For the past 3 months I had a minor sore throat on the right side. Finally saw ENT on 04/13/2010. Biopsy last week. Diagnosis is Right T1 N2 Sepraslottic (sp) Seca. Apparently on the lip of my voice box. They are going to treat with radiation. (I haven't been set up with a team yet) I feel like some of the posts I have read - like I'm going to have a nervous breakdown. My stomach is staying in knots. I already was taking a small dosage of Prozac - but I feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin. I'm (or was) very healthy (1/2 pack smoker & social drinker) and don't feel sick. And I keep thinking "this can't be happening". I'm so glad I found this forum. I am so scared.

Sandy,

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis. Your reaction is very normal. I called it the "fight or flight" feeling and my gut was telling me to run away and I had nowhere to run to.

So now you are left with the fight side. You have to make that transition and know you have a good chance of beating this thing.

T1 is good (small), how did they diagnose the N2. Did you get a PET scan, an MRI or a CT scan? or did your doctor just feel the nodes in your neck?

You are now officialy allowed to up the Prozac dosage. My GP cut me a Zantec prescription just after I was diagnosed.

Hi Kelly,
Thanks for responding. I had a CT scan before the biopsy which showed the node. There was no node until 2 weeks ago. I laid down on the bed to watch TV and noticed that my neck was tender. A little egg had popped out. Not tender now, bu the lump is still there. Can anyone give me advice on it?
Thanks
Sandy

Sandy,

I see you're locate in FL. I'm in Fort Myers 2 hours south of Tampa well worth the trip to Moffitt. I was treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa that would be my first choice. Excellent Dr.'s great staff and they know what they're doing.

Yes get to Moffitt ASAP. If you need help getting seen let me know. I take patients there all the time. I'm like their "Preferred Customer". lol I will even go with you to your first appt if you want.

It's extremely important to get your diagnosis correct before a treatment plan can be draw up.

David, I think it's wonderful how you help people out. I wish I had known this forum and you at the beginning 1 year and 5 months ago.

Take him up on it Sandy if you aren't already at Moffitt.

Sandy, Take david up on his offer. it is always nice to have someone by your side at appointments especially that first one.
As another poster said you are in fight or flight mode. It is time to fight. As hard it may be, you will come out stronger, I believe, on the end of things. I know I am a stronger person and now know what others have gone through and have helped other people here in OK.

David - Wow!! I'm awed by your offer to help. I live in Cocoa Beach and work in Orlando. My research did show that Moffitt was one of the top cancer centers in the US. But I didn't think about it because of the logistics. I have to admit I'm not that knocked out with the ENT group I was referred to. The network is Florida Hospital.
What are the steps that I take to get into Moffitt. I swear, I feel like I;ve steppped into a parallel world and I'm trying to navigate with a blind fold on.
Thank you all for your help and concern.
Sandy

Hey Sandy, I too was DX with vocal cord cancer on 3-4-10. I never felt bad just hoarse. I have just completed RT with IMRT for 39 treatments. No PEG. I never lost weight and continued to eat although very carefully. Wanted you to know that it is possible to get through this . I actually only this past week began to have some difficulty eating and swallowing. RO says I have peaked on my side effects now and I should start improving soon. I have gotten a bit tired on occasion, sleep a bit more but overall compared to most that post here, I have gotten through this relatively unscathed. I smoked 2 packs a day for 40+ years, threw them down "cold turkey" the morning I first saw my ENT. I have 3 children that are nurses and 3 doctors in my family. They all told me to eat as much as possible and get as many calories down as I could for as long as I could. I managed to gain about 7 pounds through treatment and will now at some point have to lose that and a few more. I am convinced that being able to continue to eat helped me get through this. I sometimes had to chew things a very long time and take very small bites , but it was worth it. Good luck to you. This is a great site for support.

PS. I too was encouraged to go to a BIG Cancer Center like MD Anderson. After seeing a local MO, my RO and getting 2nd and 3rd opinions from Vanderbilt and UAB, I elected to do my radiation locally b/c they have the latest IMRT and that was all I needed. No Chemo or surgery. If I had staged higher than T1, I probably would have gone somewhere else especially if I had needed surgery, chemo or any lymph involvement. I have already said if it comes back. I am jumping a plane if I require anything extensive. I have been told that b/c I quit the smokes, I have a very high probability of beating this for good. It sounds like you caught yours very early also which is a real biggy.