Hello you lovely people,
I'm a single dad of young boys.
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 I can't help imagining worst case scenarios, which 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 boys 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. :) :( :) :(
Remind me. When is your appointment
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Fingers crossed
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Not too long for your appt - then hopefully soon after you’ll know so much more - everything crossed that you get positive results - maybe have a think of questions you want to ask, especially to help with your thought process.
I had my review appt yesterday for the petct scan - not what I was hoping, I now need to have biopsy’s on my tongue and elsewhere - under general anaesthetic. More treatment or moreso surgery.
I was given my date for biopsy’s and told about 2 weeks to get results . If surgery it’s by robotics and a trip to Guildford hospital - the doc was honest with her views and treated me a damn site better than my previous appt.
For me the journey continues. 
♀️
I did expect some sort of bad news but wasn’t sure what - my biopsy is booked for the 10th June and at east grinstead hospital - no a+e there so fingers crossed the chances of being cancelled are low.
no strategies as yet, day at a time and getting back to looking after dogs - they keep me distracted and also my wife is amazing and is the positive one.
it will be getting my mind round the surgery aspect, if that’s what it ends up with.
prior to having my chemo and radiotherapy, I had 10 teeth removed and the team were just amazing to me - especially the anaesthetist, as she put it to me, she will be my own personal drug dealer and would make sure I was totally ok. (What was important to me is that my real fear has always been to be cut open - this team just gave me so much faith and confidence in them)!
I actually take alot from the folk on here, no doubt as you have found, some amazing people and they/you all understand what we are or have been through. So I guess part of my strategy is here.
how are you feeling - I’ve been reading the help and support you’re getting on here.
Nige
That anaesthetist sounds really cool. I'd really hate to have several teeth out, but I guess folk have (a) no choice and (b) to do what needs to be done. 
So sorry you have the surgery aspect to think about again. No fun. Thank the lord for dogs and your awesome other half.
I'm very up and down. Yesterday I did a whole load of Google image searches. Even did a reverse image search of a photo of my own ulcer. And against the odds, i came out of that search quite confident that this really is just a traumatic ulcer that hasn't had a chance to heal. Or lichen planus.
Today, weirdly, even though I've distracted myself by filming a YouTube video that I had to really force myself to make, I have this heavy sense of doom - a random feeling that this thing on my tongue is cancer.
I can see, of course, from the good people on here that a cancer diagnosis can be far from the end. But my God, if this isn't cancer I hereby promise not to moan about anything ever again.
I like that there's a causal chain of events here, at least. Since the start of the year, I've had sharp teeth aggravating my tongue. So that's been going on for months- and because like an idiot i never even thought to LOOK, I've no idea how long it's been an actual ulcer.
I do know that the pain is at least the same, or worse, than what it was last Wednesday when the word "biopsy" was said to me by the dentist...
My eyes have certainly been opened whilst the short time I’ve been on the forum here - the vast number of differing cancers and that’s just round the mouth /throat areas.
did you refer to your ulcer as a ‘traumatic ulcer’ ? I must admit I had never heard of that expression. Learning all the time. Also when I started my chemo, seeing and talking with other folk there having there’s , realisation certainly dawned and listening to everyone’s journeys. One thing is common, we all start out fearing the worst and hoping for the best.
I surmise your stomach is doing flips whilst your mind sends you all over the place. Absolutely normal and understandable, Nicky Seymour who is the oncologist I saw yesterday helped me by discussing my mind issues - with as much importance as the cancer itself - made me feel better - her one piece of guidance for me was ‘deal with what you know, focus on that , not what you don’t know.’
your biopsy is the first steps to recovery !
traumatic ulcer’ ? I must admit I had never heard of that expression.
It’s an ulcer caused by teeth rubbing on the tongue. Trauma. They are very common
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
