The problem with the less aggressive approach is the fact that you waste time if it is cancer. A biopsy can take anywhere from a week to two to get the results - not to mention booking the appointment for the biopsy if it's not something that can be done on the spot. (my vet gets them within the day can you imagine?) So if it does come back positive, you've wasted more time because then you have to meet with the dr. for the results, and then book the surgery and how long you wait for that depends on how busy your dr. is (most of the good ones are quite busy)so you could end up waiting up to 6 weeks from beginning to end, and that can be a deadly amount of time.

Sunder - I totally hear what you have gone through and it hasn't been good, but you have other mitigating factors that play a role in your overall health this complicates matters immensely.

Cancer can be aggressive. Treat it aggressively. I know a neck dissection seams a little drastic for a "don't know" situation. But if there is a very good chance it is cancer, then doing what has to be done right out of the gate is the best way to go.

One Dr. said recently - I've never had a patient complain I've over treated them... it's usually the opposite I hear complaints about.

hugs.