They say it takes an average of 9 months to be diagnosed with head and neck cancer, probably oral, orpharyngeal. It may takes a month from diagnosis of cancer to treatment phase or longer, in my experiences.

Total frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!! I finally heard back from the ENT's nurse and she said my CT came back normal. Conflicting opinion though because on Monday she said there was inflammation in the lymph nodes and today she says everything is ok. I questioned this and then she admits there is inflammation in the nodes. The ENT wants to refer me back to my primary. (He is the one that wants to just drop it since I don't have life threatening issues.) I asked, wouldn't an ENT be the one to see for throat issues and she is still insistent on seeing my primary since my CT came back normal. I asked about the red spots he saw when he scoped me (they were on my vocal cords and down my throat.) and she just dismissed them.

I asked about an antibiotic and she said no. I persisted and she said she'd check with the doctor and he said no!!

I am shocked that going to an ENT at a place where they deal with cancer has got me no where.

I guess at this point I need to just give up and wait it out. Maybe it is just allergies and will go away after the first frost. That still doesn't explain the numbness and tingling that has been going on in my jaw area for over 6 months.

Hi, I think you should get a copy of the CT report so you can see first-hand what it says.

Is seeing a new primary an option? It's disturbing that your current doc thinks his job is limited to addressing "life-threatening issues." That would be true in a trauma ER, not a primary practice. It sounds very condescending to me, trying to make you feel that your symptoms aren't important if your life isn't at risk.

Good luck, don't give up!

[quote=Mamacita]Hi, I think you should get a copy of the CT report so you can see first-hand what it says.

Is seeing a new primary an option? It's disturbing that your current doc thinks his job is limited to addressing "life-threatening issues." That would be true in a trauma ER, not a primary practice. It sounds very condescending to me, trying to make you feel that your symptoms aren't important if your life isn't at risk.

Good luck, don't give up! [/quote]

Damn right, Mamacita. Don't be bashful with it's your future at stake, fire your current primary and find one who is interested is your concerns.

I've done it many times, it's always resulted in a major improvement.

I cannot abide a medical professional who thinks her/his degree makes him/her the driver. You are paying them, and if they don't get that, stop paying that one, and find one who does get it.

Bart

Good Luck.

Do most doctors give antibiotics for symptoms of inflammation? If my report says I have inflammation of the posterior pharyngeal wall and inflammation in the nodes yet they won't give me an antibiotic, is this normal. Do these issues just go away on there own?

Also, has anyone has an ongoing numbness/tingling pain in the jaw area that just doesn't let up?

It has been

I would change doctors if one ordered antibiotics for simple inflammation.

Antibiotics should only be used for inflammation resulting from a bacterial infection that has been identified as being the actual cause of the inflamation.

Otherwise, all you are accomplishing is using Darwin to help you create a stronger, antibiotic-resistant bacterium.

I have numbness and soreness in my neck and cheek....a lot of swelling...I pray to god its just lymphedema...according to my family doc...my PET and CT came back clean...but I cant shake off this horrible feeling that something is wrong...im hoping all this is simply cause by inflammation..and not the C word...

Chances are its still a side effect of rads. Where was your cancer? Cheek, gum, tongue, base of tongue, tonsil? If your primary was in your mouth then there's a good chance you received the highest dose to your mouth. As you know it causes blisters etc. I discovered the areas where the rads beam went through took the longest to heal, and still flare up occasionally. I had one sore I was sure was a recurrence because it was so deep. It actually took cortisone to clear it up, and not your average dose. I also had another patch that would get irritated off and on.
Now the lymphadema - assuming you had a neck dissection - may take a while to subside. Once you've hit 6 months out and have had a clear scan and few clear check ups, seeing a lymphatic masseuse will help that. Numbness is very normal and semi permanent - I say this because I'm over two years out and still have numbness, it depends on what nerves where cut and how well they can regenerate
You could also have an infection so I would have it checked just to be on the safe side. Hugs!

My cancer was on the roof of my palate and they took out 55% of my roof and it came back beside my nose...the pain is in my cheek and now I have a very very stiff neck...had 24 lympnodes removed and my flap was stitched up against my cheek...had radiation done 3 months after my surgery...I have gone to see the doctor and he thinks I have an infection when he looked into my nose...I've been taking meds for 3 days now...yesterday was a great day...and today I woke up with pain again and swelling...i'm getting very frustrated ...