PS - been feelin a bit 'maudlin' today, reflecting on the past year which prompted me to try and hook up again with my 'chemo-buddy' Donna who also read the 'In Your Face' book and found it really uplifting after experiencing tongue reconstruction.  We sat together in chemo a few times, exchanged emails and I visited her when she was admitted to the ward at the same time as me.  I feel like I've been kicked in the stomach as I've just found out via google and facebook that she passed away back in April.  Just feeling gutted.  Have others had this experience?  I made friends with two other lovely ladies when I was admitted for a few nights with extreme sickness/dehydration, both of whom lost their fight shortly afterwards.  I will never forget them though.  Feeling very sad. x

Access 14 from branchial cystvthread is ill. He is a lovely person. Hurts. G.

Irene you did indeed find me and succeed where Nic failed!

Hi Irene,

Lovely to read your update. Wow, it sounds as if you're being kept busy with work and taking care of your parents, and it's good to read that you're feeling pretty normal now. Hope you're still remembering to listen to your body though and rest when you need to!

Sorry to read your second post and how sad you're feeling. I often wonder about some of the people I've come into contact with over the months, but I never exchanged contact details with anyone. Seeing the news about Lynda Bellingham has really brought my mood down today. This b****y disease!!!

Thank goodness for this forum where we can share, rant and offload!

I wholeheartedly agree with your comment about making this Christmas a good one! Next week is half term, so I may even start a bit of shopping (or at least writing a list!)

Take care Irene, sending you a hug, Jo xx

Lovely to hear from you Jo.  I dont know what it is, maybe just the anniversary coming round but I've just been feeling so low these past few days even though I am getting good checkup results. After finding out my chemo-pal lost her battle several months ago (I somehow felt I should have known that!) I was just gutted to hear from Gary (Guzzle) that Access (Branchial cyst thread) is in palliative care and today Lynda Bellingham's story...  Sending you a big hug back and enjoy that Christmas shopping (or list writing!).   The value of this forum is quite immeasurable! Love to all x

Sorry to hijack this thread, but it seems to be quite active.

I have read the first few pages, some of it scared me quite a bit but I wanted to know how others have dealt with this.

I am a 23 year old male and today was diagnosed with tongue cancer.

I went to my GP about a month ago, as I had a lump within my tongue (at the front on the left, not on the top) and a small white head as part of the lump grew under my tongue. I thought it was nothing but my mum made me go and get it checked. GP asked if I wanted to wait a few weeks to see if it went, I did, but it did not go. It did not get worse either.

So I was sent to hospital and the doctor said I needed a biopsy.

Today it came back as cancer. Myself and the doctor are flabigasted that it is, I do not smoke, or drink. And its not HPV.

He said its becoming alot more common amoung the young.

They think at the moment its in a very early stage T1, and that it does not look like it has spread anywhere, they did CT scans of my lungs and throat and mouth just in case.

They also think it can be removed easily with a laser and there will not be any real difference in my tongue.

However I am getting pains in my neck, they say its because the cancer lump in on the same nurve, hopefully they are right.

After reading this thread I consider myself very lucky as it could of been a lot worse, I am just trying to work out what could of caused it. There must be a reason why.

I am getting the scan results in a few days I will be quite worried until then.

The NHS has been very quick and efficent. I had my result within a week, I am so glad it was caught early but it shows how important it is for tests to be run ASAP.

Just wanted to get this of my chest and wish everyone here the best of luck.

Hi Roz Dog,

I'm so very sorry to hear of your shocking news and I wanted to offer my support. It's a very scary time and its all such a lot to take in, I remember those early days well and it's difficult to think of anything else but please take some reassurance form me. You will beat this, it's going to be a difficult and unpleasant time in the short term but you will be ok. Only a year ago I was recovering from similar surgery and now I'm doing great and back at work, eating, speaking etc. everyone says they would never have known I'd gone through such an awful time by looking at me now. Keep us updated, there's lots of advice we can all give as well as support and feel free to ask any questions.

I don't have any answers as to why it happened to me either, a lifelong non smoker, but I believe stress played a big part. I've always burnt the candle at both ends, rushing about, never resting, always worrying, stressed! Now I take life at a much slower pace. As for the pain you're experiencing, I too had pain in my ear/jaw/neck and I was told it was "referred" pain as it's all connected. The pain was worse following the biopsy, a tongue biopsy is pretty brutal!

Until you get your scan results I hope you can take comfort from all of us on here, we have all come out the other side. I'm so very glad you got your tongue checked when you did.

Will look forward to hearing from you,

Nicola

Hi Roz Dog, and welcome.

I can second everything that Nicola said. You're in good company on here and this is a good place to ask about the various things that can crop up as you take the journey. It sounds as if you are in a good place in terms of diagnosis - if it can be dealt with by laser then that is excellent news. Either way, you can be confident of getting through this. The NHS takes a lot of stick, but for Nicola, me and most others on here it has been brilliant. Once cancer is diagnosed various timescales and targets kick in that ensure you get treated promptly.

Keep in touch mate and feel free to ask any questions.

Simon.

Hi Roz Dog

So sorry to hear of your recent troubles, but welcome to the club which none of us wanted to join!  It does sound like you have caught this very early and I am certain that all will be well for you, but I well remember what a worrying time it was waiting for those scan results.  In the unlikely event that you did end up needing further treatment, it is well worth it.  I had chemo and radiotherapy during December and January, but have come out the other side looking and sounding no different than I did before and have been back to work since April.

What I can't help with at all is the 'why me?' question.  I have to admit I did smoke for a while but that was over 30 years ago, so I was told mine was more likely to have been viral in origin.

This is certainly the right place to come if you have questions or just need to let off steam.

Wishing you the very best and so pleased you got this checked out early.

Irene