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#177462 02-13-2014 07:33 AM
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Hi everyone, I had a question about lymph node enlargement. I had my tumor removed in Novemeber, still dealing with mouth issues after that but they got clear margins and said to just keep following up, I go every month or so. I was obviously ecstatic about this, now I have found a swollen lymph node on the back of my neck, probably 1 cm to 1.5 cm. The issue I am having with this, is that I am not sick nor have I been sick recently. So of course I am freaking that it spread to lymph nodes. It is moveable but also not normal. Does this lead to concern? Should I just watch it for a couple weeks and see if it goes down or enlarges? Thanks so much!


DX with MEC salivary gland 8/20/2013 age 27 F 9 weeks pregnant
Jessica, Mother to a 4 and 9 year old
11/18/2013 surgery to removed tumor, including bilateral jaw muscle. 2nd Trimester.
12/2/2013 results came back for clear margins
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Jessica, when you have concerns contact your physician and go get yourself checked out. It never hurts to be cautious. If it would be something serious, treating it early is better than late.

Hope its nothing serious!


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
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Posts: 5,260
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Jessica... Do not walk... RUN to your ENT. I would rather have it looked at and be certain than leave it and not know. SCC can seed to the nodes in microscopic form and NOT be discovered on a scan or anything until it grows. Nodes are usually painless so this is no indicator. Now I know you had MEC which is not the same as SCC - but cancer is cancer and for the most part one cancer can behave in a similar fashion to others. Clear margins means they got all of the tumor, but it doesn't mean it hasn't spread. Better to be safe than sorry. hugs and good luck.


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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Your concern is certainly understandable. We all get a little antsy when something comes up a bit out of the ordinary after we've been through this.

For your peace of mind it would be best to give your docs a call.

Positive thoughts



57
Cardiac bypass 11/07
Cardiac stents 10/2012
Dx'd 11/30/2012 Tx N2b MO Stage IV HPV+
Palatine Tonsillectomy/Biopsies 12-21-12
Selective Neck Dissection/Lingual Tonsillectomy/biopsies TORS 2/7/13
Emergency Surgery/Bleeding 2/18/13
3/13/2013 30rads/6chemo
Finished Tx 4/24/13
NED Since
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I concur with everyone, see your ENT for anything out of the ordinary. The back of neck sounds different, and hopefully something minor, maybe an abscess. Good luck.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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Thank you guys, I called my oral surgeon who is the only doctor I have seen since being diagnosed. I do not have an ENT because I am now on medicaid till 3 months after baby is born and have to get refferals and such to see one, I am working on that one now. He had me come in this am and measured it, it is a lymph node and is about 1 cm by 1.5 cm. He said we will just wait and see, I go back March 5th and if its still enlarged he said they will remove it and run a pathology. Argh!!! I hate the wait and see game.


DX with MEC salivary gland 8/20/2013 age 27 F 9 weeks pregnant
Jessica, Mother to a 4 and 9 year old
11/18/2013 surgery to removed tumor, including bilateral jaw muscle. 2nd Trimester.
12/2/2013 results came back for clear margins
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 31
Contributing Member (25+ posts)
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Contributing Member (25+ posts)

Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 31
FYI.. I have no idea why there is an emoticon with a huge grinning face for this topic, I am guessing I accidently did something. Lol oops


DX with MEC salivary gland 8/20/2013 age 27 F 9 weeks pregnant
Jessica, Mother to a 4 and 9 year old
11/18/2013 surgery to removed tumor, including bilateral jaw muscle. 2nd Trimester.
12/2/2013 results came back for clear margins
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,260
Likes: 3
"OCF Canuck"
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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I would work on the referral to an ENT. That is where you should be when you have any form of H&N cancer. Texas has one of the best CCCs in the states MD Anderson. An oral surgeon is good for quick things, but in all honesty you need to see an ENT. Call the dr. Get the referral. Lymphnodes swell for many reasons, and it could be an infection or something but you need to know this for sure. The wait and see doesn't sit well with me. On the back of your head would be unusual, but cancer moves in mysterious ways sometimes. And even an ENT doesn't always have a lot of experience with H&N cancer, you need someone familiar with it.

We lost a woman here the same day Whitney Houston died - All I remember was her telling me they did the surgery, removed some nodes and told her she was cured,a node popped up a while later - she waited a bit to have it checked and when she did go to have it looked at they found out it was cancerous, and another 20 beside it were also full of cancer - when the pathology came back. I still remember her telling me... I guess I waited too long to have it checked out.

She is the second person I know with that story. The other one is still fighting, but he's newly diagnosed. Not every ENT knows cancer. You need an ENT who specializes in cancer.

Don't get me wrong oral surgeons are great, but they do what they do.

hugs.


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
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I eliminated the big grin. I agree, not very appropriate for a serious subject.

Glad to hear you got checked out already. I dont like hearing you have to wait for 3 weeks before getting checked again. Might not be a bad idea to get a second opinion on this.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 78
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
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Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 78
I never wasted a single day. I had no designated PCP. The moment I came across, I have a guest at my door, I met my first ENT called GOOGLE. Without any referral I arranged multiples opinions from four different CCCs. Sort of DIY. Good luck to you Angel. I wish all goes well and ends in a wrong hypothesis after you meet an ENT.


Special thanks to OCF and all respected members here for their support

Ankur, 37, T1N2M0
12/13: Biopsy and results
01/14: Partial Hemiglossectomy (1/3 tongue) and a Flap Reconstruction
Right neck dissection. 3/42 nodes positive and removed
Speech (80%) and swallow (100%) restored within 5 weeks after surgery(3/1/14)
03/14: 30 IMRT Appointments Started 3/17 (No CT)
04/14: Radiation treatments completed
07/14: PET - All Clear
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