Hey Alz how are you doing?

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to update y'all that my surgery was as perfect as could be! My margins were all over 1cm, my tumor was only 1.0cm in size (where they thought it was 2.5cm) and it did not spread to my lymph nodes! yay!

However, the lab reported that I have perineural nerve invasion. Has alone else had this? I heard its not as serious as if it had spread to my lymph nodes, but I am still worried.

Thanks much!

Hello Glocita!

Thanks for the update, looks great really! I had PNI and am still here to annoy everyone so take a little comfort in that.

Keep your chin up,

Eric

glocita

I was really worried also three years ago when my pathology report said PNI and I'm still here also. Plus my cancer the first time had spread to two lymph nodes and my margins at surgery were not clear and my tumor was larger, so you are looking good. Yes, it would be better if there were no PNI but this is a good question to ask your doctor/surgeon/oncologist:
So what does this PNI mean in my case? Increased risk of recurrence. More radiation or chemo? Nothing considering clear margins and zero lymph node involvement. Most likely the last one but wouldn't you feel better hearing it from your doctor? Just a suggestion
Charm

Thanks guys! My doctor said I could do nothing and we monitor it very closely, but she recommends radiation - and on a lower dose.

So I will be going for radiation. I honestly am not scared about the treatments - I just want this nightmare over!

Charm - where did you go for your treatments? We're neighbors! I was treated up in Baltimore at Hopkins which I love, but is it worth it to drive that far every day for radiation? My surgeon said I didn't have to go to Hopkins, & gave me the name of another person at Suburban. I just want to make sure Im getting the best care possible. I want to be around like you guys!

Gloria

I am SO happy to hear of your successful surgery, Gloria! Go ahead and knock this cancer out right the first time and get that radiation. You will likely be around for many years to come! Congratulations and thanks for keeping up posted. Best of luck with your recovery and continued treatment!

xo,
Kerri

Hi glockenspiel..l glad you are doing well... PNI actually does have an impact - radiation is a good suggestion my surgeon said the same thing. PNI was one of the reasons he recommended it. The reasoning behind it is cancer moves along the path of lease resistance - in this case the nerves. Radiation is not easy but you'll get through it. hugs!

Glocita

Your doctor's advice is similar to what I was told. Since my facts were somewhat worse, I had a second round of both radiation and chemo for the PNI.
I had considered John Hopkins but I trusted my ENT surgeon's recommendations of Georgetown University Hospital's Lombardi Cancer Center which is a comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC). I had Dr. K. William Harter do all my radiation including the cyberknife extra radiation when my pathology report came back with PNI. Here is a bitsy link to his page with info
Dr Harter
The commute on a daily basis to Baltimore for radiation would not have worked for me as I could barely contain the nausea on the trips to Georgetown plus I would have driven my wife crazy with my comments on how she does not drive like a maniac like I do. (Brian Hill can vouch for the fact that I put even cabdrivers to shame)
The parking situation at Georgetown is horrible, I will warn you in advance. I know some others in this area went to Inova but I wanted a CCC like John Hopkins or Georgetown
Charm

Gloria --

In making your decision about where to go for radiation, you might want to take a look at this blog by Mike S., who had his surgery at Hopkins and his radiation at Inova's TomoTherapy center in Fairfax (he was referred to Inova by his surgeon at Hopkins). (See his posts for August 2006; start at the bottom.) Just passing it on since Charm mentioned Inova.

Fantastic blog! Thank you Leslie -how did you even know about that??