Hi Everyone,

I've been combing through the pages on this website and I am impressed with the wealth of information available. Props to the site manager Brian Hill for his generosity and patience in sharing his knowledge with everyone.

Just a quick overview of my current situation:

Early in December 2011, the dentist noticed an unusual mass below my jawline. I immediately fixed an appointment with an ENT specialist. During the first meeting, he said that he is not particularly concerned about the mass because it's not located in the submandibular triangle, which is commonly associated with metastatic lymph nodes from cancers of the oral cavity. (http://www.aafp.org/afp/2002/0901/p831.html) It is located near the spot labeled as "anterior belly of digastricus" in this drawing that I found online:
http://www.learnbones.com/wp-content/uploads/Throat_Bone.png

It is adjacent to the esophagus. It's about 1.5cm by 0.7cm in size, and it moves around freely. It's not painful.

Since then I've had an ultrasound scan and a fine needle aspiration test. The ultrasound revealed an enlarged lymph node, and the technician at the office didn't seem particularly concerned. The FNAC proved inconclusive (undiagnostic).

The ultrasound did not detect enlarged nodes anywhere else in my neck. In particular, there were no enlarged nodes in the submandibular triangle.

The ENT surgeon will be excising the mass on February 1st, and the results of the biopsy should be available soon after.

I'm 22 years old. I've never smoked/chewed tobacco and I have only had alcohol a couple of times. I am also not infected with the sexually transmitted strains of HPV which have recently been implicated in the development of oral cancer. However, for several years I occasionally smoked marijuana - but only about once per month or less frequently. I usually smoked it with a vaporizer, meaning there was limited exposure to carcinogens produced by combustion. It's been a couple of years since I stopped. The surgeon didn't seem particularly concerned about the marijuana thing.

There are no visible lesions anywhere inside my mouth, and to the best of my knowledge I've never had any lesions. However, the doctor told me that the absence of lesions does not eliminate the possibility of cancer.

What do you guys think?

Hi Staycalm:

It's good to have it checked like you did. It could be nothing, but if you've had it a while, it needed checking. I pray that it's nothing other than an inflamed gland or infection, and that seems to be the direction you headed. So, STAYCALM, ha, and let us know what you find out. Others will be answering when they read your post, so you'll gain a lot of good advice and experiences from them. Nite nite, Julieann

Staycalm,

Welcome my friend, glad you found us sorry you had to. You seem to have your ducks in a row playa, you identified a concern and are getting it checked out and taken care of. Well done.

I wouldn't be concerned about the vaporizing of MJ at all, it's actually encouraged by several members on this site to help with the effects and aftermath of treatment. I may or may not have an aromatherapy device in my possession that may or may not vaporize marijuana on occasion when I'm experiencing pain, insomnia, nausea, anxiety, or just need to get my calories up. Vaporizing and ingestion are the only delivery method that makes sense to be honest as smoking is bad for you. I'd even tell you to fire up the vaporizer if you are having anxiety issues leading up to your biopsy, it's generally cheaper then counseling and more effective and less side effects then anti anxiety meds.

Anyway all you can do now is wait for the pathology reports and take whatever steps if any from there. Keep plugging into these forums and the OCF website for support and information my friend...and I agree with you about the big ups to Brian, he's a stud.


Eric

julieann and EricS,

Thanks for your responses. Yes, I'd like to get this thing resolved ASAP. I've been consumed by my anxiety. College started several days ago and I've been finding it difficult to focus on classes. The last two months have been an emotional ordeal unlike anything I've experienced before. I've been reading messages from oral cancer patients and survivors, and I am floored by their courage and their positive attitudes.

FWIW, my ENT said that in 20 years he has never seen a case of SCC present as an enlarged lymph node in the same area where mine is. He has however seen two cases of lymphoma present as masses in the same location. But nevertheless, only the biopsy will tell for sure.

I've been reading obsessively about the various types of oral cancer. I've come across some articles in medical journals of head and neck SCCs with unknown primary tumor site. These are supposed to be uncommon.

I was just wondering if anyone has more information on SCCs of the oral cavity that occur without any visible lesions on the surface tissues of the mouth. Has anyone on this forum had cancerous lymph nodes without visible lesions in the mouth?

Thanks everyone.

Hi there and welcome... Try not to worry too much. It is great that you've had it taken care of (or will) and likely it's not oral C. Though just because your dr hasn't seen it doesn't mean it can't happen. Occult cancers do happen there are a few people here who have had no known primary but did find It in their lymph nodes. Sometimes the body manages to resolve the primary tumor - it is rare though. my tumor wasn't visually apparent until it became very large - mostly it was just reddened skin and was biopsied as such. (inflamed tissue) it was actually inside my tongue and only became an open sore after a second biopsy. I too have no precursors for this disease - I'm even a veg head - and have never done drugs so don't kick yourself for the MJ thing - this can happen to anyone. To me though it doesn't sound like OC - good luck! Hope you're just passing through!

Welcome to OCF. Best wishes to you with your surgery on Feb 1st. Was wondering if you have checked out getting a second opinion at a cancer center. That is the best place to go for something like this. They work as a team and treat hundreds of oral cancer cases per year. It does sound to me like you are on the right track with what you have done so far.

Sometimes reading online will make you nuts! There is alot of scary info out there and alot of it is incorrect. Even websites of doctors can be full of false info. Dont worry too much about statistics and if you fit into them. Statistics dont always apply to everyone. If it did, i wouldnt be here.

Hopefully this will turn out to be nothing serious. If it does then you are in the right place to get help. There are several younger members who are HPV negative and non smokers/drinkers. There are several who have had oral cancer with no known cause. Personally, it doesnt matter what causes the oral cancer (if you have it, hope not!) as the treatment to take care of it would be the same no matter why a person gets sick.

Hang in there and good luck on the first!

Dear StayCalm,

I completely agree with everyone here on this thread. These are the very same wonderful people who have been by my side in this journey. When I finally accepted the reality that I most likely had OC, I found this website. You are right in that it is a wealth of reliable, up-to-date information, but the stats terrified me! I couldn't spend too much time here. My anxiety was getting the best of me, but I didn't look into these forums until I was 4 months past surgery and had a recurrence scare.

There is so much knowledge, experience, hope, and comfort in these forums, so stick around until your surgery and test results. Like the others and your ENT have said, it's likely not OC, but you will never know what it is and what it isn't until you get those pathology results. The waiting is indeed that hardest part. My surgeon is in favor of letting the pathologists take their time and cross every T and dot every i before they make a final diagnosis.

Here's to hoping that this is just a blip on the radar of life and that you can go on to life as normal. If anything, this experience may help you to realize how important it is to know that we are not bulletproof at any age. It may bring you to a new level of maturity and compassion for others.

Best of luck and please keep us posted. We are all here to help in any way possible!

With great care,
Kerri

SC - you're doing all the right things, and I know it's very hard not to obsess. Especially with all that information (bad, good and inaccurate) available to us at the flick of a mouse.

To answer one of your questions: yes, SCC can certainly present with an unknown (also called occult) primary. Mine was such and in fact it's not all that unusual. In my case it had metastasized to what turned out to be 2 submandibular lymph nodes, although I could only feel one and it was about the size of a walnut. I had no lesions in my mouth or anywhere else.

I write this not to scare you but just give you some facts. Reread Cheryl's comment about it likely not being cancer. There are plenty of other causes of lesions, bumps and lumps and whatnot. Only the biopsy will tell you for sure.

I know it seems like forever to wait until Feb. 1st. Take a deep breath and then a few more. Your screen name says it all, and I'm holding you to it!

And ask any and all questions at any time. We're all with you in this!

Staycalm,
Do what you screen name says. I really can not add anything to what the others have said. You are being proactive, and kudos to your dentist. My dentist saved my life. Good luck and keep au posted.