
Tamara did you go thru with the radiation? I didn't have to have a flap. My cancer was just down the left side of my tongue.