Hi Everyone,
Reading this board has been an uplifting experience in the sense that it's nice to know there are caring people who can help through a trying time.

I should start with my backround. I'm a 38 yr old female who was dx with melanoma stage 1a in July.
Just recently a lump on the inside of my cheek became more pronounced and a lymph node in my neck on the same side became swollen with no pain.
My primary Dr confirmed the lump and swollen node and ordered an MRI of my face with contrast.
When I got there the technician explained that the radiologist wanted to start the MRI without the contrast to see if it was even needed. He said basically if we can see something without the contrast then they did not want to subject me to having it. They never did the contrast so they obviously saw what they needed to see without it.

I am a smoker. I've smoked sinced the age of 18 however I've never considered my habit as excessive. My normal is 1/2 pack a day rarely is it more than that and quite often it is less.
Alcohol is something I do when I'm with friends or family at an occasion and never excessive.
I'm saying all of this to convince myself that I could not possibly have oral cancer. However with the melanoma dx I know anything is possible and my body has already betrayed me once before.

What I'd like to know is if anyone here has ever had a previous cancer before the oral cancer?

I plan on calling my primary doctor today to beg him to get the results of the mri from the radiologist today so that I do not have to wait through the weekend. The technician who performed the MRI said the radiologist already saw the results as he was in the booth when they did the MRI. Of course they would not tell me while I was there.

Thank you for any insight or advice you can give.
I will let everyone know what happens.

Warm Regards,
Sherry

It sounds like you have some careful docs. I work in an ICU, and we never get the MRI results until somebody from radiology has looked over them very carefully, which you really can't do while they're being performed. They sit down at a light board or computer screen with a magnifier and go over the scans to make sure that they don't miss anything. It's good practice, and it sounds like you have a good team, since they didn't just spout off what they thought without checking first. You hang in there, the results they give you may not be what you like, or they may be! But it sounds like they will be as accurate as possible!!

Keep us posted!
Andrea

Sherry, Try not to worry too much about it being cancer until you get a clear indication that it is. If you;'re really scared this is oral cancer, spend your time until you hear definitely putting together a plan for quitting smoking. I'm pretty sure that is a far larger risk factor than any other kind of previous cancer. Then follow the plan whether or not this is cancer!

I was diagnosed with two unrelated cancers practicaly simultaneously, though, in answer to your question, so yes it can happen, maybe because I am just more genetically suscpetible to cancer overall or somehting. I don't really know why.

Nelie

Thanks Andrea. I will try to keep my spirits and look for the positive.

hi sherry,its not cancer until the doctor tell you it is.you are bound to worry we have all been there yes i had two unrelated cancers breast cancer,and recent laryngectomy well six months ago like nelie said i agree with, stop smoking you have had a scare ... god bless take care .....maz

hi sherry,its not cancer until the doctor tell you it is.you are bound to worry we have all been there yes i had two unrelated cancers breast cancer,and recent laryngectomy well six months ago like nelie said i agree with, stop smoking you have had a scare ... god bless take care .....maz