Not only are you NOT too young for HPV+ OC, but you are not too young for HPV- OC (such as mine). I was diagnosed at age 37. I never smoked. I can't remember the last time I had a drink...I don't drink now and when I did, it was on rare occasions. Medical anomalies happen more than you think. THE ONLY DEFINITIVE WAY TO DIAGNOSE A LESION IS VIA BIOPSY! Don't waste time with ultrasounds. Get pushy and advocate for yourself. This is your life and you ARE far too young to lose it. Yes, I'm being blunt and bossy, but it's because I care, too! We all do, otherwise we wouldn't be here.

Hopefully, this is nothing serious and you can move on with your life. That is my sincerest wish for you.

Take care and I'll be thinking of you,
Kerri

Thanks, everyone. I think the reason for the ultrasound is to evaluate the density (apparently, you can guess what it might be based on its ultrasound properties like whether it's hard to soft, etc...although I'm not a fan of medical guesswork). Also, if they ever biopsy it, they will use an ultrasound (especially since right now, the radiologists don't agree on where the lesion is, and I really don't want them to hit the wrong place).

Unfortunately, they refused the ultrasound-guided biopsy and told me they already booked a repeat US and appointment this fall, but that's too far away for me. So, I booked an appointment with a major medical center. I'm seeing an ENT/H&N surgeon who's supposedly familiar with the HPV-OC connection, so in addition to evaluating this parotid/lymph/whatever issue, I'll be asking him for a full OC examination. I'll have all my records so perhaps they'll let me get the biopsy there.

I know I'm definitely not too young for OC, irrespective of HPV status. The difficulty is in getting my physicians to listen and take action! Even mentioning it causes them to dismiss me as a paranoid hypochondriac (I hate that label as it pretty much ensures you don't get properly evaluated). Does anyone have any tips on how to get a doctor to listen and take you seriously? I thought about taking medical literature from this site but was advised against that. I didn't have this problem at Hopkins because they were already well-versed on the latest.

Has anyone here had a core needle biopsy? I read it takes a bigger specimen, gives more information, and is more sensitive than a FNA/FNB, but that it has a higher likelihood of spreading cancer or tumor cells elsewhere.

I really appreciate everyone's feedback. Thank you.

Yes, that was how they did Kevin's. They took 3 punch biopsies of the huge lymph node. They tested it right away and when the lab person came back in she said "You can do another one if you want, but I have what I need." I knew then what our answer was going to be. They wouldn't know negative in 15 minutes.
I'm glad you are going to a specialist. When did you get the appt? Keep in touch with us!

reverie wrote:

"I thought about taking medical literature from this site but was advised against that. I didn't have this problem at Hopkins because they were already well-versed on the latest."

I had a notebook with my questions. I printed the appliable pages of the NCCN Guidelines. If I were doing this again (and I sincerely hope I will not!) I would also include a calendar for planning purposes and appointments.

ChristineB collects everyone's card and attaches them to the notebook.

If you have your questions written down (and room to write down the answers) you will be - and look - more professional. The NCCN Guidelines got me instant credibility with the MO and ENT.

Personally, I would be very wary of any doctor who treated me as dismissive when I would raise my concerns to them. If your physician acts like this when you are asking about a potentially serious and dangerous medical situation then its time to get a new doctor. I would also suggest you call your insurance company and advise them of the caliber of doctor you have visited. Im glad to hear you will be seeing a doctor who is familiar with HPV/OC patients. Here is some more detailed info about HPV and cancer.
HPV and OC
NCI HPV info


The rule goes, if you have a sore in your mouth for over 2 weeks then its time to get it checked by a professional. The sores you have should be checked and a tissue sample taken so you get a definitive answer.

Maria is right about what I do with business cards. I collect one from every single doctor I visit and staple them to the back page of my notebook. I write down all my questions and their answers in the notebook. Since I have every doctors business card, I can always find the specialist I need easily even if I have only visited them once.

Good luck with your appointment.

Another alternative for those business cards is the plastic sleeve pages that office supply places sell with slots for each card and punched for a three ring binder.

I too kept a notebook with tabs for different subject matter/doctors and those pages for business cards and carried that with me to every doctor's appointment. As you all know, each appointment with a new doctor requires the patient to fill out forms and provider/insurance information, so if you have your notebook handy, no need to look up phone numbers, dates, policy #s, etc. It was a life saver.

Deb