Great news!

All the best also.:)

Hi Expat,

Somehow or other I have missed this post and couldn't help but comment when I read it. This is fantastic news. We don't hear enough good news on this site!!

I am delighted to hear that this scare has convinced you to quit smoking and I hope that you manage to do this.

A scare like this is a wake-up call and teaches you how to appreciate every day that comes along as a bonus.

Take care,

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Your post was over a year ago so not sure if you'll see this but I had a tongue biopsy 4 hours ago and the pain is savage. I have an appointment in 2 weeks to discuss the results. Quite honestly I don't want any more needles or knives anywhere near my tongue, the pain of swallowing is unbearable. 

I wanted to ask you if the pain post-op is as bad as the tongue biopsy pain because if I get bad news I don't think I would want to go ahead with surgery - always thought I had a fairly high pain threshold but this has floored me. If it is malignant, I hope there are options other than surgery ️

Hello kitty  I have just received your news...I cried while reading it my heart goes out to you...truely the pain you have just gone through is the worst it will ever get...unless you live this pain you just cant discribe it...I had to go through it twice because the under study didnt cut out enough the first time...so so hard to eat because of the crazy pain of swollowing but you will manage poached egg or soft boiled as it is easier to swollow soup when cooled keep on top of pain killers too Kitty.. please stay strong the pain will get better its the eating that will take time...if you have to get the op you go for it!... the pain is nothing compared to what you have just went through i promise... so stay strong just remember what i have told you Kitty you can and will get through this...im here if you need to talk... 

Hi Kitty,

I had two tongue biopsies just over two weeks ago. I wonder if its where the biopsy is taken from or perhaps the doc thats doing the procedure. Mine were no problem at all. Having said that Im scheduled for another tomorrow on hard palate so no stitches it will be cauterised so dont know what this will be like painwise:-(

My results came back with the dreaded its cancer. They suspect its spread so further tests. I am waiting till they have all the meetings etc to be told the fuller picture. Like you I am not sure if this is the road for me.

I wish you all the best and hope you get a good result.xxx

Hi clara  not sure why  Kittys and my own biospsy  caused the crazy pain  they caused must have something to do with the way  or area on tounge but although worst pain ever it is short lived although the swollowing  of tablets, food is still with me 2 years later after operation and radiotherapy I am so lucky that i have not to take any medication so dont worry to much clara its not gonna be easy but you will get through.. the cancer care is fantastic....people that treat you like their own family,,,they must see hear so much every day work long hours but listen to any worries you have...keep intouch I wish you all the best.demc xo

Hi Demc

Thank you for your kind words of encouragment :-)

Well I had my palate biopsy yesterday. The injections were quite quite painful one side of palate didnt numb up at all. The electro cautery was pretty painfull too,she had alot of goes at it to stop the bleeding. She said you have a great pain threshold! I thought to myself you wouldnt want to be on the recieving end yourself lol.

I had to wait there at hospital for 2.5 hrs for ct scan and was worried that the numbness would wear off by then,so I took an ibuprofen and was fine. I reported in early so they took me a bit earlier too.

She advised that hole in palate will take around 3 weeks to heal so back to soft diet. I was eating normal within a few days of previous tongue biopsies I even tackled eating american hard gums(my achiles heel) those sweets. The hospital staff are all lovely, though the surgeon is quite rough I told the girls yesterday,I think he thought I was under anaesthetic,they all laughed and said heavy handed men dont have the light touch of women lol.

Take care and keep well xx

Hello clara great to hear you are a bit futher on you seem in good spirits too keep your chin up girl! keep in touch stay well..demc

Guys So sorry, didn't realise anyone had responded! I assumed I would get an email saying there was a reply. 

Thank you so much for the support ( not getting much from Hubby! ) 

Day 5 now and still clock-watching to see when I can take some more painkillers. The salt rinses help but the Difflam spray is useless. 

On the first night I managed to get some sleep with the aid of co-codamol but was awoken by a popping sensation in the area of the biopsy - pretty certain it was the stitch coming away but decided that there was no way I was returning to the hospital to have another one put in.

I'm self-employed so was back at work the next day and my colleagues were horrified by the huge purple bruise under the tongue which I assume was from the needle when they gave me the lignocaine. And the nasty swelling on the side of my tongue, much bigger and more painful than the original lesion. 

The young man carrying out the procedure was being guided by the nurse holding my tongue to one side - after 3 needles, he attempted the biopsy only to have me nearly jump out of the chair as I could still feel pain. The 4th injection completely numbed the area and he was then able to take a piece of tissue. I know trainees have to start somewhere but I couldn't help but think Why me, Lord!! 

Another friend who had a very painful tongue biopsy also had tissue taken from the side of the tongue so this must be the most sensitive area. 

It really helps to know you went through it too, demc, on the NHS website it says a punch biopsy doesn't need stitches ( it did) and that it is not very painful - humph! I was so incensed that I emailed them saying they should change their advice but I got a very bland response saying my comments would be passed on to the appropriate department. 

Even taking tablets was torture to begin with but I read somewhere that tipping your chin downwards as you swallow would help, and it did. 

Oh yes and I bought a mouthguard from eBay, a silicone one which you dip in hot water and mould to your teeth - the consultant told me to ask my dentist to make one to wear at night so the sore area didn't touch my teeth but I wanted to try it ASAP and couldn't get in to the dentist - waste of money, I can't sleep with a mouth full of plastic, it was horrible. 

And Clara So sorry the news is bad. My heart aches for you and I hope that they can fully eradicate the cancer. A very young friend of mine was given a diagnosis of cancer of the salivary gland, I read up on it and sat there with tears rolling down my cheeks - the treatment involves removal of the gland, jawbone and palate. I imagined her with facial scars ( she's 27) and it said patients may need speech therapy after they receive the new palate. But do you know what - the scars are hardly visible, she looks amazing, and her speech is almost as it used to be, only when she's tired do we notice that she slurs a little.

It really is incredible what surgeons can do today. Keep in touch and let us know how you get on xx