Dear Eva, I’m in week 3 of treatments for oral cancer. The mouth sores have really kicked in. Hard to eat anything I have to chew. Sticking to Ensure and other drinks, creamed soups, mashed potatoes and gravy, scrambled eggs. My doctor said I am losing too much weight, can’t lose anymore or the mask won’t fit properly. Any suggestions …
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Oral Cavity Biopsies: 3 Do’s and 3 Don’ts
My first biopsy was misread as hyperkeratosis when in fact it was moderate dysplasia. I should have been flagged two years before I was diagnosed with Stage IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma on the lateral border of my tongue. Here is what I learned about biopsies: They are not 100% definitive. Why? Imprecise tissue sampling; Improper tissue handling; inaccurate interpretation. I …
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Sticking Out Tongue Straight: An Impossible Feat
I have adopted a sister, a survivor sister Dale Noelle. Tongue cancer became the topic of conversation between my friend Erin’s mother and Dale’s mother over a card game. They agreed Dale and I should meet. For months, our busy schedules didn’t allow us to plan a meeting. But, when I got the message she could attend a lecture I …
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The Complaining Patient: Tumor or Trauma
In the 1996 “Seinfeld” episode called “The Package,” Elaine is blackballed from being seen in medical offices and tries to steal her own medical records to erase her “difficult patient” status. I had a similar experience. I had been seen by one doctor in an Oral & Maxillofacial office for the non-healing sore on my tongue that was becoming more painful. The …
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Temple Dental Students Speak out about Oral Cancer and Eva Grayzel’s Presentation
For the last 7 years, my presentation, Tongue-Tied: A Story NOT Silenced by Oral Cancer was put into the dental school curriculum by oral pathologist Maria Fornatora, D.M.D, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Temple University Kornberg School of Dentistry. For one hour, I’m given the chance to inspire, motivate and impact the way dental students will provide services to …