| | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | I can't believe I'm about to post this but for about a week and a half, I've noticed something bothering me on my LEFT side of my neck under my jawline. I found a small lump upon palpation and I am beginning to get scared. I've stayed pretty positive throughout all of this crap and I thought I was just starting to freak out because my one year anniversary is coming up on finishing this battle, I see the doctors again at MD Anderson on the 30th for tests/scans again.
I told my hubby the other day and yesterday we were visiting a dear friend who is also an RN (actually she's a Nurse pracitioner now) and all she's ever worked in is Oncology but I asked her to feel my lymph nodes to see if she could spot it. I didn't tell her where but she felt it, my heart sank! Right now, I'm praying that it's just scar tissue or anything else but cancer.
I'm going to try and stop thinking about it so much, it's starting to make me go bonkers thinking the worse. I need to keep positive!!!
Anyways, thanks for letting me vent. I just need somewhere where I can express this without having others around me physically worry about me all the time.
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 | Hi. You have ever right to be worried with all you have been through. Is there any way you can call and see if you can get your appointment moved up? Try not to borrow trouble and wait and see what is going on. I'll keep you in my prayers.
Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | Thanks Wanda!
I thought about moving the date up but then I would just have to go back for all my other tests and it's so hard to plan with the girls and school starting up. I'm thinking about leaving my date as is since I have everything planned for childcare and travels.
Just gonna hope for the best, who knows maybe by then this lump will decide to vanish forever--that would be nice!
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 176 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 176 | Elizabeth,
I too remenber feeling a "new" lump a couple of years post treatment. It turned out to be scar tissue and I was reminded to do daily neck exercises to prevent "wooden neck". Here's hoping that you get the same news.
All the best,
Rob
6-05, Left Tonsil-T1N2bM0 stageIVA, chemo(Cisplatin), radiation(6660cGy), neck disection, no PEG. HPV negative. (Doc suspects posit)
3-9-09 last of 30 HBO treatments.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 794 | Hoping it is just scar tissue--will keep you in my prayers.
Donna
Donna
CG to Mom, dx 4/25/07 with tongue cancer,T3N0,tx began 7/6/07, 31 tx's of IMRT, 8 cycles of Erbitux. Brachytherapy, surgery, left neck dissection and temp trach placed all on 9/17/07, trach removed 10/17/07. ORN of jaw, late effect of radiation symptoms. **lost my beautiful mother on 5/5/11.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Elizabeth, you are one of the most positive people on here. As a young mother of 3 adorable kids you have lots of pep and must keep that cheerful outlook. Dont worry about venting. We are here to support each other. Please dont let cancer steal your great attitude from you. It is most probably scar tissue. So many people here have gone thru the same thing and immediately think its a recurrance. Everybody gets so scared of a recurrance. If you have done this once, you can do it again but this time around you would be so much smarter about everything. Hope you stay busy until you find out for sure what it is. Have a great day with the girls 
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | Thanks Rob, Donna and Christine...I hope it is just scar tissue. I hesitated to even post anything, I usually keep it all in until it comes bursting out!LOL Trying to manage this a different way, hoping it will destress me a bit! Thanks for listening and all the kind words.
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 235 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 235 | I think it's so smart to post here.
Sometimes, just venting helps.
I know with my husband they warned us that scar tissue lumps are not unusual. Of course, you have to be vigilant and follow up but just keep in mind that sometimes a lump is just a lump.
Fingers crossed that's all it is!!!
CG to Spouse BOT, Chemo and radiation started on March 29,2010
Ended on May 14,2010. LET THE HEALING BEGIN!!!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | Today's the big day for my scan and follow up appts. Will post as soon as I know anything!
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Elizabeth, good luck girl, I know it'll work out!
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
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