Lumps on tongue

Hi Susan. Sorry nobody else has replied. We’ve talked about this privately earlier. My reply should bump the post up and hopefully somebody else will see it. Hugs 

Hi, i am 18 months past treatment and i have bumps on the side of my tongue too. I have gone in twice about it now to have it checked (as i worried about it being cancer)

My consultant and dentist are both unconcerned and view it as dental, due to my tongue being prone to trauma and some dental friction.

Hi Trev! Thanks for replying. I would like to think that's what mine are but you will know your mind goes into overdrive and immediately thinks the worst. I have had lymphoma and chemo (finishing a couple of months ago) so always thinking about recurrences.

Did they not say there was any way of getting rid of them? I guess not.

Regards, Susan

It is completely natural, i have been in twice ahead of my 6 month check because of concerns.

The way i look at it, its possible a gp might miss something, heck a doctor misdiagnosed me with tonsilitis initially

But these consultants are experts, and if they are totally confident that there is nothing to worry about- we just have to believe that.

I do get it though, i think recurrence is on all our minds especially in the early years.

Good evening Susan, i have not personally suffered like this, if you are concerned about it then please ask your consultant for a scan of some type because just feeling around the neck and shoulders can sometimes miss any problems, as i found out. I always feel that a scan should be done at about nine months to a year but it does not happen. Wishing you well, take care.

                                                                           Chris x

Hi Chris! 

Thank you for replying. I had a PET scan a couple of months ago to see if the lymphoma I had chemo for had gone and they didn't report any hotspots in my neck. I'm hoping that the radiographers went over it with a fine-toothed comb and didn't find anything. 

However, I still have these lumps, but Trev (above) has given me some hope as he said he had them too and perhaps it is more common than I realised. 

I'm due to see my ENT consultant in June, but if I think the lumps seem to get any bigger, I shall contact him before that. 

Kind regards,

Susan

Hi Susan, sorry i did not realise you had PET scan and that it was ok, lets hope yours are similar to Trev and its just part of the recovery. Please do keep an eye on the lumps or if you feel different in yourself. Goodluck.

                                                                       Chris x 

Hi Susan

I should have responded but I did not as I have only had surgery.  Trev's response prompted me...

2 months ago I found a strange growth in tip of my tongue - I initially thought it was going to be an ulcer, but that did not develop.  Instead a firm white lump appeared.  I waited a while, then the anxiety got too much and I I rang my CNS.  I had an appointment with Oral Surgery within 24 hours.  They gave it a good look and were happy that it was "just" a cyst.  Further reassurance was they saw me again during my routine 8 weekly review and checked all was OK.

These things happen to us - surgery or RT.  The important thing is to seek reassurance from your team if you need it.

My tongue is still very tender and I think it will remain so.  Like Trev it was suggested that dental friction was/is the cause as post treatment our tongues are very tender and probably not an uncommon side effect.

Hi!

Thank you for answering! It's true - it's a minefield - all the effects of treatment are rubbish and I'm sure you have had a whole set that are different to mine!

Every time I see my ENT consultant, I tell him I'm convinced my cancer has come back because the lumps are where it was (around the area anyway) and he keeps assuring me it hasn't. 

Because I have recently had chemo, the idea is that it exacerbated the already-tender tongue cells and that I have to "wait and see" if things will subside. 

Weird for you that you should have a cyst in another place to where your tumour was. The body obviously has to react with great annoyance to the terrible things that have been done to it. I can imagine my body saying, "Well after what I've had done to me, I'm within my rights to react badly!!!"

Thanks again for replying.

Kind regards, Susan