Hello you lovely people,
I'm a 52 year old single dad of young twins.
Yesterday, my dentist said he was referring me for a biopsy of the apparent ulcer on my tongue.
This came as quite a shock.
For about 5 months, I'd had sharp teeth irritating my tongue and mouth.
Eventually, I went to the dentist. Never even considered anything sinister.
A month ago, he filed down one sharp tooth and scheduled a follow up appointment.
At this new appointment yesterday, he filed down the other sharp tooth I'd identified, then talked about the referral.
He said my ulcer was "quite large" and hadn't healed in the way he'd expect.
Ever since that moment, I've found myself almost frozen with fear, as if I've actually received a diagnosis of mouth cancer.
Which I know I haven't, but what I do for a living (as a writer) involves imagining worst case scenarios. Really doesn't help.
Neither was a GP especially helpful when I went to see her yesterday afternoon. She couldn't give me any perspective, or any odds, or any reassurance really, apart from to say it was "promising" (I think that's the word she used) that the lump on the side of my tongue hasn't bled and is painful.
She also made vaguely positive noises when I told her I have what might be lichen planus elsewhere on my body.
Really glad to arrive here to chat with people who've been where I suddenly find myself now.
Looking through some of the posts, I can already see people in my exact position and it makes me feel less neurotic.
I can't decide whether this thing being on my tongue makes it better or worse. After all, I can SEE it. I'm looking at this thing and wondering if it's cancer.
I'm just still at the point where I'm tearing up at the thought of having to leave my six-year-olds behind. This can't happen.
Tomorrow, they're coming to stay for the weekend, so I need to pull myself together. Thought I'd come on here and also allow myself one day of worry and self-indulgent comfort food, ha!
Wine may also be involved.
If my situation once applied to you, or still does apply to you, how do/did you feel?
And did anyone decide to go private, to speed up the biopsy? If so, did it actually speed anything up, in your experience?
Right... I think that's more than long enough for a first post. Thanks for reading. :) :( :) :(
This morning, they called to offer me an appointment in TWO DAYS (Saturday) instead, which has now put the fear of God into me.
It’s bound to but the reality is that they get cancellations and fit other people in so don’t read any urgency into it. Good luck for next week.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hiya fella - it’s a gut wrencher isn’t it - but it’s better than June 11th. I remember being called for my first appt once tests done and it was results diagnosis etc - the real positive to take on the appt is the not only will you get the results, you’ll also get your treatment plan and you can focus on that, for the first time you’ll get that little bit of control back.
no matter what you’ll still have the mind playing the tricks and thinking alsorts, but try and keep the thought of ‘it’s my plan/route to fighting back - and you will.
please make sure, if you can, to have someone with you, always good to have the support and even better to have two sets of ears - and take your time to digest what they are saying - as a famous saying from history ‘it’s not the beginning of the end, this is the end of the beginning -
you’ve got this fella -
sending you strength and positive thoughts - Nige
but it said sharp teeth can cause it.
Yes I have a patch where a lone tooth at the back hits my cheek, exacerbated by a drier mucous membrane that side. It’s a white slightly thickened painless area. You can get it both sides if you suck your cheeks in chronically too.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Am praying it's right
Fingers crossed for you
What are you doing with the kids this weekend?
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
