Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#195799 03-02-2018 03:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
Hello I had posted a few weeks back about some changes I had going on in my throat. White patches on both sides and some red patches on soft palate. My dentist really recommended an ent who I ended up going to. However he wasn't a cancer specialist.

Upon meeting him he didn't think it was significant but agreed to biopsy one white patch in the throat. Followed up this week and the diagnosis was inflamed tonsillar tissue. Confused about this because I didn't realize that could be on the back of my throat. There was no descriptive micro analaysis so I personally called the pathologist and he assured me there was no malignancy.

Of course I'm still skeptical because I don't know if all pathologists are capable of recognizing this. I do know they excised a good chunk. Should I be leery? And do you think another opinion is in order? Would he have needed to do anything up and above to find out if it was cancerous?




Thanks so much for taking the time to help me.
Tammy

Tammy7272 #195800 03-02-2018 03:30 PM
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
Congrats on getting good news from your biopsy!!!

I do understand your apprehension about trusting the test results. A biopsy is only as good as the doctor preforming it and the pathologist who analyzes it. Its not impossible for something to be done incorrectly, but it is pretty rare. Mistakes can and do happen. I am just like you and always err on the side of caution.

If you do not feel confident in the ENT you saw then I suggest going to another one who specializes in treating OC patients. An ENT who does everything like putting tubes in kids ears, hearing tests, diagnosing deviated septum, removing tonsils, treating TMJ, etc may be exactly as you are thinking, not the best person for the biopsy. You just never know the qualifications of the medical professionals besides what they want you to know. You should see someone who is very experienced in treating oral cancer patients as they would have the most experience with seeing abnormalities both cancerous and noncancerous. If you have a bad feeling about your biopsy and/or the medical professionals then go for a second opinion and make certain the doctor is more qualified than the original ENT you saw. It sure cant hurt to get checked again! Consider this... if your hunch is correct and you never followed thru and got checked again by another ENT then you are just hurting yourself if you really would be diagnosed with cancer. Then the cancer would have had more time to progress and be larger and harder to treat. You do NOT want to end up worrying about "what if..." if you dont get rechecked.

Best wishes and please do let us know whatever you decide and how you make out.


Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
very happy to be alive smile
ChristineB #195802 03-02-2018 03:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
Thank you Christine for the quick reply!

One thing that I did catch was the ent clinically labeled it as a benign neoplasm. Not sure if that affects the way pathology treats it but I would rather have seen rule malignancy out, however that may be a given? Another note was it was back within a few days. Again not sure if that makes a difference? Also there are some red areas that weren't addressed so I will be most likely getting another opinion.

Hoping that I can trust it to be nothing!

Tammy7272 #195806 03-03-2018 02:29 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 346
Likes: 3
Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Offline
Platinum Member (300+ posts)

Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 346
Likes: 3
I'm no expert, but wouldn't it being labeled 'benign' mean it was ruled out as 'malignant' ... can't be the same at one time and all that? Not that things can't change over time, and you still may want to talk to another ENT if the first was unsatisfactory, but if the pathologist said not malignant, and this report says benign, you have a lot of positive vibes to be holding on to, right now. Keep those close while you continue to ask your questions!


Surgery 5/31/13
Tongue lesion, right side
SCC, HPV+, poorly differentiated
T1N0 based on biopsy and scan
Selective neck dissection 8/27/13, clear nodes
12/2/13 follow-up with concerns
12/3/13 biopsy, surgery, cancer returned
1/8/14 Port installed
PEG installed
Chemo and rads
2/14/14 halfway through carboplatin/taxotere and rads
March '14, Tx done, port out w/ complications, PEG out in June
2017: probable trigeminal neuralgia
Fall 2017: HBOT
Jan 18: oral surgery
Tammy7272 #195808 03-03-2018 09:01 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
I sure hope so. My concern was the Dr. who biopsied it labeled it as benign on presentation to the pathologist because he thought it was nothing, which we all know you can't look at it and make that decision. Maybe that's just the way these things are done. I know from biopsies years ago on a few rashes I had it was always a few different possibilities but rule out anything malignant. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid...ugh.

Thanks for your insight, I appreciate it!

Tammy7272 #196020 03-31-2018 09:40 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 596
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 596
Hi, Tammy.

I'm happy and relieved to learn of your biopsy results.

I've been following this thread and I hope that you were able to get a consult with a head and neck cancer specialist for confirmation.

Hopefully, all is well with you!



37 y/o fem at Dx (23 wks preg @ dx on 3/16/11)
SCC L oral tongue (no risk factors)
L partial gloss/MND 3/28/11 @ 25 wks preg
T1-2N0M0; no rads/chemo
Tonsillectomy on 8/6/12 +SCC L tonsil T2-3N1M0 (HPV-)
Treated with 35 rads/7 carbo & taxol (Rx ended 10/31/12), but many hospitalizations d/t complications from rx.
Various scans since rx ended are NED!
Part of genetic study for rare cancers @ MGH.
44 years old now...I wasn't sure I would make it! Hoping for 40 more!
Tammy7272 #196099 04-09-2018 08:21 AM
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
Member
OP Offline
Member

Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 14
Hi I’m still worried about all of this. The area that was biopsied is going back to the white color. Is that normal for tissue or does anyone know? Also still having the constant scratchy throat. Went to ent and they said maybe reflux was causing that so had an endoscopy done and there were no signs of reflux. Also endo guy told me reflux wouldn’t cause an irritated throat which is contradictory to everything else I have read. I have been upfront with all Dr’s about my alcohol consumption and it really feels like they aren’t totally taking me seriously. They are pushing rehab more than anything. I feel they don’t believe that 4-5 years of 8-10 ounces of rum a night is not enough to put me at risk but I should seek treatment immediately. It was a relaxing measure my husband and I would do in the evening. I quit right on the spot in January and haven’t looked back. I remembered I had a low iga level about 10 years ago so looked into retesting. It is still low and my igg has fallen significantly. The concern with the iga is it is what protects our mucous lined areas of the body. I also seem to carry at least a light variation of the gene that breaks up alcohol as I tend to flush when drinking. I have read some instances that these changes in the mouth can take time to progress. Several particular people who did have Oc were being treated as allergies and base of tongue cancer eventually turned up. So I’m just besides my self. Had colonoscopy since my dad had c cancer at 50. They removed a benign looking polyp which is now out for testing. I’m looking at my endoscopy pics and there appears to be a polyp in one of those but no mention in the report. Both procedures took less than 35 minutes total so again feeling a little unnerved. I asked the nurse if the doctor could call me when she did a follow up day after procedure. He hasn’t called. Is there anyone out there with experience of Oc from alcohol consumption and how they were diagnosed?
Thanks for hearing me out...it means so much!


Moderated by  Brian Hill 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5