Carol is 3 months post TX of aggressive radiation, no surgery tonsillar pillar cancer. Her recovery was slow and just recently was seeing the end of the tunnel. I noticed a small bump on her left chin and she said her left half of her lips, chin and cheek were numb and painful. Trying to be positive she thought maybe a piece of tooth was left behind when they extracted her teeth in Jan prior to TX. Or she didn't want to think of what it could be. She saw the ENT who told her she was doing amazingly well and then Carol told him of her new symptoms. He couldn't see anything inside her mouth, began to feel around, didn't like what he felt and did a core biopsy. We went back this past Friday and the biopsy is positive. A 2cm mass invasive SCC floor of the left lower jaw. "2 cm mass overlying left mandible at the mental foramen." This new mass has stumped the ENT and the 2 surgeons the ENT called in.

The ENT ordered a PET/CT Scan, but due to the cost of the PET and Carol's insurance (FL Medicaid), she has a CT Scan w/contrast only scheduled for Tuesday am. And makes her 4th trip to the Tumor Board that afternoon. After reading other posters thoughts about PET scans and articles I found on the net, I too would prefer the CT Scan for more accurate readings.

The 2 surgeons, one of whom Carol met at her first tumor board in Dec, briefly told Carol about reconstructive options, but wouldn't say much more until after the CT scan. They want to see if there is any metastasis.

This new dx is overwhelming and Carol is keeping her head up. I know it's very hard on her, especially when she was seeing the end of the tunnel....she is a fighter, cancer be damned.

We haven't told any of the family of this news and will wait to tell them until after the tumor board. We don't want to put a damper on everyone's holiday weekend and having them think the worst until we know the battle plan.

Carol was never tested for HPV, but I will ask to have the test done next Tuesday. The results may not help Carol but it may help future OC survivors and the Drs path on different treatment options.

I will post next week once we learn of the battle plan. Have a Happy 4th of July!

Linda