 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Frank, The most common Dx of an oral HPV+ SCC patient is brought about by the discovery of nodal SCC before any other symptom presents itself. By the time I was Dx'ed with no clear visual primary Moffitt put me under to located my primary. I was told (and shown on the monitor while the scope was in my throat) that my surgeon thought it was either my BOT or Tonsils and I even went to sleep thinking I was going to have a tonsillectomy. Lucky for me I woke up to being told that the first spot he bio'ed was my BOT and it contained SCC (here's the main purpose of my comment in case you were wondering??) BUT it was so small that he thought that my immune system had almost cleared it BUT it the SCC had escaped earlier to lodge in a node or 2. Still have my tonsils BTW.
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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