Christine has already told you to go for a biopsy. Do what you have to, but get them to relent and do one. For complete peace of mind maybe you need to have each enlarged lymph node and each tongue "wart" biopsied separately. In the UK's socialized medicine system I imagine they will argue against multiple biopsies for medical reasons, but excessive costs to the system versus the perceived diagnostic benefit are more likely the reason. Therefore, you may have to offer to pay for them yourself if that is even possible. I can't imagine they will be cheap. How much money are you willing to spend to rule out cancer?

When/if results come back positive you will have your answer, but I promise you, that's an answer you don't want to hear.

What if the results come back negative for cancer. Are you going to be satisfied then? Asked a different way, what will it take for you to be convinced you don't have cancer?

I'm sure what you really want is for all lymph nodes to go back to normal size and feel and for tongue warts and all other symptoms to simply go away. It just sounds to me like having no other identification you have convinced yourself it's cancer.

I hope this hasn't come across as harsh and insensitive. It certainly isn't my intention. This group is very generous and supportive, something you have already noticed. Are you also looking for other non-cancer forums to explore possible causes of your symptoms. If not, maybe you should.

I have an oral infection that isn't bacterial in nature, so no antibiotics will cure it. I've discussed it with multiple medical personnel and all of them tell me to just wait it out. But that doesn't help me at all as it's several weeks old and seems to not be getting any better, it is painful and radiation starts in less than a week. Now, I can lay there all night long and get no sleep worrying about it, or I can look for yet another doctor to go see, or I can trust the combined opinion of all the doctors I've already seen that they know what they are talking about. I have chosen the 3rd alternative.

Do you need to be considering this 3rd alternative too?

As said before my intent is not to offend. But, if I have done it anyway, please accept my apologies.

Good luck LT

Last edited by n74tg; 10-30-2013 02:04 AM.
Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)

09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good