Hi Expat,

Sadly, there is no weight in your thoughts. You have been given an appointment for 2nd August because it will take till then to get the results of your biopsy. There is little likelihood of your appointment for results being brought forward as Oncology staff have a tremendous pressure of work.

You may have read of other people getting their results within a week. There are different time scales for people with different types of cancer. Well done for giving up the smoking and the drinking. It is never easy to do this. Why not be honest tomorrow lunchtime? You can say that you are undergoing tests to see if you have cancer. I have found it so much easier to be open with friends and family and discussed it with my friends and family from the outset..

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello Expat. I hope you went out today and spent time with your friends from work,   I just want to say that i am recovering from tongue cancer I am not or never have been a drinker or smoker so when " they say" it is a smoker/drinkers cancer they are wrong...I was told that i was in the wrong catagory didnt tick the boxes so we will send for you again in 10 to 12 weeks but absolutly nothing to worry about returned 12 weeks later had an understudy take a biopsy  by this time i had earache as well told no nothing to do with tougne go see your doctor again about your ear its nothing to do with your tongue and again you have nothing to worry about this is NOT cancer we will have results in 3 weeks time. returned to be told we will take another biopsy as we didnt take enough so another one taken.. returned 3 weeks later no its not cancer but it could turn nasty if not treated  we will bring you back and remove it my husband said no  she has been through enough and the earache every day my wife has been coming to you since May it is now September Oh that long...ok go have a cup of tea come back I will remove it in half an hour. Brought back 3 weeks later to be told sorry it is cancer we will bring you in and operate might have to do skin graft. the point im making here is to be told you dont smoke/drink your not in the right catagory is crazy and the earache was caused by the cancer it is the same nerve from ear to tongue this cancer is more common now than ever I dont mean to frighten you Expat but if you are diagnosed with this remember you will get through it its tough but you will get through it...keep your family and friends close as we all need someone to help us when things get tough...and this chatline is a great help too...god bless D.

Hi Expat,

I put some respones to your questions. 

Results wise, I got my results quickly, my consultant sped up the results and I had them within a week of biospy. 

I don't think it would make a difference if you give up bad habbits before a biopsy. But regardless of the result, you should try to give them up anyway if you can.

I had to have time off work for the biospy half a day, so I told them I was having it but nothing more until I got the result.

Cancer does not have to relate to anything we have done, sometimes it just happens. I was 23, hardly drunk and did not smoke. That being said however, now I am recovered, I have the odd drink. You can't live in fear, more so when in the 20's/30's.

Please keep us updated, good luck.

Hello Jolamine,

           Thank You again for the kind words.  Giving up smoking and drinking is hard, but I am doing my best at moment to keep myself busy and my mind off of things.  In the end I told my colleagues I was having a dry July.  So in the end I withheld the fact that I had a biopsy.  I didn't want awkward questions or to even talk about it since I'm trying to not think about it at all.  Whatever the results are of the biopsy that I get on my appointment in August, I will then tell them.  

Many Thanks.

Hello DeeMc.  I did indeed to go the pub with my friends, but I stuck to a pint of coke rather than beer.  Thank You for sharing your experience and am so sorry for what you have gone through.  Naturally before my biopsy, I knew nothing about tongue cancer or any oral cancer for that matter.  It is sad to hear so many stories like yours of where this has happened to healthy people and sounds as if it should have been identified earlier.  I am fortuante in that my dentist identified the white spots on my tongue and asked me to come back in a couple of weeks if the spots did not disappear.  They did not so she decided to refer me to a specialist.  If my dentist hadn't seen the spots and become concerned about them, I probably would not have noticied or given it another thought as I don't have any other symptoms.  No pain, no discomfort.  Nothing other than these white spots/patches.  I am hoping that its just leukoplakia and not cancerous, but it is also good to hear others' stories and know that if the worst does come from my biopsy results that it will be treatable and will get through it.  Thanks again for sharing.

Many Thanks.

Hello Space_1999

      Thanks for taking the time to read my post and respond.  So after you had your biopsy, did you have a set date when you would meet with the specialist and they ended up calling you in early when they had the results or did they just say they would call you when they had the results?  It's only a week and a half since my biopsy was done and the idea of waiting untl the 2nd of August is making a me a little crazy.  

   I guess I gave up the bad habits in the event that it might be just leukoplakia in which case I think continuing drinking and smoking to any degree would be taking a gamble with my health until it is removed if it is indeed leukoplakia.  

Anywho, thank you for the kind words.  I am doing my best to not be anxious about it and trying to keep myself busy.  I am hoping for the best, but also trying to mentally prepare myself for the worst.  

Many Thanks.

Hi Expat,

Your explanation of a 'dry July' was a stroke of genius. Did you still go out with your friends or did you avoid the temptation? It sounds as if you are coping with this  time well despite the anxiety you feel. As you rightly say, there is time to tell your friends when you have the results and if they are positive.

I am thinking of and praying for a better outcome.

Stay strong.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you for your kind words stay positive and let us know how you get on as I will be keeping you in my thoughts god bless D.

Hi Expat,

No worries.

After the biopsy, the hospital called and told me to come in after just a week. They told me it was cancer, they then gave me dates to meet with different people. I was on the operating table within three weeks.

Pretty quick for the NHS!

Let us know how you get on.

Hello All,

        I had my biopsy results last week.  Thankfully no malignancy and was diagnosed with leukoplakia and they were happy to discharge me.  This was quite a weight lifted from my shoulders and have had a new appreciation for life I think after this experience.  It definately gave me the kick up the backside to finally quit smoking.    

      I want to thank all of you for your support and for having the courage to share your experiences and stories to help guide others and provide support.  You all are awesome people.  I wish you all the best! 

Take care.