#37844 09-22-2004 01:28 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 18 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 18 | Hi there,
I entered a post a month ago that my husband was having some swelling in the area where his cancer had been. The doctor wanted to see him in a month - which was yesterday - and it seems that the area now has a small lump and he will do a biopsy. He feels that there is a small chance - 15% that the cancer has returned. He said a lymph node was a possibility when I asked. As I read the posts today the recurrence in a lymph node jumps right out at me and I now feel that the probalility is higher than 15%. Does anybody have some words of widom for me?
Debbie M, wife of Stephen SCC T4 left tonsil - tumor was on both hard and soft palate treated with radiation and chemo ending Dec/03 | | |
#37845 09-22-2004 01:51 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Hi Debbie
I don't have words of wisdom, but your Docs doing the right thing with the biopsy, push for it to be done soon and then bother everyone till you get the results, what ever, not knowing is the worse part. Please let us know how you get on.
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#37846 09-22-2004 03:06 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hi Debbie,
We have a saying on this forum that has been mentioned often: "It Ain't cancer till they say it's cancer" I am hoping for rhe best and if not you will be able to get through this to. Please keep us posted on how things turn out. We love to hear good news.
Your Friend, Danny Boy
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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#37847 09-22-2004 04:23 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 261 | Don't let them make you guys wait! Get tested & get the results as fast as you can for your own sake. I hope it is nothing.
dx 2/11/04 scca bot T3 IU 2B MO poorly differentiated, margins ok, 3/16 modest, jaw split, over half of tongue removed, free flap from left forearm - finished chemo & rad treatment 5/20/04
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#37848 09-22-2004 09:18 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Debbie,
I am really sorry you have to go through such a stressful period...again. Get the biopsy done quickly. I am hoping the biopsy comes back with good news.
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#37849 09-22-2004 12:34 PM | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 72 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 72 | Debbie: The doctor is telling you he thinks there is an 85% chance your husband does NOT have cancer. This is good news. Many things can cause lymph glands to swell: infections, viruses, lots of things. Even cancer survivors get colds, infections, etc.
This has got to be very hard on both of you. Hang in there! Take care - Candace
Sister to man w/tongue cancer stage IV, Dx 4/03, ended Tx 9/03. 12 Clear exams
Sister of guy w/base of tongue cancer, Stage IV, Dx 4/03, finished Tx 9/03
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#37850 09-23-2004 12:50 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 18 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 18 | Thanks everybody for the encouragement! Thinks are moving along quickly and I hope that we will not have to wait too long.
Danny I was wondering why you had a neck disection with a N0M0 ? I am trying to understand this whole process. Good luck with your treatment and I hope that you are feeling better!
Debbie M | | |
#37851 09-23-2004 03:09 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 274 | Debbie,
I think Dan is in Vegas. The only way to completely and accurately stage this, with respect to the nodes, is by removing them. I had 2 nodes out of 30 come back +, but they were not apparent during preoperative examinations and did not show as suspicious on scans. I don't have the time right now to go into all the options, but quite often the neck dissection is done as added insurance that they get it all. Also, there are varying degrees of neck dissection. They range from minimally to highly invasive.
Glenn | | |
#37852 09-23-2004 05:20 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Debbie, Check out this link: http://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/default.asp There is some info on treatment protocols based on size and location of tumors, etc. There is also an entire section of this website devoted to the various types of neck dissections. From Brian's post: The main body of the web site has a description of the different kinds of neck dissections in it. http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/neck_dissections.htm To find things like this, use the site map or the search engine in the main web site. The search engine in the message board only searches posts. I hope this helps. Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#37853 09-23-2004 12:10 PM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 218 | Debbie,
I had a swollen lymph node about 1 month after surgery. My doctor told me that this is quite common and not necessarily an indication of cancer. He ordered a needle biopsy to be sure that the node was free of cancer and the swelling diminished about 10 days later. I'm hoping Stephen's case is similar.
In any case, be as assertive with your doctor as you can be, and demand that the relevant tests be done as quickly as possible. Everyone on this board knows the agony of waiting for test results and this should be conveyed to your doctors.
Good luck and hoping for good test results. - Sheldon
Dx 1/29/04, SCC, T2N0M0
Tx 2/12/04 Surgery, 4/15/04 66 Gy. radiation (36 sessions)
Dx 3/15/2016, SCC, pT1NX
Tx 3/29/16 Surgery
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