alicia, welcome to the board, sorry you had to find us. Hopefully, the tests will show that you have an infection or some other malady that is easily treated. If not, your fathers experience will give you some knowledge and we are here to help you through any treatments you may need.

Are you being seen at a comprehensive cancer center? If not, I would suggest you get to one as inexperienced doctors have caused problems for more than one patient on this board. You really have one good chance to beat this disease and the best strategy is to hit it with everything you can from the beginning. The team at a cancer center has the experience to direct you if your situation turns out to be cancer. I had three months of testing before they finally confirmed cancer and then they couldn't find the primary site until after they did a tonsilectomy. And that was with a doctor (an ENT) that was very aware of head and neck cancer. So please get to a cancer center.

The biopsy was done with a fine needle inserted into the lump and tissue was attempted to be withdrawn. Unfortunately, it took a few other attempts, CT scans, PET scans and an MRI before finally a sonogram directed large needle biopsy was performed to confirm SCC carcinoma. None of it was painful or anything, just took a lot of time to get it all done.

Would suggest you try to not worry because we have a saying on the board, it's not cancer until the pathologist says it is. Take it one day at a time until you know if there is anything to worry about. I know its easy for me to say this, I am not looking forward to a test that may indicate that I have cancer, but take it from someone who has been there, don't worry about things until it is confirmed you need to because worrying won't change anything.

Good luck and will be thinking about you on the 29th.