We just got back from our third monthly check up with the ENT. Poor hubby still has such a strong gag reflex! I feel so bad for him at these appointments. Anyway, the doctor said he saw a small (3mm) pharyngeal lymphoid tissue. Told us he wasn't worried about it (but if he really wasn't worried about, he wouldn't have said anything, right?). As suggested elsewhere, I searched the message boards first to see if the information was already available. Has anybody heard of this? What is it? Why is it there? The dr. did say they would be watching it closely (on regular monthly exams) and if they saw anything they were concerned about, they would be on it "like white on rice." Hubby thought maybe tissue irritation/inflammation from the fresh pineapple he ate yesterday evening? (I know. 3 months out and he can eat anything, even pineapple. After reading some of the other posts, I know how lucky he is). Does anybody know anything about this????
I haven't a clue. If you don't get any answers here, I'd call him back and ask for an explanation.
Take care,
Eileen
The base of the tongue and areas around the back of the mouth are full of lymph tissues, and this is very normal in just about everyone, not just cancer patients. I have seen some patients where I actually thought there was some unnatural growth at the base of the tongue and tonsillar pillars, but a doctor at the screening said that it was just a proliferation of this locally naturally occurring tissue.
My hubby did some research and found out that sometimes the areas of the lymph system in the pharynx area become inflamed from exposure to viruses, bacteria or allergens (pollen). This helped to relieve our minds enough to be able to wait for the next monthly exam without driving ourselves crazy. Because it can also be a sign of recurrence. But we are hopeful that our trip to the cottage (where I removed a Ton of goldenrod), plus working in an office full of sick people is the more likely cause. I hate to say this, but I think I would be the most relieved if he came down with a cold! We will remian prayerful and hopeful.