Hi everyone, am just 10 days into this cancer journey, not yet diagnosed. Have a lesion on my tongue, swollen lymph node just under my ear and few symptoms which I don't know if are connected (namely tinnitus, pressure and numbness in face and stiffness in jaw). These symptoms have all been slowly getting worse over the past year. I had a diagnosis of functional neurological disorder last year when the symptoms started so I put all of the new symptoms that developed over the months down to that. I had not noticed the lesion on my tongue- it is painless and I don't really ever look at my tongue tbh! Anyway - the neurologist saw me in July for review and made an immediate referral to the ENT for the lesion. I was given an urgent appointment on the 16th August, the ENT surgeon did a full examination and a nasoendoscopy (there was complete blockage on the left nostril (opposite side to tongue lesion) but ok on the right nostril and said he would arrange an mri of neck, ct of chest FNA of lymph node and biopsy of tongue lesion. Have had the scans and have the biopsies scheduled for the 8th September. So.... am basically just waiting... and trying to work out if I am still gonna be able to dodge the cancer bullet with all these symptoms? And / or if I do have cancer is it (just)my tongue? Is it in my nose and face? Is it in my lymph nodes? How can I do everything possible ahead of the diagnosis to get myself in the best possible position to be able to survive this and have a few more years of this wonderful life with my beautiful family that I love so much?
So sorry to see you here under such a cloud. Waiting for diagnosis/scans etc is really awful. Try not to rely on Google for your info. While a lot of stuff there is really helpful much is not if downright wrong and will push you down rabbit holes. Try to keep busy but importantly eat well and get as fit as you can. If your body has a fight on its hands it needs to be as well as possible.
You're looking at some sort of definitive answer towards the end of September. Stay with us if you need to. There's lots of help here
Hugs
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
can you tell me... are there lots of people who enquire here that have these biopsies and scans and lesions and they turn out to be not cancer?
Rachael
Hi Rachael
Yes a few but into that you have to factor that most people are here after diagnosis.
The stats are that 90% of referrals are not cancer
Your consultant is doing the right thing with all the investigations you are having. Fingers crossed it’s something simple.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
