 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Moffitt did an exploratory to find my Primary. They had already identified 2 suspicious nodes one of which was biopsied and positive for SCC. They weren't positive but the thought they found what was left of the Primary at BOT. Decided not to do a Neck Dissection but to add chemo and radiate both sides. All of this was before HPV was a first thought or even a second thought. I had to press to get my slides tested by Maura Gillison then at JH post Tx. Those were the HPV Dark Ages but Moffitt's explanation re the Primary was my immune system probably cleared it but not before some cancer cells broke off and found the node as it was supposed to. They couldn't explain why my immune system couldn't handle the nodal attack.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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