 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | IMO oral cancer breaks a lot of "rules" when it comes to cancer.
For instance, I had ZERO pain and was staged a IV when it was discovered. I was like...what happened to stages I II and III? Many here do have pain as a first symptom. Some, especially in the front part of the oral cavity, actually see or feel their first encounter with cancer but many do not. My first symptom was I discovered my neck slightly larger on my left side and still I did nothing for a month thinking no pain, nothing to worry about.
You can always get another opinion.
Other than doing the same things, the only other thing would be a PET.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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