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| EXPERIENCES
> BBP'S STORY |
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BBP developed tongue cancer. This is his story
from the beginning!
I am male and aged 55 years. I have worked over
20 years in the licensed trade,
and have been a smoker (15–20 a day).
That puts me in the ‘higher risk’
category.
My experience began with my wife making an
appointment for me at the dentist’s on
a Wednesday. I had missed my 6 monthly check-up
by 3 months but had not been too bothered
knowing that I had nothing wrong with my teeth.
So it was just a routine visit.
Until my dentist, who had agreed that no treatment
was necessary, suddenly enquired as to how
long I had tolerated a small lump underneath
my tongue. “As long as I can remember”,
I replied. There was a pause and I could feel
the apprehension build up in me. My dentist
then proceeded to take photos of the lump,
then x-rays, before asking me to wait a short
while. After about 20 minutes, during which
I had built up an overwhelming feeling of
personal concern, he called me back in and
informed me that he had made me an appointment
to see Mr Mason, the Consultant Oral &
Maxillofacial Surgeon, at St Luke’s Hospital,
Bradford. (He has since retired).
To say the least I was shocked, fearing the
worst without being told. My wife and I arrived
at the hospital two hours’ later. After
being weighed, having more head and neck x-rays
done, supplying blood samples and further
x-rays to my chest, I was told to attend the
following morning’s clinic, for a biopsy.
This was to be quite an ordeal for me, as
I hate needles. After four or five injections
to the suspect area, it then felt like having
knives and forks in my mouth before having
five stitches inserted. It was really painful
and very sore later that day. I relied on
two paracetamols every four hours to ease
my pain.
My next appointment was on the following Tuesday,
I was already extremely sore and dreading
the visit. After his inspection, Mr Mason
noticed that the dissolvable stitches were
still intact. He took them out. What great
relief, after having them removed from my
mouth. He then went on to inform me of the
results of my tests. My x-rays and blood samples
were clear, but the biopsy confirmed their
suspicions. Also, concern was expressed regarding
a swelling in my throat area, which was thought
to be a saliva gland. It was a big shock.
It was like having it but not believing it.
I was then introduced to Dr Coyle at the clinic.
She explained that I needed a course of intensive
radiotherapy at Cookridge Hospital, Leeds.
Later that week I attended St Luke’s
for a check up of my teeth. I was shown how
to clean and look after my teeth by Dr Joshi
and his hygienist. I was supplied with a special
tooth brush, and some fluoride gel, to help
prepare and strengthen my teeth and gums.
I also purchased a bottle of Corsydyl mouthwash.
Five weeks lapsed before meeting Dr Coyle
again, this time at Cookridge, I was shown
to my en-suite living accommodation. The type
of treatment I was to receive required complete
isolation. Thankfully, for a seven day period
only. I can’t remember much about before
the ‘op’ other than the normal pre-med
procedures. I do recall that 24 hours after
my arrival I awoke, relieved to find that
I felt ok but a little fuzzy with an oxygen
line clipped to my nose, to enable easier
breathing due to the morphine being used.
I later discovered that I could self-administer
it, by means of a small switch pump attached
to the back of my hand. There were some horrible
‘tassles’ hanging loosely in my
mouth. These got in the way when eating, drinking
and cleaning. These were attached to the stitches
which held the radioactive pins in place.
I was told I had three pins inserted. The
next couple of days went by pretty quickly,
I remember looking forward to the visitors
half hour. As I felt quite well, I discontinued
my use of the morphine pump, preferring seltzer
paracetamol for my aches and pains. It allowed
me to be more aware of my circumstances.
During and after the short stay in hospital,
I must emphasize the importance of maintaining
cleanliness of the mouth. Although very awkward
due to the ‘tassles’, and soreness,
I regularly brushed and rinsed continuously.
I am certain that it helped ease the swelling
to my tongue and reduced the general reaction
to the few small blisters. In all honesty,
it was far less suffering than I had feared
before hand. I used a saline solution to rinse
with. By later in the week, my tongue had
acquired a white furry coating. When Dr Coyle
arrived at 10:15 pm on Sunday night to remove
the pins, it was a pleasant surprise. It meant
the possibility of going home one day earlier.
Apart from the obvious discomfort and pain
of having the stitches and pins removed, I
was shocked at seeing the size of the pins,
a little larger than I had imagined, but the
relief when it was finished soon overcame
that.
Now back at hone I am continuously keeping
to my cleaning and rinsing procedures, which
helps to remove any dead skin and eases soreness.
My first appointment after treatment was back
at St Luke’s five weeks later. Mr Mason
and Dr Coyle appeared satisfied with everything,
although slight concern about the lump still
being present in my salivary gland. Two weeks
later I was back to see Dr Joshi again, everything
appeared ok, and it was here that Mr Joshi
suggested that I record my experience.
Further to that visit, and two weeks down
the road, I was back at Mr Mason’s clinic
and met Mr Carroll, the other Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgeon at the department. After an inspection
and “all is satisfactory”, Mr Mason
had a further look at the lump in the throat,
which had decreased in size. It was felt best
to leave it well alone, but a close watch
will have to be kept on me in the future.
I still have a small amount of soreness from
the areas where new skin has formed. I feel
little twinges in or on my tongue, especially
when in bed, but I have no discomfort with
eating, drinking, or cleaning my teeth now.
So until my next visit to St Luke’s in
six weeks’ time, I remain to all concerned,
truly thankful.
Read BBP's update 6
years later...
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