Hello SMSM

I know you've been chatting on another thread with members who have had surgery for oral cancer and they've given you some great advice. 

I just wanted to signpost you to this page on our website which may be of interest as well. 

Keep in touch and let us know when you have some more news about the surgery etc. 

Best wishes, 
Jenn
Cancer Chat moderator 

Hi Jenn 

Thanks for the link and for the support provided by the moderators and members. I will definetely keep you posted once I hear further, my next appointmnet is Wednesday (Jan 6) - hopefully by then the doctor will have all the imaging results and can discuss an exact treatment path.

Appreciate all the support!

SMSM

Hi SMSM

Sorry you have had to face this diagnosis.

I hope your appointment went as well as it can on Wed.

Please do keep in touch we are a in a good place here on this forum. xx

Hi Clara

Many thanks for your note and my apologies for the delayes response. 

The appointment was good (given the circumstances), it's T2N0M0 and it appears to be localised to the tongue and therefore (fingers crossed) only surgery might be needed depending on the pathologist report post op.

They willl need to do partial glossectomy and free flap reconsstruction alongside neck dissection. The consultants feel I'm in a very good stage and hopefully should expect a speedy recovery from all aspects.

The bad news is that with Covid and the lockdown it's not easy to get a quick apointmnt for the surgery but hopefully within the next 2 weeks. 

The toughest part for me is that I haven't told anyone aside my employer for my leave. I live alone but finding it extremely difficult to tell anyone specially over the phone. 

I will try to keep everyone posted with operation and how it goes afterwards but I'm very very positive and have a good feeling about this. 

Wishing everyone all the best!

SMSM

Hi SMSM

We seem to have similar situations. I had no gp at the time and had to see a dentist too.

I had a lymphosintighraphy done the night before surgery Ive never come across anyone having that other than for breast cancer. It was only following that I was told of a neck dissection well not told exactly but she drew Xs on my neck so I was a bit rattled at that as I was not prepared for that having been told told I was N0 neck.

I live alone too but I had told both my daughters that I was fairly sure what the diagnosis was going to be. They had a big shock when they got my husbands diagnosis so I wanted to take the edge off it for them this time around.

I am pleased you are keeping positive, I can only say keep that up it will help you in the long run.So stay strong!

I still dont tell people if I can avoid it. My daughter told my hairdresser and I was very put out about that,and all because I didnt want rear facing hair wash! I was going to get round it by saying I have a sore neck.

It is tough telling folks, on you as well as them so all I can say is think on a needs to know basis and tell only those you think need to know.

This virus is having an awful impact but I hope you dont get kept waiting too long. I waited over ten weeks for initial appt (rapid hmm) then nearly eight weeks for surgery and that was not due to whats going on now.

Thinking of you,stay safe and keep well. xx

Hello All,

Just thought I'd give a quick update. I've just finished my operation couple of hours ago and I'm extremely relieved. 

Im currently in the ITU  feel really well probably it's all the pain kellers. The staff and the nurses are wonderful. I do feel my tongue and don't feel much swelling which is good. The only annoying part is the tracheostomy but honestly better than what I expected pre - op and of course the lack of movement is annoying me. All in all extremely happy and hopefully the worst is behind.

Will keep you posted after couple of days. 

Thanks for your support here!

SMSM

Hi everyone, thanks for posting your journey so far SMSM, sounds like the op went really well, wishing you a speedy recovery.

My partner and I are going back to hospital tomorrow as his tongue biopsy results have come back as "concerning" and sounds like he'll be needing treatment, possibly similar to yours.

He had a very small mouth ulcer that didn't go away and some discomfort when swallowing on that side. They removed the ulcer with an incisional biopsy on 29th Dec.

We are both trying to stay positive, what I would say is always best to go to your dentist with mouth ulcers as we got nowhere with our GP. It was his dentist who referred us within two weeks. 

Great to have this support group, I'll keep you updated with our situation.

thanks 

Hi

I was quite surprised to hear you had your surgery so not a long wait. Sounds like you are doing well too. Well done you :-)

Wishing you a speedy recovery xx

Hi LDDR

Just to say sorry you are both on this journey,but try to stay positive as the earlier the diagnosis the better the outcome,and less drastic treatment.

Best wishes for tomorrow hope it goes as well as it can in the circumstances.

Keep in touch, stay safe xx

Thank you so much clara56, just want to get the appointment over and done with now so we know what we're dealing with. We're just so surprised as my partner is a very fit and healthy man in his mid 40s who has never smoked! But you just can't control these things I guess :-(

Will let you know the updates.

xx