Hi Dan,

I am asking as many questions as I can. The 'lack' of answers in some cases doesnt help, but not all people are sympathetic to somebody who is merely frightened of getting, rather than got. I supose also the way to go is a big question, (I am just pre-emting 'ifs') interms of using complamentry backup.

Also, if you get time Brian, I would really appreciate your opinion of my maxillofacial appointment. I really feel the man thinks i've had the lump ten years, its got to be benign, and is obviously not growing. He therefore thinks it better to leave well alone. The little muscle tale he hopes will act as a reinforcement, and be a genuine aid for my benefit.
Oscar

This post was edited on March 3rd by Brian Hill to remove a link to a web site which while containing some good information was rampant with half truths and scientifically undocumentable ideas.

Hi Oscar,
I went and looked at the site that you refered to and like the "new age" is full of half truths. It is true that more biopsies are given than necessary for mammography. They are still sorting out the "false positive" rates for different detection schemes. There is also a major push for early detection in mammography and also a congress mandated "Mammography Quality Assurance Act". Comparing this with head & cancer cancer is comparing apples and oranges. Did they mention also that the death rate from breast cancer is greatly diminshed because of early diagnosis?

Squamous cell carcinoma can metasticize quite readily without any "help". Most deaths from the disease occur either from metastesis or "occult" tumors not discovered in the first diagnosis.

With ANY medical procedure there is always a risk/benefit. Some people die from biopsy procedures of various types (I haven't heard of anyone dying from a head & neck biopsy).

When they started (briefly -after the data was in they rolled back their thoughts about the efficacy) enhanced screening for prostate cancer the death rate from biopsy procedures went up 5% - but not because of cancer but because of septic poisoning from the location of the biopsy through the rectal wall.

Oscar I'm going to lay it out straight to you: Quit screwing with this. Get a qualified head & neck surgeon or ENT with a proven track record for head & neck cancer, get the biosy and sleep better at night knowing that you don't a ticking time bomb that will kill you. Procrastination, denial or misdiagnosis has killed more than one person on this site. Let's not add you to the list.

Considering that the death rate is about 50% I don't think any realistic person in the medical profession is going to fault you for your fear so don't let guilt from this cloud your judgement.

DISCLAIMER:
All of information on the good old "information superhighway" is a wonderful thing but full of unvalidated, unscientific opinions, irrelevancy, quack cures and dangerous information, sprinkled in with legitimate information. You practically need a medical degree to sort through it. Brian has a panel of doctors who screen any information that is offered elswhere on the site. Scientific articles and newsbreaking items offered here are subjected to scientific scrutiny before they are offered for public consumption.

Thanks Gary,

Another view of the same subject: In the case of head and neck cancers (SCC), often the first indication or symptom of the disease is a lump in the neck. This lump is not usually the cancer primary site (it is not the tumor) Instead it is a lymph node that is attempting to trap and contain the already spreading cancer cells. I suppose there is a risk of releasing the cancer by puncturing the node, but it is far less risky than general surgery to accomplish the biopsy. Not every lump is cancer.

The issue is really fairly easy and logical. If you do biopsy and it is not cancer then no harm done. If it is cancer then you know and are able to proceed immediately with treatments which in my opinion will give you the best chance of winning.

Better results long term are with early diagnosis and treatment. Watch and wait are not words to use when dealing with oral cancers. (probably any cancers)

Oscar, also for what it's worth, when I had my recurrance I had gone to both the ENT and Oncologist with a lump in my neck a couple of times, and they both thought it was nothing. Finally a second ENT who specializes in head and neck cancers and was actually the first ENT's professor in college, took a look at it, and insisted on PET/CT. Even after PET/CT showed it as a hot spot, the first two just thought "infection" and gave me antibiotics. Only after follow up PET/CT a month later followed by a needle biopsy did they finally know it realy was malignant and did a second neck dissection.

Thing is, quit fooling around with maxillofacial surgeon, (don't tick him off though, they can be real good at putting you back together after the primary surgery) and see a good head and neck ENT.

Good luck. Another Man United fan.
Bob

Thank You Mark, and JetAgedHobo

I feel humble, but not defeated. M.U. fans in far away, but friendly places, God Bless.
Oscar

Weird type of feeling when you have some thing edited. Its a first for me, and I am sorry for it.
Oscar

After my weird feeling above, I just want it to be known there is nothing wrong with me. Its everybody else :rolleyes:

Oscar, since there are no posted rules, you could not have known, but if it is any consolation, my day starts out at least 3 times a week by taking posts down that are put up in the night by some company or profiteer who wants people to buy his miracle cure, travel to Mexico for treatments that have no documentation and more. We try to keep the information correct. Given that, realize that there is a lot that we don't know, and that includes the doctors that are researchers that I pass things by. We don't delete everything... Our first concern is that we don't perpetuate myths, unproven remedies, or comments that are scientifically incorrect whether by private individuals or by doctors themselves. And this should make you feel better.... two months ago I had one of the doctors that reads our board call ME up and tell me that I was inaccurate in my statistics and information, and who sent me the most current peer reviewed article asking me to correct the posting that I had put up. So you are not alone in getting edited.

Hi Brian,

Your concerns are well founded. With hindsight I would not of used the link.

Oscar