Mine started out as what I thought was an inflamed taste bud or I thought I had bit my tongue. It got so painful it was difficult to eat. Dentist thought it looked cancerous and sent me to the ENT for a biopsy. It was indeed squamous cell carcinoma. It did grow fast. Between the time of biopsy and surgery a few months went by. They ended up doing a glossectomy and I lost a great deal of my tongue. That was one year ago in May. I wish you good luck and fingers crossed you have an excellent outcome. Hugs from Wyoming.