#42475 03-21-2003 03:54 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 | Had the follow up PET/CT scan today, (see previous post) not good news again. After partial glossectomy, radical neck dissection on left side, chemo and radiaion on left side, now there's a node showing activity on right side of neck. So, Monday they're doing fine needle biopsy. There was some discussion between the ENT surgeon, oncologist about whether to do needle biopsy or just go in and take out the node, check it and then decide. Thing is, neither one is convinced that this is actually a cancerous node, but only way to find out for sure, is biopsy at least.
So, here we go again. At least if wind up with neck dissection, I know what to expect, plus this time it's only the neck dissection, not the tongue. Interestingly enough, I'm taking this better than my wife.
By the way, do they use a local during the needle biopsy? I'm getting skittish around needles, even the mention of them.
SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
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#42476 03-21-2003 05:31 AM | 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 | They could use a local for a FNB, but in all liklyhood to get the area completely numb, they would have to inject in at least 3-5 sites around the node and in it. The FNB will only be a couple of pokes with a similar needle. So why get poked even more? After what you have been through, this is a cakewalk. It will be over in one minute. Best of luck, and remember that PETS put out a lot of false positive. Hopfully this will turn out to be one of them.
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.
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#42477 03-21-2003 05:41 AM | Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 109 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 109 | Why you only had radiation to the left side only ?
Is it the standard treatment for tongue cancer ?
I think the surgical biopsy is more reliable than needle biopsy. The needle much higher chance miss the canceous portion of the nude.
In my case, I had two biopsy to diagnose the disease.
WZ | Stage 4, Tonsillar Cancer Aug, 2002
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#42478 03-21-2003 03:34 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 | WZ, all the cancer was on the left side only at one point, tongue, lymph nodes, etc. I think they wanted to leave the right side alone for just this reason. IF need be, they can still irradiate the right side. (I had IMRT, one of the benifits)
The oncologist said PET was only 67 percent accurate, not high in my opionion, that's why they're only doing needle biopsy. I suspect this is going to lead to surgery to remove the node anyway. Had a scan last month, there was no change from last month to this month in size, shape, etc of the suspicious node. But, it was easily identifiable on the CT this time, not so easily identifiable last time.
SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
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