Hello my name is Bob (Hughman) and I was diagnosed with tongue cancer in December 1998 with a squamous cell carcinoma on the lower side of my tonue.It was immediately biopsied and removed later that month. It was small in size and considered non-life threatening. 2 years went by without any recurrencewhen suddenly another group of suspicious areas formed in the same place other wise known as leukoplakia. They were also biopsied and came back positive as before. I was sent into NYC where I underwent a 9 hour surgery where the doctors peformed a partial glossectomy taking skin from my lfet arm arm replacing it in my tongue where the tumors were. They also did a right and left neck dissection removing the lymphnodes to prevent the cancer from spreading. The recovery was long and arduous. In 2003 it was sugessted that I go for chemotherapy and radiation at a local hospital where I had 39 radiation treatments and 4 doses of Cisplatin for chemotherapy. This was a 3 month ordeal from which I suvived. It wasnt easy. I had many side effects and suffered many problems. In July 2006 another tumor appeared at the rear of my tongue.I reentered hospital in August where the doctors opened up my jaw to get to the tumor. The surgery was a success but my chin refused to heal as the radiation damaged the bone in that area causing fragments to appear and my face swell up. I took antibiotics for 2 months and still it refused to heal. I went for 30 Hyperbaric Oxygen treaments to help the healing process. It didnt work. I have had many minor surgeries to rectify the problem to no avail. Tomorrow I go for another sugery as a last gasp attempt to fix it and if this doesnt work then I will needa new jaw put on me. That totally freaks me out. Lets hope that doesnt happena and I can get on with my life. I am a 51 year old male who hasnt worked since last October.

I am praying for the best. Thank you for listening.

Bob

Bob...

I'm so sorry no one has posted a reply to you. I just bopped in to read posts after a very, very long absence. I do hope and pray your surgery went well. What an ordeal you're going thru (and have been going thru).

You'll be in my prayers....and please post an update. I'll try to be more vigilent.

Warm best wishes...

I hope your surgery went well. What an ordeal you've been through!

You are in my thoughts and prayers!!!! Andrea

Tongue cancer plus all those surgerys and problem with your chin being repaired .wow that must have sucked. and no one ever wished you good luck.I usually not snooping in the cancer section since I been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, but there might be a chance that I have breast cancer not for sure yet just I got a mammogram tues on 06/17/2008 the radiologist office called me to come back on the 25th which is this wednesday. the last time the radiologist told me to comee back I had to have a hysterectomy in 2002 which I'm scared out of my wits and hope to hear from you soon.
[This Message was Edited on 06/22/2008]

Hi Bob, just was wondering how your doing? I had my jaw removed due to bone cancer, and had reconstruction surgery.So I can understand kind of what your going through.I had 6 months of chemo, plus a few long surgerys.. mouth wired shut. ect ect. Wishing you well and when you can please let us know how your doing.

Hi, Bob,

I am usually on the Fibromyalgia, and Psoratic Arthritis boards, as well as the Blepharospasm board (that means my eyelids slam shut when the want to and I can't see.

Now, I probably have a tongue cancer. I won't know for awhile yet, but it looks just like the description I found on the internet.

I have ignored it for 5-6 months because I was taking Remicade treatment for the PA. The Remicade nearly killed me. I won't be going back to that.

I will pray for you. You have made it through some very tough times already.

I suspect that I will be needing words of encouragement from you.

I am scared to death about what I may be facing.

But, I have found so much comfort in repeating Psalm 23...

God bless you.

Nancy
[This Message was Edited on 09/08/2008]

Hi Bob,

I'm new to here as i've just been diagnosed with CFS and was on the hunt for some info. Anyway like you i too have had squamous cell carcinoma - mine was upper right quadrant, where 1/3 of my tongue was removed, the tip then became the side (so much for my party trick of being able to touch the tip of my nose with my tongue lol, I just got things like "whats it like to kiss you", the answer to which of course they never found out lol) - 2 years later leukoplakia was removed (the specialist told me they had tested all the sites around etc and you may as well say i was completely cured - he read the wrong file). Another 2 years went on and good old Leukoplakia again - yet another biopsy was done and it turned out the margins were wildly out so this time they know it's back but until it goes invasive they can't operate - so now every month, i go into royal brisbane hospital, hold my breath and have latex covered hands stuck in my mouth (yummy) and felt around but so far so good. It also turns out that when the first leukoplakia came back the pathology report recommended further investigation - so now it just grows wild (always said i was a wild child).

I've done one thing positive about all of this but - i've become a face painting clown and do voluntary work with sick kids (i figure who better to understand what they're going through than us - and it turns out right - they feel safe and can let their guard down and just talk about how they feel, and if they're pissed off with the world etc)

I do feel for you and hope and pray it has all gone well, but even if you do have to have a new jaw - just think you'll be modernised lol. Im not making light of what you are going through because i well and truly feel for you - but i believe there is only so far down we can go before we pick ourselves up and laughing about it all is how i keep sane (sorta).

I personally believe there's a greater plan (which we don't know about) and for some reason we've been chosen - don't ask me why, but one day it will all make sense (maybe). I know with me when i facilitate the kids just sitting around and talking and healing - it somehow makes sense.

Keep smiling Helen

Dear Bob,

Are you still reading these posts? I would like to hear from you. Sarah
smcpelkey@yahoo.com

I am praying for you, Bob. GOD BLESS and best of luck to you.

Hi Bob, I'm new to this site. Read your message. Wow, hope all has gone well for you. Your strong belief about yourselfand your faith will bring you more than you can possibly imagine. My x went through some pretty serious health issues with cancer for the past 2 years. Same kind as yours, only his is in his lungs and brain. He is going for gammaknife radiation. This procedure is amazing. Do your Drs. know about this? Please let us all know what is going on so we can be there for you. Bless you with many prayers. Renee