Pray for Beverly - Update

Unfortunately, I had a tongue biopsy almost two weeks ago, and it was confirmed that I have a squamous cell cancer (about 3 centimeters) on my tongue and surgery is necessary within the next few weeks. I just returned home from a meeting with about 10 physicians and therapists at the Cancer Center in Christiana, Delaware.

The good news is that my catscan was good, and there is no indication at this point that the cancer has spread. It seems to be confined to the rear left side of my tongue. Everyone was in agreement that the best plan of attack is to remove the cancerous portion of my tongue which will cause some speech problems, but a speech therapist will be working with me on my speech and swallowing. They will have to remove a few lymphnodes in the neck area, and if no cancer cells are found, I won't even have to have radiation or chemotherapy. This cancer is 80% curable.

I have been having pain in this area for 5-6 months. I had gone to Dr. Cooper, an Ear Nose & Throat specialist, last Novemeber when the pain starting radiating into my ear. He gave me a very brief examination (didn't even look at my tongue) and said he couldn't see anything.. He felt it was a virus that was going around which caused mouth ulcers and I was at the end stages of the virus. Thank goodness, I asked someone at the dental clinic last month (while I was waiting for Vince to get a filling) to take a look in my mouth and tell me what was hurting.. I could tell then that it was serious, but I was given an ointment to try first to see if it helped. I went back two weeks later and was told I had to have a biopsy. I postponed the biopsy until after my trip to Disney. When I went back for my post-op check, I was given the news and things have progressed rapidly since then.

I am understandably angry with the ENT specialist here in Dover who dismissed me without a thorough check. Had we caught it 5 months ago, a much smaller portion of the tongue would have been removed, my speech would have been less affected, and the lymphnodes would not have had to be checked. I intend to write a strong letter to him so that maybe he will treat his next patient differently.

I will let you know when my surgery is scheduled and will inform you of the outcome. I won't be able to talk for a while, and I'm sure Vince will get tired of answering the phone (It has already been ringing off the hook) so I ask that you keep in touch through personal notes via e-mail.

I am very lucky that we have caught this in time, and I know with your prayers that I will be just fine. I am blessed with such dear friends which is all the more evident at times like this.

Love, Beverly