Welcome Katie. It was good you were diligent to get properly diagnosed. It takes an average of 9 months in some cases. As far as the surgical clip, is correct, and showed on mine too, but it was cancer. When cancer returns it's often to the surgical site, but not saying it is, and this should be discussed with the doctor what the course of action will be to identify or rule out. Was it base of tongue, BOT?
Good luck.
