# Cancer Watch 2005 **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 3, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-watch-2005/288256 "2005-02-03T21:29:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-watch-2005/288256/1 "2005-02-03T21:29:06Z")
When my dental hygienist noticed something odd on my tongue and told me to keep an eye on it for a couple weeks, I didn’t know what I’d be in for. If it’s still around in a couple weeks, it might be cancer. The statement didn’t really sink in until last night when I got WAY more upset about the State of the Union address than usual. So, I thought to myself, “Why am I sitting here crying over Bush’s speech? Oh yeah. The cancer thing.” I had a stroke four years ago so I’ve done my fair share of medical emergencies and hospital stays. Not something I want to repeat. Plus three years ago, I had a heart defect repaired. In the time between my stroke and my heart procedure, my father was hospitalized and I lost most of my friends. Severe brain damage is really tricky for interpersonal relationships and most of my friends didn’t have the time, patience, or maturity to stick around while I worked through my recovery. Now, I have a small group of friends who I hope and believe would actually visit me in the hospital and stick by me in rough times. I spent all last night crying and reaching out to my friends. I know it probably seems to be silly to get upset over a possibility. But I’m fresh out of hope for medical miracles. I kinda think I used up my miracle by survivng the stroke. I simply can’t do another stint in the hospital. I cried every day when I was hospitalized for my stroke. Feb. 16 is the end of Cancer Watch 2005 for me. Could you guys send good voodoo or say some prayers for me? ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2005, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-watch-2005/288256/2 "2005-02-03T22:19:04Z")
Well, I’ll send good thoughts. A few years ago, I had a pea-sized growth lased off my tongue. Turned out to be an “irritational fibroma.” Basically a mass of scar tissue that probably got its start as the result of a good ole chomp o’ the tongue. Maybe yours will be something similarly benign. ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-watch-2005/288256/3 "2005-02-04T02:53:04Z")
**Earl** , thank you for your kind thoughts. I’m rooting for something benign too. Heck, I’ve been told by many people that I’m irrational so maybe my tongue taking it literally! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cancer-watch-2005/288256/4 "2005-02-04T16:57:30Z")
My Docs have pulled cancer scares on me 3 or 4 times. I’m not too concerned anymore, & you shouldn’t be either.