| Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 | My brother went to his follow up today. He had a cat scan done yeserday. He said he sees a spot on his liver and believes that it liver hemangioma. Also, they think they see a "growth in the left neck which is the opposite side" they scheduled an ultrasound guided fine needle and an mri for the liver. I am so worried! Can someone please help? he said according to the report it is the size of my thumbnail and it is not easily dopable. Report says 1.5 cm. has this happened to anyone else? He said this doesn't happen often. 1.5 cm remanhasining (can't spell the word out) lesion on left side.
Last edited by ak123; 03-10-2015 02:38 PM.
22 YO Brother Dx 6/17/14 w. SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear LN 6/20/14 HPV-, non-smoker R tongue, right hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reoccurrence but went to NCCC instead R neck dissection, tracheostomy, radial free flap, R tongue dissection surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B.3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) & Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 10-31-14 1 round of carboplatin 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, L neck diss. 10-29-15 brother passed away, 23 yrs old
| | | | Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2006 Posts: 2,671 | So sorry to hear about this latest worrisome news. I just sent you a PM, and I'm sure others will be along whose experience and knowledge can give you more insight on what is happening with your brother. I know how anxious you must be, but do try to keep away from thinking about all the things that could go wrong and just concentrate on everything that could go right. Try to keep busy (your brother, too) Do write down all the questions you or your brother have for the doctors or for anyone here. Your brother has excellent doctors taking care of him and there is every chance for everything to turn out fine. Keep us updated, so we know what's happening.
Anne-Marie CG to son, Paul (age 33, non-smoker) SCC Stage 2, Surgery 9/21/06, 1/6 tongue Rt.side removed, +48 lymph nodes neck. IMRTx28 completed 12/19/06. CT scan 7/8/10 Cancer-free! ("spot" on lung from scar tissue related to Pneumonia.)
| | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | I'm sorry for the latest troubles for your brother. It's possible to FNAB, with ultra sound guidance, a lesion that small. I had smaller, even 3mm x 7mm. I'm not sure of the word your looking for, possibly reminiscent cancer? Although I don't have the same type cancer, mine is oropharyngeal, but I had 7 recurrences in my neck to the same area the past 5 years, and doctors were able to treat. 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
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | The liver hopefully will not be cancerous. It can spread to there but usually the lungs or thereabouts is the first stop... So hopefully this is nothing. The other side node to me is more concerning. Just before I started rads I had a CT. The Rads dr. didn't readily give me the results even though I asked him at the time. Clearly he hadn't taken the time to look before meeting with me because he sent a resident out to look at them mid meeting and scared the shit out of me. (long story involving my lungs that after all the worrying turned out to be NOTHING) Anyway when asked about my head and neck CT he said it was just to plot my radiation. Imagine my dismay when he actually looked at my scans afterwards, and I got a call at home with him wanting to see me the next morning. Turns out those unimportant scans actually showed a small active node on the opposite side. Knowing that I was very gung ho and motivated he decided to radiate that side as well just to be on the safe side. I later asked my SO about the node - he said likely it wasn't cancerous... (based on location) But I was happy to have nuked it anyway.
It does jump the midline sometimes. Your brother is quite young and likely hypermetabolic. Hopefully they do something. Chances are he may have come down with something (that's what I think in retrospect as I had been in mexico at a resort literally three days before my scan. But better safe than sorry.
This cancer can be quite aggressive in younger people so making certain that any concerns are recognized and acted on is VERY important. 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 2014 Posts: 86 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 86 | Doctor said less than a 1 percent chance of people get affected Lymph nodes on opposite side. My brother did the needle test and it came out positive for Cancer in the opposite neck! They will need to present this at the tumor board. Most likely he will need a neck dissection on his left side. Feeling really bummed.
22 YO Brother Dx 6/17/14 w. SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear LN 6/20/14 HPV-, non-smoker R tongue, right hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reoccurrence but went to NCCC instead R neck dissection, tracheostomy, radial free flap, R tongue dissection surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B.3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) & Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 10-31-14 1 round of carboplatin 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, L neck diss. 10-29-15 brother passed away, 23 yrs old
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im so sorry your brother is facing a recurrence so soon after finishing his treatments.
This time around you both are more knowledgeable of OC and its treatments. If I remember correctly, he is being treated at a CCC.
Hopefully this has been caught very early and will be easily and quickly treated.
Hang in there. ChristineSCC 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 | | | | Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Member | Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 | I am sorry to hear this news. I will be thinking and praying for your brother and your entire family. | | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 15 Member | Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 15 | Thank you ChristineB and Virgo for your thoughts and prayers. This left modified neck dissection will make it the 5th time I've been put to sleep so it's 'been there done that' type of mindset for me and it won't be nowhere near as big of a procedure as the partial glossectomy+dissection so this surgery doesn't bother me. I'm scheduled for surgery this Friday March 27th and the things that do concern me are that my ENT said since I've underwent radiation, there are more risk factors while performing a neck dissection...
He said there's a 5% chance they will have to put a trach in because my jaw can't open as wide as it did before, so the anesthesiologist might have troubles getting the tube down my throat to put me to sleep. There's a possibility that they can't put me to sleep in standard fashion, therefore performing a fiber optic intibation in which he will wake me back up to freeze my throat and put the tube in himself to knock me out.
Also if the mass is close to my nerve in my neck, he will have to cut the nerve out and I will have damage to the nerve to the shoulder, and there's a 7/10 chance I'll get the feeling back compared to 9/10 if I did this procedure pre-Rads. I lift weights so this is my biggest concern. Also he said I will be able to work out 7 days post surgery. I'm hoping all goes well and I come out with just a standard neck dissection and call it a day!
Last edited by BrandonK427; 03-24-2015 07:01 PM.
Male, 23 year old�Dx 6/17/14 with SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear lymph nodes 6/20/14 HPV-, form-smoker, casual drinker Right Hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reccurrence but went to NCCC instead) Right neck diss., trach, radial free flap, right tongue diss. surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B..3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) and Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp. 1-9-15 peg out 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, Left neck diss. 10-29-15 passed away
| | | | Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Member | Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 | You got this, Brandon! Keep your good attitude. I will light a candle for you Friday. Exactly what time is your surgery? Please have Sister update us as soon as possible, however, I live by the motto "no news is good news", so no worries if it takes her a while.
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
Blanche, Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire"
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Best wishes for your surgery, Brandon. I hope the anaesthetist can intubate you without too much trouble. I really hope the shoulder nerve gets just a temporary shock and that you are back lifting weights ASAP. Your fitness will be of benefit as you recover.
1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol. September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision. October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT. February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
| | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | Brandon, you can do this. I know there are a lot of what ifs and maybes, but it will all go well. Kris had an awake intubation for his first neck dissection. He doesn't really remembered it thanks to the drugs - Midazolam. This surgery too was post the radiation. Make sure you get onto the physiotherapy as soon as you can. This will really help those neck and shoulder muscles get back working again. Thinking of you, Tammy
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT. PET 6/11 clear. R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in. March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | The anesthesiologist has a few ways to put patients to sleep, even those with limited mouth openings. Im in that category and have had countless surgeries. In my case the doc uses a tiny tube to go up thru my nose to knock me out. Its a very simple procedure. Im sure this wont be a major obstacle for your surgery.
Wishing you all the best with your surgery. ChristineSCC 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 | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 | Good luck with your surgery! I'll be having mine tomorrow too. Twice the anesthesiologist had to intubate me through the nostrils due to trismus. I was also scheduled for a MRND my first dissection, and they had to do a radical due to everything being all twisted up from prior radiation. Even with that I was still able to lift my arms overhead, after healing, until later surgeries and additional radiation. Sometimes the stitches are kept in longer in the radiated tissue due to delayed healing, sometimes 2 weeks longer than the usual 7.
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
| | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 15 Member | Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 15 | Thank you Paul I wish everything goes as planned with your surgery as well, and for it to be as smooth sailing as possible, my ENT said that he will keep staples and stitches in for 10 days due to the slower healing process this time around. May the lord clear us from this disease for once and for all! You're a soldier for having to deal with it 7x and keeping strong! I'm hoping I can due the overhead motions as well and that the Cancer didn't spread to the nerve of the shoulder.
Male, 23 year old�Dx 6/17/14 with SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear lymph nodes 6/20/14 HPV-, form-smoker, casual drinker Right Hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reccurrence but went to NCCC instead) Right neck diss., trach, radial free flap, right tongue diss. surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B..3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) and Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp. 1-9-15 peg out 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, Left neck diss. 10-29-15 passed away
| | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 15 Member | Member Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 15 | Virgo my surgery will start at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time Tomorrow morning and should take about 4 hours. Thank you for the candle lighting and prayers ahead of time, they are greatly appreciated!
And thank you for the self esteem boost, the thoughts and support that you all have given me. May you have success in all of your future endeavors. My sister will keep you updated on how the surgery goes.
Male, 23 year old�Dx 6/17/14 with SCC R Lateral tongue CT scan clear lymph nodes 6/20/14 HPV-, form-smoker, casual drinker Right Hemiglossectomy Surgery 6/24/14 (Not reccurrence but went to NCCC instead) Right neck diss., trach, radial free flap, right tongue diss. surg 8/11/14 PT1N2B..3 positive lymph nodes out of 13 Extranodal extension present 9-15-14 IMRT (35x) and Cisplatin (2x) begun 10-21-14 peg in. 11-4-14 IMRT rx comp. 1-9-15 peg out 3-27-15 Recurrent tumor in lymph node, Left neck diss. 10-29-15 passed away
| | | | Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 756 Likes: 1 | Brandon,
I've been reading your recent posts and had heard of your situation initially through your sister. Sorry I didn't comment sooner to welcome you to the forum, but I have been keeping you in my prayers since the beginning.
I'm really sorry you are facing more surgery. It sounds like you have a great group of doctors and an awesome family - both key to helping you get through this.
Wishing you the best tomorrow. I will be watching for an update from your sister.
Susan
SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0 Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV- Surgery: June 2005 RT: Feb-Apr 2006 HBOT: 45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105! Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010 Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia Dental issues: 2013-2022 (ORN)
| | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts) | "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 | Aussie prayers for you Brandon. Stick with it mate. Cheers, Dave (OzMojo) 19Feb2014 Diagnosed T2N2bM0 P16+ve SCC Tonsil. 31Mar2014 2 Cisplatin, 70gy over 7 weeks (completed 16May2014) 11August2014 PET/CT clear. 17July2019 5 years NED.
| | | | Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 Member | Member Joined: Dec 2012 Posts: 17 |
"I have always depended on the kindness of strangers."
Blanche, Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire"
| | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Hope your surgery went well and you are on the mend. this cancer can be aggressive. Are they talking about doing radiation on that side of your neck. You might be a candidate because it sounds like they didn't do it the first time. (they rarely do it bilaterally if there is no indication it should be done) hugs and healing vibes coming your way.
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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