1. < Head & Neck Cancer
Profile picture for louisiana67

Had a Biopsy of my Tongue

Posted by louisiana67 @louisiana67, May 22, 2025

About a month ago felt discomfort on right side of tongue. Dentist checked said did not see anything go to ENT if continues. ENT ran camera nose to throat didn't see anything. Visual check in mouth saw something (?) after several looks wanted to do biopsy. Have a friend ER doctor looked at it said he sees it but looks like inflamed taste bud. Skip to end last week oral surgeon last week looked in mouth didn't see anything no swollen lymph nodes etc. Biopsy today , took two samples sounds like base of tongue. Said one side of tongue is slightly larger than other, I thought no body is symmetrical lol. Said he would not have biopsied spot if I had not complained of discomfort. Ended conversation with my gut says it's not cancer, don't believe it's cancer but stated have been wrong before, wait on pathology. Said if it is cancer caught very very early, please give thoughts

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head & Neck Cancer Support Group.

Profile picture for hopeblos
hopeblos | @hopeblos | Feb 5 8:41am
In reply to @bdsis "I had tongue biopsy a little over 2 weeks ago and just got results that it’s..." + (show)
Profile picture for bdsis @bdsis

I had tongue biopsy a little over 2 weeks ago and just got results that it’s epithelial dysplasia so dr said needs to remove more cells of tongue to be sure it does not change from what is considered precancer to cancer. I had a heck of a time with the original biopsy site with stitches coming out as soon as I got home leaving a gaping hole that now has soft tissue over it but still hurts. The entire procedure hurt to be honest and the entire healing process hurt. I’m not up to going through anyone touching my tongue again for a while. Precancerous cells don’t mean they will turn into cancer so wait and see approach is what I feel I need. I am to follow up with dr in a couple of months. Wondering if I should see a different doctor, even though I’ve known and used the one I have a number of times for other procedures. He’s an oral surgeon; and my dentist is the one who told me to have little white spots checked out before al this happened. I have pictures; yuck gross ones… Does anyone else have photos of their procedures or healing process? Thank you; I wish you all well. I won’t post photos unless someone says they want to see lol.

Jump to this post

@bdsis Sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain and having complications after your procedure.

To help, keep doing the salt water gargles. They will promote healing and decrease inflammation.

Since the dysplasia/area biopsied was on your tongue, I’d encourage you to see an ENT doctor for follow up. You are very fortunate that you caught this early. An ENT specialist can advise you about ways to prevent recurrence and also provide the necessary follow up. Early detection is so very important!!!!

REPLY
2 replies
Profile picture for pampou
pampou | @pampou | Feb 5 9:26am

Please go to an ENT who specializes in cancer. This is not the job of an oral surgeon. Waiting for cancer to attack your tongue is not a good idea. At best you will lose your tongue. Better to have a small area removed.
Good luck.

REPLY
Profile picture for William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Feb 5 10:49am
In reply to @hopeblos "@bdsis Sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain and having complications after your procedure. To..." + (show)
Profile picture for hopeblos @hopeblos

@bdsis Sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain and having complications after your procedure.

To help, keep doing the salt water gargles. They will promote healing and decrease inflammation.

Since the dysplasia/area biopsied was on your tongue, I’d encourage you to see an ENT doctor for follow up. You are very fortunate that you caught this early. An ENT specialist can advise you about ways to prevent recurrence and also provide the necessary follow up. Early detection is so very important!!!!

Jump to this post

@hopeblos Welcome

REPLY
Profile picture for zenren14
zenren14 | @zenren14 | Feb 6 12:56am
In reply to @bdsis "I had tongue biopsy a little over 2 weeks ago and just got results that it’s..." + (show)
Profile picture for bdsis @bdsis

I had tongue biopsy a little over 2 weeks ago and just got results that it’s epithelial dysplasia so dr said needs to remove more cells of tongue to be sure it does not change from what is considered precancer to cancer. I had a heck of a time with the original biopsy site with stitches coming out as soon as I got home leaving a gaping hole that now has soft tissue over it but still hurts. The entire procedure hurt to be honest and the entire healing process hurt. I’m not up to going through anyone touching my tongue again for a while. Precancerous cells don’t mean they will turn into cancer so wait and see approach is what I feel I need. I am to follow up with dr in a couple of months. Wondering if I should see a different doctor, even though I’ve known and used the one I have a number of times for other procedures. He’s an oral surgeon; and my dentist is the one who told me to have little white spots checked out before al this happened. I have pictures; yuck gross ones… Does anyone else have photos of their procedures or healing process? Thank you; I wish you all well. I won’t post photos unless someone says they want to see lol.

Jump to this post

@bdsis
yes, I had tongue lesions grody to the max. I was in such pain for several months before I got a proper diagnosis. I just need to keep my mouth excessively clean.

REPLY
Profile picture for 56tburd
56tburd | @56tburd | Feb 6 11:20am

I'm sorry that you have to go through all of this, whether it is cancer or not. Don't take any chances. I felt a small pea-sized lump at the side of my neck that I knew wasn't normal. The doctor couldn't feel it, but he put me on antibiotics. It didn't help. The ENT biopsied it and found cancer in the lymph node. When they looked for the source, they found a very small lesion on the base of my tongue, Stage IV. The biopsy removed most of the lesion, but that was just the beginning. My sister went through something similar with a lesion on the side of her tongue. The doctors dismissed it for months while she could see it was growing. The delay resulted in her losing a large part of her tongue, and unfortunately, the cancer came back within two years. Delays will cost you dearly, so don't accept incomplete answers. They need to know what it actually is. Good luck!

REPLY
Profile picture for healthydeb
healthydeb | @healthydeb | Feb 7 5:26am
In reply to @hopeblos "@bdsis Sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain and having complications after your procedure. To..." + (show)
Profile picture for hopeblos @hopeblos

@bdsis Sorry to hear that you are experiencing pain and having complications after your procedure.

To help, keep doing the salt water gargles. They will promote healing and decrease inflammation.

Since the dysplasia/area biopsied was on your tongue, I’d encourage you to see an ENT doctor for follow up. You are very fortunate that you caught this early. An ENT specialist can advise you about ways to prevent recurrence and also provide the necessary follow up. Early detection is so very important!!!!

Jump to this post

@hopeblos
I have been followed for years for a lesion on my tongue. Close supervision is necessary. Good advice to see an ENT. Transformation to cancer is always a possibility. Good luck!

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.