| | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | I guess I will be calling the doc. tomorrow. We have found an enlarged lymph node on the right side near the back of my neck. I went home this weekend for my son's birthday and spoke with my sister -in-law. I had her feel the place I was concerned about and she said it was definitely a lymph node and not a muscle. She is an RN so I trust her judgement. My husband spoke to someone at work who is going through med school and he said I need to get in tomorrow. I do not know what to do. Parts of me wants to know and another part of me wants to just get on with my life and never look back again. Does this worry ever stop? Thanks for listening.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Angelia,
You have to get that checked out! As scary as it is, you must do this for yourself and your sweet little boys. I don't think the worry ever goes away. It fades a little when we get back to living our everyday lives. But I know I have that little nagging worry whispering in my ear especially when Clark gets into a coughing or choking fit, or when he mentions a new source of pain. After what you have been through, you would have to be a robot NOT to be worried.
Also, you HAVE been getting on with your life--you are back at school teaching, organizing a walk for OCF, and I'm sure the activities your boys are in keep you pretty busy, too. Good for you!
And good luck with your appointments.
Anita
Anita (68)
CG to husband, Clark, 79,
DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
PEG 7/21
Botox injections
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 357 | Hi, Angelia -
The part of you that wants to know is winning so you *can* get on with your life. Not looking back is another story, but you're your best advocate, which is the best any of us can do.
I agree with Anita - you've done a marvelous job of getting on, moving forward AND raising awareness. You really have become an inspiration.
I'm sending every bit of positive energy I can muster your way.
Marlene
Marginal mandibulectomy 6/17/08 resulted in DX of Stage I SCC - gingiva (3 mm) right mandible, buccal side. Clear margins. Occasional social drinker. Smoked last cigarette in 1979. Clear pet: 12/08; 7/20/09. Yay!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 711 | I'm sorry you have to go through all that worry again. As far as I can tell, worrying is all a part of the "new normal" and isn't likely to go away.
David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 875 | Angelia:
You are in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know as soon as you go to the doctor. As usual, the scary stuff continues and all we want to do is get on with our lives. God Bless.
julieann
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer  | | | | | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | The bad news is that in my own personal experience you never get free of this thing hanging over your head, though most of my surprises have not been the really horrible events that my mind thought they might be. Not all were nothing but all were caught early.
The good news is that nodes get inflamed for a variety of reasons, most of which are not cancer. Also it is possible that this isn't a node, and is a cyst or something else.
You have been here a long time with us. You know all the lines about being your own advocate, getting regular check ups and seeing that abnormalities get looked at early. You are on the right path to early discovery and simple solutions to something (if it is) or peace of mind that it is nothing.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | Thank you all for your kind words. The more I think about it the more scared I get. I am just grateful for my wonderful RO. After this weekend I know I can not wait, now when I chew something my neck in that area is painful. Anyway, I wil keep you all posted.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | Angelia....I'm praying for you girl!
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: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | Angelia
BUMMER. let me put in a word for old fashioned Grieving over what you have lost to this Cancer. As Brian noted, the worry and fear of recurrence never go away for many of us. Take some time to feel sad about this. Here is an excerpt from "Holy Longing" by Ronald Rolheiser
[quote]Unless we mourn properly, our hurts, our losses, life's unfairness, our shattered dreams and all the life that we once had but that has now passed us by, we will live in an ever intensifying bitterness. [/quote]
It's a deeply spiritual book but follows up that quote with the advice: Grieve what you have lost and adjust to the new reality...Accept the Spirit of the Life that you are in fact living"
I tried to skip the grieving and go right to acceptance but it turns out that I could not.
Finally, remember: sometimes a lump is just a lump.
Charm
Last edited by Charm2017; 08-30-2010 06:37 AM. Reason: typos
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | Good thoughts above, Angelia. My thoughts and prayers will be with you, too. There is something to "old fashioned grieving". Or maybe just having a little compassion for yourself and what has transpired. Ekhart Tolle said "what you resist persists" so the way I look at it is that if we can accept what happens and feel some compassion, then moving on gets a little easier and we can begin to fight whatever fight is necessary. IF - it is necessary, because you don't really know for sure what it is yet - and remember, as Charm said, "sometimes a lump is just a lump"! (I really love that quote!)
Anne-Marie
CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Angelia,
I'll be praying that as Charm said, "sometimes a lump is just a lump"!
Yes, the worry never ends, and if that lump happened 5 years ago you certainly wouldn't be worried about it.
But, as you know, you need to get it checked out -- soon!
I'll be praying for you!
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0
Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV-
Surgery: June 2005
RT: Feb-Apr 2006
HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105!
Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010
Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia
Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia
Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | I have an appt. with my ENT on Wednesday at 3:00. My RO just happened to be out of town this week.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 126 | Praying for peace while you wait and a good report when you see the Dr.
Sharon, 57; Hard Palate; T1, High Grade, DX 6-12-09, Surgery, maxillectomy 7-14-09, 33 RT (9-2-09 to 10-19-09); Prothesis (obturator). None smoker, non drinker.
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