Welcome to OCF. sorry you were not diagnosed for so long. It does seem very odd a needle biopsy was not performed much earlier. No matter of your HIV status, some enlarged lymph node or tumor in the oral cavity should warrant at least a simple FNA biopsy.

I guess the swab test is looking for infection. Can one assume that due to HIV status, there is a strong bias that something is an infection rather than a tumor?

Your report is unusual if not unique here so please do post more about your story.


Don
Male, 57 - Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com