Hi folks.

My mother (44) has a small swelling in the lower part of her neck which has been diagnosed as a cancer* on the basis of FNAC, Biopsy, CT-Scan and PET tests. Five years earlier she had developed a pea-sized lump in her palate which, on suspicion of being a cancer, was thoroughly removed by surgery.
While she is to undergo surgery in the neck now (to remove the affected lymph nodes), there is a complication that the CT-Scan, FNAC and PET suggest the presence of cancer in the earlier site also (the palate). A biopsy in the same region, however, reveals no cancer there.

This discrepancy is making us very worried. The operation suggested in case of cancer in the mouth is going to be highly invasive probably involving removal of bone and installation of metal-plates. We wish to cling to any hope that this could be avoided. My mother finds surgery very traumatic.

It would be very helpful if someone could give a professional opinion on what could be causing this discrepancy, or even share a related experience.

Thanks,

Ankur.

More information:
* I am not sure of the exact type of cancer, though I read the word Adenocarcinoma in one report. Metastasis is Low grade everywhere.
* She has had a hysterectomy at age 33.
* We are undergoing treatment at Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai (India). While the place is held to be in high repute in India, it seems to cater to an overwhelming number of patients and our experience here leaves much to be desired.

Ankur,

My best guess is Squamous Cell Carcinoma but whatever it is it didn't start in the nodes. There was/is a Primary site somewhere in the throat and it's better if they find it before they start any Tx after her Neck Dissection.

Did they mention any plans for radiation or chemo?

Did they mention a Staging for her cancer?

How many nodes do they suspect?

Are they going to do a Radical or Partial neck dissection?

One thought: Since adenocarcinoma has been mentioned in the doctors' reports -- and assuming the reports mentioned it as a possible or likely finding, not something that has been categorically ruled out -- use the search box (upper right corner of each forum page) to look for postings containing adenocarcinoma.

By clicking on the poster's name, you'll get the link to his/her profile, where you can find his/her e-mail address. There's also a link to send a private message through OCF. You could then contact those who have been diagnosed with it to see if the circumstances in any of their cases were similar to your mother's situation.

Thanks for your replies, David and Leslie.

@David: Of the questions you've asked, the Doctor hasn't given us the answers to any. It's my father who takes her to hospital, for the place is rather packed and they resent large companies. He doesn't even ask explaining that the Doctor knows best and there's nothing we can do knowing these details. Worse, I am unable to convince him of the contrary. Any persuasive arguments you could offer?

As of now, all I understand is that there isn't any intention of chemotherapy. They are relying largely on surgery, using radiation to perhaps mitigate it. They wish to resolve the conflict by performing another biopsy at the time of Neck dissection, and operating on it immediately if conclusive evidence is found. I'm not sure how bad neck-dissection is (I fear it's quite bad) and the other surgery scares me much more, knowing that my mother finds even a tooth-extraction traumatic.

@Leslie: Good idea. Trying it out now.

Thanks again, and good health to all.

[quote=ankurtg]Worse, I am unable to convince him of the contrary. Any persuasive arguments you could offer?

[/quote]

Use me as an example of trusting the doctor until I was ready to just let myself die when my blood pressure and fluids had been neglected to the point where I had an event that was close to a halucination.

He needs to take what you learn here and write down the questions and follow up with the docs. They are too busy to have your mom top of mind every moment and things will slip unless someone is there to help her and her self advocacy.

I knpw this first hand because I had people that didn't like hospitals and they took me to appointments and left to come back after them to take me home. I was alone the whole time thru surgery decisions and Txs. I nearly lost it all. and had started to lose faith in my medical team.

I g=had the neck dissections, the halucinations and all that goes with ther package. The worse is the halucinations that are on their own. Don't listen to anyone that says your personality changed. I was convinced today that I was just a patient and not any smart ass as some have tried to tell me. But to them it is a possibilty thst I can;t dispute. Good luck with whatever youdo ankurtg. I have you all in my prayewrs. Jim