Hello everyone,

This is my first post, and I have only found the forum today. I have read some of the basics, but have not looked around much, which I will do in time.
I am a 35-year old female, and was diagnosed last week with SCC in my left tonsil. It is T2, and the N stage is not certain. Original radiologist's report shows no definite lymph node involvement, so for now the doctors are labeling it as N0, but another radiologist thinks that it has spread to the nearest lymph node. This is all based on PET/CT and classic CT with contrast. The team of oncologists I have seen a couple of days ago warned me that it even might be N2 or such. The cancer is also HPV+.
I am scheduled to have a surgery next week - they are doing TORS and selective neck dissection. Once the full biopsy results are in we will know the N stage for sure.
I guess I am not asking anything specific at the moment, just introducing myself. I don't think I have quite recovered from the shock and am absolutely terrified. I am foreigner, all alone here in the USA (no family, no significant other). I am very lucky to have some close friends which will be helping me throughout this, and an understanding and supporting boss at work.
Thank for reading this.

Hi Ambra - So glad you found this place to be! There are lots of people here who will give you some really knowledgeable and compassionate help to get you through your treatment. With the HPV type, there is much better expectation for recovery and as well as with the TORS or robotic surgery. Be sure and check out the main pages and use the search options - upper right, this page or on the main pages of the Oral Cancer Foundation. It will help you to think of questions you might have for your doctors or for anyone here with more direct experience similar to yours than I have. I was caregiver to my son with SCC and he is doing just fine, now 7+ years later! It's good that you have supportive friends and an understanding boss. You will get through this! The waiting part is the worst, so try to keep busy and check back here often to let us know how you are doing or let us know any questions you might have.

Welcome, Ambra. I can understand the initial shock and fear, especially being from another country with no family, and all the uncertainties. Many have walked these same steps, and doubt few were not similar, so ask away. I had tonsil cancer initially in 2009, with two metastases, which is not uncommon with HPV oropharyngeal cancer with a low T size. My samples were not tested for HPV at that time, but assume were HPV, and as Anne-Marie mentioned has better response and prognosis than being HPV negative.

A lot is unknown until the the biopsy results, pathology, as far as the next step. Not saying the doctors are wrong, but wondering how your cancer was confirmed being a biopsy is the only way to confirm it?

A doctor told me once, you can have the best docors, treatment in the world, but what matters equally important is the support, and after care one gets, and seems like you have supportive friends, and boss.

Good luck with everything.

Welcome to OCF! You have found the very best place to get correct up to date medical info and support.

You will need help to get thru this. Everyone who offers to help you, tell them that when the time comes you will let them know what they can do. Write down every single person (weather they are a close friend or not) and their contact info. I would then suggest taking your closest friend and first making sure they are up to it, then making them your contact person. They can be the one person you go to and let them pass things about you to others. Call the American Cancer Society, ask for help with a volunteer driver and if you need it they also can help with pharmacy or travel costs ($300 max). It takes time to get this set up so do not delay with calling, they are available 24/7 so call anytime.

Next thing to do to get ready is to eat. If you are slim, try your best to gain a few pounds. Oral cancer and its treatments can alter your sense of taste and ability to swallow. For most patients its temporary but it could be a few months before you can eat like you do currently, so eat now. You dont want to have cravings so enjoy everything now.

You should visit the dentist and have any questionable teeth pulled or fixed. Get flouride trays made and begin using them. this takes weeks so do not delay.

Get your hearing checked and a full blood count including thyroid levels.

If you have not selected your treatment center now is the time to do so and get a second opinion. I can provide the list of comprehensive cancer centers if you need it.

Stick with us and we will get you thru this. Best wishes!!!

Welcome Ambra. We are both in our 30's which is something I don't see a lot of on here, my cancer also started in the tonsil area and was HPV+. You will find loads of good info and suggestions on here. Anything you can't find feel free to ask away, there are lots of helpful and friendly people here who have been down this road before you. Its not easy but it is doable, we will all be here for you helping you through.

Hi welcome!!!!

Thank you very much for your support everyone.

PaulB, the cancer was detected/confirmed with a regular biopsy from the affected tonsil. The new biopsies I was talking about will be the done from the dissected lymph nodes, as the PET/CT has radiologists confused when it comes to the lymph nodes status. That will also determine what the oncologists will want to do after the surgery - very small option (20%) of nothing if no cancer cells are detected which I am hoping for with all of my heart, or radiation or chemo-radition.

ChristineB, my friends are great - they have already organized themselves for the 2 week post op recovery period- they are on a email list, made a schedule of who gets to some make me company when etc. so that I am never alone. I can not find words for how grateful I am.

Food&eating - this will be a huge issue for me I am very afraid of. I am very slim - 5'6" and 110 lb, which I have been for the past 20 years. I naturally do not eat much, loose weight very easily and it is not easy to gain it back. Whenever I am very stressed my I tend not to be able to eat much, which of course has been hapenning for the past two weeks. I also get dehydrated very easily - in the past 10 years I have ended up in the hospital about 4 times because of severe dehydration caused by simplest stomach bugs, they would usually keep me on continuous IVs for at least 48h. My surgery is scheduled for Thursday so there is really not much I can do about my weight in three days.

I would like to use this opportunity to ask for advice regarding diet after the tonsillectomy (via TORS) as I wasn't able to obtain clear and precise information. I have read the basics about ice chips, liquids and soft food, and know that I should stay away from acidic stuff such as orange juice. I have found disagreements of whether dairy should be avoided or not. How about Ensure - should I start with it already, and if yes, then regular or clear kind? And there was some talk of "magic" numbing mouth wash, what is that exactly? I am hoping to stalk my fridge with the appropriate stuff in the next couple of days.

I have already visited the dentist, and basically I need to get my three wisdom teeth out and one old root canal redone. There is no time to do it now, and my surgeon did not want me to do anything before the surgery, so that will have to wait till afterwards. I will also have to find a new dentist as I am quite unhappy with the way my current one has treated me.

I am having lots of pre-op stuff done done tomorrow, including blood work, chest X rays etc. The thyroid has already been assessed as a nodule was discovered on it last year which turned out to be benign after the biopsy results. However, it did show very big FDG uptake on the PET last week so it might need to be reassessed. I am trying really hard not to think about that one right now.

My treatment center is in John Hopkins and I have already obtained second opinion which did not differ from the original one. Everybody agreed that I am ideal candidate for TORS. They even want to put a picture of my cancer in the revised edition of their textbook as a textbook candidate, urgh.

Rosymonroe, it is comforting to know that there are other people in their thirties dealing with this as I have been feeling like a freak. Although I am aware that HPV+ SCC reacts better to treatment, it has been and it still is extremely difficult for me emotionally to deal with the virus as the cause. I will be writing about it more on some future threads, but for now I will just say that I have had Gardasil as soon as it became available on the market and was in a 6-year long monogamous relationship with my first boyfriend at the time. The odds are really dumbfounding. Sigh...

Thanks again everyone, will be checking this out again tomorrow.

Ambra,

Things are moving at a fast and furious pace. I just wanted to comfort you that your choice of JH is assuring as it is very well established in treatment of cancers.

They do use an integrated team approach and have a tumor board to gather input from many doctors. You are in good hands and it seems you have great friends ready to help you during recovery.

"T" will likely chime in as he had surgery at JH not that long ago.

don

Ambra - you asked about the "Magic Mouthwash" - Everyone is different of course but some have a rougher time than others during the Radiation Tx when mouth sores tend to develop and the doctor may prescribe the Magic Mouthwash to help numb the inside of the mouth so that you can eat more comfortably. My son used it off and on and there was also an over-the-counter type that he got at the drugstore that also helped. But whatever goes into your body should always be checked out with your doctor first - even vitamins - as it can affect your treatment. Do try to eat as much as you can now, all your favorite foods - it can really make a difference later in how you feel. I know what you mean about stress affecting your appetite. I was like that at your age, so try to keep busy with other things, to get your mind off all the negative stuff. Maybe you could eat while doing something else like watching TV or lunch with friends or seeing a movie. There are some high calorie drinks that can help, too. You will do great and you will be ok!

Hi Ambra,

Welcome to the club no one wants to be in. I had a selective neck dissection and TORS at Johns Hopkins prior to starting treatment but we never found the primary. I ended up getting 6 weeks rads and chemo. NED as of 8-6.

You'll be Ok. While it wasn't a walk in the park, the surgery isn't that bad and you'll have pain meds. Once they have an idea of what they're up against they'll plan treatment.

Positive thoughts and prayers.

"T"

Are they removing the nodes to possibly avoid chemo/rad? If not I still don't see the logic of additional surgery when they will radiate the neck anyway.

HI there... there are a few people here who've had the same surgery. It does sound like they are trying to avoid the possibility of chemo and radiation. HPV related cancer usually responds well to rads and chemo, but the fallout is such that if it can be avoided it should.
The neck dissection is actually not too bad in terms of pain post op. Usually it's numbing, tightness and uncomfortable because you have drains - though it's scary looking. You will have swelling and at some point need some physio for your shoulder - depending on how many nodes they take out, but of all of the things I went through with my dx - the neck dissection was the least bothersome. They may give you an NG tube to feed you as I think the tonsils will hurt more than the neck dissection.

Tors is also good because I believe it minimizes the amount of damage and tissue they remove. Hopefully this will be it for you. But if you do have to go through rads and chemo there will likely be a 4-6 week time period where you will have time to heal and hopefully eat some of your favorite fatty foods. That's the time to really bulk up if you can. Try to read up on your dx - without scaring yourself.

worst case scenario - if you do have to go through rads and chemo they will likely put a feeding tube in to help with nutrition, and you must remember - eating and drinking will make it easier for recovery.

best of luck... and hugs.

Hello again,
And thanks again for all the info and support. Apologies for the typos/missed words in my previous post: my English is pretty good (or at least I would like to believe so ) but my typing is not.

David, I believe the main reason they are removing the lymph nodes is that it would be the only way to tell if the cancer has spread there, as PET was not clear. When discussing possible radiation followup, it was also mentioned that the size and the location of the tumor was such that the radiation dose and extent would be much greater if it were not to be removed.

T, that is reassuring to hear.

I am off to my pre-op tests. Thanks again everyone!

Ambra, nothing here but good wishes for a successful outcome. You sound like you have your head in a good place, despite the stated and perfectly natural fear and anxiety of the unknown.

When that creeps into your awareness, tell yourself that focusing on that is counterproductive and does not help anything (which is the truth.) Then, choose a subject with pleasant associations, and focus on what is good about that.

It's a trick, but it works.

Good luck!

I'm just not one that believes in exploratory or unnecessary surgery. What about a FNA to suspected nodes? I had 2 confirmed nodes and Moffitt 7 years ago and without the HPV confirmation told me they wouldn't do a ND because the radiation was going to kill the cancer and IF it didn't they could always do the ND post Tx.

Thanks again for all the comments everyone!

The second opinion on the PET images just got filed into my charts and of course I read it and am very down now. It claims spreading to an adjacent lymph node, 4.5 cm in size! That is almost double the size of the primary and put the node into N2a category and the cancer into stage 4a.
So, yeah, 4 different radiologist reports, two on both PET and CT scans by the original imaging facility claiming no lymph spread, and then the two from the JH radiologists, the CT one claims nothing has spread to the nodes and the PET one says what I have just written above. So I am both terrified and annoyed - I am a scientist who does something somewhat similar for living ( I take MRIs of rat brains)and can not understand this huge discrepancy in opinions -a 4.5 cm is not something small exactly for either people to miss or see when it does not exist.

My surgery is scheduled for tomorrow very early in the morning and I am so hoping it goes well enough. I was warned about possible damage to the swallowing muscle so if that happens they will be putting me on the feeding tube immediately.

I don't want to sound like a broken record, but I am so frightened that I don't even know how am I going to finish everything I need to do today.

I will probably not be able to write more till I have somewhat recovered from the surgery.

Thanks again for all the kind words!

Your reaction is normal, and just shows a concern for the outcome of your treatment, and fear of the unknown. The lymph nodes are often filled with fluids, and is not a true measure of the tumor itself within. When the biopsies are done, they can tell the true size, and re-stage the disease. There are other factors as important like node ECE, PNI. It's not uncommon with HPV to have more than one nodal involvement, and that are bigger than the primary due to the richness in blood supply, and nutrients in that area.

Good luck with surgery tomorrow.

Good luck to you Ambra, wishing the best possible outcome. My two cents is that I'm about the same size as you, and never eat a lot. After I found out I was going to need radiation, I put a PEG in early! It made all the difference in the world. I just could not eat, and was wasting away, got down til 102. That was it for me! Now I'm a plump 110 and in my second week of radiation. Everything is scary, but there are a ton of us here to listen, encourage, and educate you. (I'm not one of the educators, but I can be your encourager and help comfort you in your down times)
Best wishes til next time...

Good luck! I have faith you come out ok! Hugs!

Hello everyone,
Here I am back again. The surgery went decent I believe, the doctors were pleased with the outcome. They said the margins were clear. I was released on Sunday and have been home since. The pain can be pretty bad at times, especially the ear pain, but I haven't found a good way of dealing with it yet.
I got the biopsy results this morning, and the cancer has spread to one lymph node (out of 23 they took out), so looks to be T2N1. I will definitely need radiation. I am yet to meet with the radiation oncologist to learn the details, but was previously told it would be for 6weeks. I also need to get a serious amount of dental work finished before I even start with the radiation.
I was curious to hear from those who have had similar how early post surgery can I start doing dental work? And of course, about the radiation treatment, in particular worst side effects/ I can imagine those are highly individual, or not?

Thanks you very much!

Sounds like a good report, and better than you probably anticipated. As far as radiation, time between surgery and radition is usually 4-6 weeks, if healing is good. Longer is not better, as the whole treatment plan should be done under 100 days, in the best of worlds for better control. The time from any teeth extractions is usually two weeks before radiation, chemo, and will need the clearance of the dentist to start radiation.

Good luck.

Ambra, please check your private messages (PM). Look towards the top center next to the My Stuff tab. Click on the tiny blinking envelope. I have sent you a message to help you with the forum and making a signature. A signature if very important in helping us to help you. Detailed instructions are in the link included in the PM I sent.

Thank you!

They generally try to fit the dental work in. Before treatment so in a few weeks I imagine.

Hi Ambra, and welcome -- Sorry for your diagnosis, but so glad you found us.

If you have metal fillings or crowns, your dentist can make mouth guards that you wear during radiation to prevent radiation from bouncing off the metal and burning nearby tissue. You may want to ask your RO if he/she thinks you should have them.

We are rooting for you, stay in touch!

Hello again, and many thanks to everyone for all the answers provided. I apologize for only making the signature now, this has been a huge emotional roller coaster for me and I am still very much struggling with accepting everything that is happening.
I have managed to find a bunch of dentists and commenced the treatment on Friday with a root canal. I have an oral surgery scheduled for Thursday to extract three wisdom teeth,under general anesthesia, that I am quite scared of.
I have an important question regarding fluoride trays; I have been reading here on the forum how important they are. However, my (new and unfamiliar) dentist (who does not seem too familiar with RAD)claims that they are not necessary and he does not make them. He told me to use fluoride mouth wash such as ACT and said he would prescribe me a perscription-strength fluoride toothpaste and that should do the work. Is he correct or should I absolutely insist on fluoride trays and find someone else who will make them for me? I assume that RAD will start in 2-3 weeks.
Another question that I can not seem to shake of my mind since reading the post surgery biopsy report is about the only node that came back positive for cancer that is in level IV. Is there any logic about it being in level IV, far away from the tonsil as opposed to level II where I expected it to be? Does the tonsil maybe somehow drain that way? I am very worried about this indicating a spread further than originally thought, and the possibility of some cells are already in the lungs but not big enough to be detected on PET? I am only meeting the RO on Tuesday to learn details about the TX but it did not sound like they were planning to do chemo, RAD only.

Many thanks!

Get the fluoride trays, prescription fluoride! I didn't, for a few reasons, one my dentist didn't recommend them, and I went with the flow, being I didn't want any medications that can cause illness after being in the hospital 187 days. Now ALL my teeth need to be extracted two years after radiation, a 2nd course of HBOT with 30 dives, and this is sometime after my neck dissection, and radiation next month. I currently have a gum infection, abscess, in the jaw line, which can compomise having my surgery. I'm taking strong antibiotics 3x a day, which risks c-diff, and I'm more susceptible since I had it before, and that can kill you, besides infections going septic.

Cancer could be in the other nodes, and not detectable, could be skip metastases or biopsy didn't get a good sample slide with cancer. They are going to radiate from your top lip, down to your shoulders. There are over 300 lymph nodes in the head and neck, most microscopic, so I don't think they get them all out, and every one of the three neck dissection I had, two radical. always had more to remove. Lymph involement further down the lymph chain has its own prognostic factors, after that V, maybe lungs, but cancer can go anywhere. Mine started in II, and then III, IV, V, and was in the skin, neck muscle, and it may be good you had the neck dissection, but would think they would do chemo too, HPV or not, since there are no guarantees how it will behave, and some HPV are aggressive, acting like tobacco caused cancer.

Good luck.

Radiation is very hard on your teeth. Without using flouride trays you run the risk of destroying your teeth and eventually losing them.

Shortly after finishing my 2nd round of OC, I ended up losing my teeth due to radiation damage. I am not a candidate for implants or even dentures so will live the rest of my life without teeth.

I suggest you immediately find a new dentist! Any dental professional who is not familiar with treating OC patients is not experienced enough to continue to treat you. Especially with the info they are already giving you. They are causing you and any other OC patient that comes thru their doors harm by being ignorant about OC and radiation. If I were you I upon getting a new dentist, inform your current dentist exactly why you left their practice. Ignorance is NOT an excuse! They are a professional and their lack of knowledge could cause you or other OC patients great harm.

I started using my trays 1 month pre rad and continued for 5 years post Tx and I never had or have any gum or teeth problems and I'm 7 years post Tx now. Granted I had really good oral hygiene pre cancer and no one can predict any outcomes with this cancer or it's Tx and I'm not a dentist and perhaps yours is correct but at least I think they helped me.

Hey there.... Ambra... cancer is unpredictable. They have a good idea normally where it will travel, but we are all individuals and we do not always follow the same path. SO it is possible to have a level IV node involved and no indication of others. What Paul said was correct, in that it could exist microscopically in other nodes and not be detected on a scan, or it could have been in the nodes and resolved itself (sometimes happens if your immune system gets ahead of it) or it could have jumped a bunch of nodes, or it could be a false alarm... I am not sure if it was biopsied or detected on a scan only but maybe its inflammation. Regardless, if you are going for rads it will be in the radiation path so it will likely be nuked. I can tell you I had a friend who had cheek cancer and they operated removed 20 nodes and patched her cheek (they removed the tumor and rebuilt it) and her 20 nodes tested negative for cancer so they thought she was good to go and did not recommend rads and chemo - a few months later another node popped up, and when she went back in they removed another 20 nodes and all had cancer. So it does happen. My question about all of it was - why didn't they remove more nodes to begin with, did they take the right nodes? (you have to assume your ENT knows his tuff - but that's not always the case) or did the pathologist not pick up the cancer in the first set of nodes? Or was she really an anomaly - and it genuinely skipped all those nodes. NO one knows for sure. This is why we always say - make sure you are being treated at a Cancer center that knows their stuff and deals with it every day. Also with regards to your dentist - there are dental oncologists out there. You should be looked at and treated by a dentist who handles patients with oral cancer. My hospital has that available in house. I even go to them now for cleanings and check ups.

hugs and best of luck.

A great dentist who focuses on cancer patients is 100% critical, IMO. It takes a little work but once you've finished, you don't have to do it again.
For a good dentist who knows about cancer, I would ask all your oncologists first. Ask which dentist they would go to, or send a loved one to, in your situation. Explain you want the best care. Then would ask your family practice/regular doc that you are familiar with (if you have one) if they know of any good dentists who could help you.
Get several names if you can, then look them up & call each dentist office. Ask the receptionists specific questions about the dentists capabilities/history -- this was a great strategy for me as it led to me talking to several dentists directly over the phone for free before making any appointments! Ask about insurance. Check your insurance policy's website and be sure who you pick is covered. (Fluoride trays are "cosmetic" w/ our insurance so we have to pay for that.) Look online only AFTER you get the name from a trusted source, not before (saves time.) Any time a new issue came up this year, we've used this strategy to get to the next doctor we needed.
We drive 2.5 hours to see my husband's dentist in KC because we know he is the best. We love him. Here's a page that kind of shows why he's special and not the typical dentist most people see. Not advertising, by the way! Just sharing Hope that's allowed.

Hello everyone, so I have a bunch of updates after a roller coaster week.

I have met my radiation oncologist, and he seemed very optimistic. He admitted he is not certain what to make of the single node in level IV, but said it could have been level III. Also, one of the margins for the primary tumor was pretty close (2mm) though clear. So RAD for sure, though the choice was mine. He was very certain that no chemo was needed and that no medical oncologist would want to touch me at this point.( Apparently the whole board of doctors at JH agrees). I want to believe that but am obviously worried. He estimated, if I undergo RAD, over 90% chance of cure!!!

Also, he claimed to be able to shape the radiation in such a way that the side effects would be moderate, so I wouldn't need PEG and should be able to swallow on my own. He also said that the salivary glands on the right side of my mouth will be spared.

Neither he nor anyone else I have talked to has been able to recommend a specialized dentist. It seems that there is nobody of the kind in the greater DC area. So I have convinced my current dentist to make me fluoride trays and am kind of educating him on my own - don't know what else to do.

On the bad side, I have a couple of more (hopefully unrelated) health worries. On the annual exam my doctor detected a "full" and somewhat painful ovary, so I am having an ultrasound next week. Really freaking out about it. I am also awaiting the results of the Pap/HPV test. Finally, I need to have my thyroid rechecked - last year a benign nodule was discovered but it lit up on the PET a few weeks ago so really hoping it is still benign. One cancer is enough, I am worried sick about all these other tests.

Got all my wisdom teeth extracted, and that went better than expected. Trying to stay positive. Thank you all for your support!

Ambra, please do yourself a big favor and try to stay very busy. This will help to keep your mind off your medical condition. By staying active it will help you so you wont worry so much. Its a learned skill which took me a while to master but its definitely worth trying to learn it. Try to read a book with a intriguing plot or watch a movie that is suspenseful to keep your focus on other things besides your health. By worrying it will only make you feel bad, it will never change a test result or do anything positive for you. I know its really difficult to not be concerned and think positive but I have faith that you can do it. Remember we are in your corner and here to help you in any way we can.

Good luck with everything!!!

Hello Ambra:

I almost feel silly coming on to your thread after reading so much that you have gone through already. I was just diagnosed with SCC and HPV and have had the surgery, but no rad or chemo yet.

Like you, I have no family in my hometown, so I know how you feel. I do however have many friends in this town, people who have shown their concern and offered to help. I will take them up on their offer when needed.

I wish I had specific information that could help you, but I'm a newbie in that respect. Just realize we are reading what you write, thinking about you and wishing you comfort on your journey.

I watch DVD movies as an escape from the reality of the world. There are lots of places to get them, some local, some over the internet. Some have really good series, season one through season last ... with no commercials.

Stay strong Ambra.

Hey Ambra , n74g hit the nail on the head. I too love to watch entire series first to last. I didn't watch the series Mad Men when it first came out. But was so much fun to watch it all the way up to the current season. Did the same with HBO,s drama "Big Love" Warning: Do not get too enthralled in watching that you almost miss appointment like I did. LOL. Oh and fight fight fight

Shawn U.

Thank you so much for your kind words everyone! Feeling much better reading them.

ChristineB, you are so right. I have promptly re-signed up for cable (snagged free HBO for an year) and already managed to get through the whole first season of "Homeland". I wish the whole government shut-down mess would end real soon so that I could go back to work and keep myself busy with lab work. Not to mention that having a paycheck would be nice too. And I also found a counselor, had a first visit today.

N74tg, you are very kind. Please do not feel silly at all. Seems that in addition to SCC we have a lot more in common, such as having no family/having many friends and love for dancing (I wrote on your thread that I have been doing competitive ballroom dancing for many years).

Shawn, seems like you are a kindred spirit. I have managed to finish the whole first season of "Homeland" over the weekend and started the second today. "Downtown Abbey" is next on the list.

Got the results of the ovary ultrasound super promptly. Apparently it is a "small mildly complex cyst". My doctor said more often than not these are usually benign and go away on their own, but of course they could be malignant too. The usual followup is another ultrasound on 6-8 weeks to see if it is still there. If yes, then more tests will follow.

I also saw my surgeon for the post-op follow up. Good news: I am apparently healing really well. Bad news: I complained about the neck numbness not improving much and he said it might never go away. I sure wasn't aware of that possibility. Strange news: he thinks there might have been a mix up with the lymph node labeling and the one positive for SCC might have been from level II and not IV, as PET indicated activity in level II. And finally, confusing advice: he thinks I should wait with a new thyroid biopsy till after the RAD. His logic is that even if it is cancer, there is nothing to be done about it (that is surgery) till after I have recovered from Rad, and thyroid cancer is among easier ones to treat. He believes it would be better for now just not knowing and focusing on getting through Rad. Not quite sure what to make of this yet.

Wow, something else in common. I'm most of the way through first season of Homeland myself. The lead character, Damian Lewis also did another series called Life, it's as good as Homeland. And Mandy Patinkin (Saul) was great in Dead Like Me. And Morena Baccarin (Jessica, wife) was great in V.

I created a movies/series list in the Friends Forum, check it out.

I hope they don't fuss about all this non-cancer related stuff.

That is yet another coincidence, n74tg. Life is strange, isn't it?

I have seen a nice new endocrinologist today about the thyroid nodule. She agreed with my surgeon that we should wait till after RAD to do another FNA, and it was scheduled for early February next year. The nodule does look suspicious, its PET uptake was quite high and apparently, for the original FNA last year the specimen was scant which means that malignant cells might have been missed. If it is cancer, then I will need a new surgery to remove the whole thyroid gland. Since the surgery can not be done till I am recovered sufficiently from RAD, they think it is much better for me not to know now. Obviously, I am very stressed out. Imagine having two unrelated cancers in the same body part (neck) at the same time! The odds of such thing!

I have also just somehow managed to hurt my neck dissection surgery scar when taking a sweater off so that it is bleeding a little bit and glue flakes were falling of containing fresh blood. Called the JH hospital, and have been waiting for over an hour to be called back and told what to do, whether I need to go to ER or not. Pretty freaked out and mad at myself at the same time.

Hi Ambra,

JH eh? I know it well. I had a great team there and can't speak highly enough of them and the treatment I received. You're in good hands I'm sure!

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

Went dancing last night with our swing dance club. Wish you could've been there.

Great music, easy to dance too and a great group of people who love to dance.

Have a great weekend Ambra. I hope you find friends to go out and dance with.

Thanks "T". It does seem to me that I am in good hands. Hopefully it turns out correct,

Tony, that sounds lovely, hope you had a blast!. Last time I went dancing was the weekend before my surgery. But I am going tomorrow to a big local charity ball called "Dance for the Cure". It is organized by my dance coaches and all the money goes to American Cancer Association. Lots of good shows by dance professionals and some social dancing too. Last year I helped organize it, funny how quickly life turns around.

This is a birthday present from my old dance partner as I am turning 36 today. My first birthday with cancer. Going to a nice french restaurant tonight with some friends and will attempt to eat my first steak since the surgery.

Hope everyone is having a nice long weekend!

Happy Birthday, Ambra!!! Hope you have a wonderful time with your french restaurant and dancing weekend plans.

Wow, the coincidences just continue to grow. I've been involved with 6-8 Dance for the Cure events over my life.

Have a ball, dance your toes off, happy birthday.

Tony

P.S. My scar tissue prevents me from opening mouth very far; if you have same, small bites, really small bites.

Hi Ambra,

It must be so difficult to be so far away from your family and not having a significant other by your side. Do you have anyone that could stay with you at your home? You will need someone to make sure that all the changes in your body are communicated clearly to your medical team, someone who is very intuned with any little change in your mood or pain. Also I have found that the people here surround me and that I am in fact not alone. You might also feel relief sending texts or skyping with your family. Tell people your energy level every day, some people are more perceptive than others and will know what you need just by beeing with you regularly.

I feel for you, we can chat anytime, Sophie