I am a 51 year old male. I am a college professor and an accomplished marathoner. I have three sons. Other than a few injuries along the way, I have been very healthy. I had some lymph nodes swell in the left of my neck and, after examination, had surgery to remove them. The tissue was squamous carcinoma.
I completed my first day of evaluation at M. D. Anderson in Houston on 1/4/2007. I can't say enough about the facilities and staff here. My doctors have scheduled my second surgery for Monday, Jan. 8. They will remove some glandular tissue and take multiple biopsies in an effort to locate the primary source of the carcinoma. The results of that surgery will determine the extent of therapies and treatments.

I had dinner with Hardy and Jeri Meredith last night. Hardy had an amazingly similar bout with carcinoma in the throat area in 2005. He and Jeri shared a detailed picture of what they went through. It was shocking and probably more information than I really wanted to deal with. But, as I have always said, the 'unknown' is the worst thing to deal with. Now that I know the process more intimately, I can begin to accept and pursue the best course.

At first I was Dx as occult primary and they did an exploratory biospy and found it at the base of tongue which is quite common. I also had 2 left nodes but Moffitt Cancer Institute said no surgery. Finding the primary results in a more targeted attack which lessens the damage from the IMRT. I was a non smoker, casual drinker and exercise nut my entire life. I had been riding my bike avg 100+ miles a week for years prior to Dx. I found my painless lumps in my neck shaving one day in May 2006 and the rest is UGLY history.

Please edit your signature to include your Dx and Tx, etc. so that each time you post the responder will be more informed.

I taught Accounting and Tax Law courses in college for 3 years before I joined the other side. Quite an experience. What is your field?

You will find this site extremely important as you make your way thru the Dark Tunnel as I called it. Feel free to ask or question anything. There is a tremendous amount of experience waiting to help you.

Hi Fraz,

Welcome to OCF ! Hope all goes well for you on Monday. I am sure it will. I understand that MD Anderson is a great place. There are a lot of people here that have had there treatment there.

Like David said be sure to ask questions or use the search. There is a lot here to read and learn.
You are lucky that you have found this site before you start your treatment. I did not find site until I was 4 mo. out of treatment. This site has helped me so much along with the support of all here.

Take care,
Diane

Fraz, MD Anderson in Houston is one of the leaders in cancer treatment and is a comprehensive cancer treatment center. They are working with a new proton bombardment method that causes even less damage to healthy tissue while in radiation therapy. You are in the best of hands, my friend.
Darrell

Hello. I am a 38 year old, married woman, who recently, went to the dentist, for my regular 6 month cleaning. My dentist found a "tongue lesion", on the right side of my tongue. I did not even know it was there. He sent me to an oral surgeon, who removed the whole growth, and had it biopsied. The result is "squamous dysplasia, moderate", "dysplastic process noted at inked margin of resection", and "acute inflammation". My surgeon said, basically, that means in between having cancer, and not having cancer. I have to go back in 3 months, or sooner, if I notice any new growths. This has completely shocked my husband and myself. I do not smoke, and have not smoked, I do not chew tobacco, nor have I every tried it, I also do not drink. I may have a glass of wine, ocassionally. In short, I am not in any "risk" groups. I am here to try to learn, as much as I can about this condition, so my husband and I can be proactive, and prepared, for any eventuality. Thank you for listening.

Susan,

It's best to start your own post so that responders can devote their sole attention to your questions.

That said, I would not hesitate to get another opinion ASAP. Take your test results and slides to the nearest CCC (Comprehensive Cancer Center) and have them evaluate them and advise you. I would not wait 3 months on anyone's opinion if there is the possibility of oral cancer.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Dear David..
My husband and I talked, and I am going to call my family doctor, tommorrow, to get an appointment, so he can see the results of my surgery and biopsy. Thank you for your answer. Could you please explain, how I can start a post? I am so new to this, I have no idea. Thank you again, for your help. Susan

Susan,

You can start a post by going to the top of the page, clicking on New Topic, and posting your questions or concerns. That way it won't get mixed in with someone else's thread.

Cathy

Susan --

An oral surgeon's initial biopsy of my husband's leukoplakia, also found by his dentist, had a similar finding -- moderate dysplasia, but warning of a "skip effect" that could be hiding cancer cells. He did not immediately go to a CCC, since no cancer had been identified. When an ENT did a complete excisional biopsy a month later, the report showed SCC in situ and a bit superficially invasive.

Since then he has been followed by a doctor at Johns Hopkins CCC -- so far so good, knock on wood. When he made his first appointment at Hopkins six months ago he forwarded the original biopsy slides and all the surgical reports. With this disease it's important to be seen at a center where the doctors deal with this every day.

The main part of this site has a "Dental Lifesavers" page where dentists who identify this disease at its earliest, most curable stages are honored. Sounds like yours would qualify!

All the best,
Leslie

Susan --

You might find this post of interest -- it's by someone with a similar pathology report to yours who was seen at a CCC.

-- Leslie

I want to thank everyone, who has replied to my post. My husband and I went to our family doctor, yesterday. He told us, in his opinion, based on the report, it is cancer, and set us up with an appointment, with an Oncologist, at our local Cancer Center. Our doctor, told us, this is a really serious situation, and not to wait. He was really concerned. The appointment is on 1/23/07. We rally appreciate all of the advice, everyone has given us. Thank you.

Well, 1/23 is two weeks away and if he is really concerned, I would think he would be able to get you an appointment sooner than that.

Is this 'local Cancer Center' a CCC Center? If not, you should try to get an appointment at one that is near you. There is a list of them on the resource page of this forum.

Take care,
Eileen

There seems to be a disconnect... it is really serious, but they give you an appointment so far out? Take things into your own hands, find the best cancer centers near you, starting by using the best hospitals link on the OCF resources page, and then the link to NCI ccc's. Make some calls on your own and see if you can get into someplace else. The first thing you have to understand in this process is that you have to be your own advocate. You do not need a referral to get into a major cancer center, you can self refer. Every day this goes undealt with is a day that it can grow to the next stage of the disease and be harder to irradicate. This is a time to be assertive, and do not take no for an answer. It is not their lives on the line....

Susan,

I was treated by an excellent otolaryngologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas which is most likely the next National Comprehensive Cancer Center member. My doctor has since gone to Vanderbilt. I would be glad to give you his name via PM if you like.

Ed

Thank you for all of the great advice. My husband, and I, really appreciate all of the help you have given us. If we can help anyone else, we would love to try, too. Because of the great advice, from the people here on this website, and the Pharmacists, I work with, we did go to get a second opinion, with our Internist, who inturn referred me to an Oncologist. Our health insurance, is a HMO (POS). Because of our insurance, I did need a referral. The 23rd is the soonest I can get in, unless there is a cancellation. If my oncologist's office can get me in earlier, they will. (The office is separate from the Medical Center). By coincidence, I work at the Medical Center, here in Johnson City, where our Regional Cancer Center is located. I am also the Pharmacy Tecnhician (CPhT) Level III, who makes all of the chemo, for our cancer center. I have been there for 5 1/2 years, since, my husband and I moved here from Maryland. Thank you all for all of the help, you have given us.