 
#46072 10-17-2005 08:46 AM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | Thanks Carol...
I doubt it is scar tissue, since it moves a little when I rub it, it is too soft, and on the LEFT side, along the jaw bone, midway between my chin and edge of the jaw.
It IS small, and tender, which when I first had the node involved with SCC on the RIGHT side, it was HUGE, HARD, NON-TENDER and FIXED.
I'm hoping this is just a reactive node, but the fear is crippling.
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#46073 10-17-2005 09:28 AM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Take deep breaths, Michael. Do you know any relaxation exercises? And--get it looked at ASAP. It could also be a sign of an infection--some sort of small abcess or something. Which would be a huge pain in the you-know-what but NOT cancer. You're in my thoughts--sending you calming and positive vibes.
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
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#46074 10-17-2005 09:54 AM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,244 | Michael
DONT PANIC...
It is possible that it is a nerve-end healing, there is a name, which escapes me at the moment.
I asked about this same thing today and it all was explained, go ask the Doc, sort it NOW
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen
SCC Base of tongue, (TISN0M0) laser surgery, 10/01 and 05/03 no clear margins. Radial free flap graft to tonsil pillar, partial glossectomy, left neck dissection 08/04
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#46075 10-17-2005 10:47 AM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | Problem is, my "Doc" is 3000 Miles away in NY...I'm not scheduled to see them again until 11-09-05  I could go to some local Dr, but they misdiagnosed me in the beginning for a few months anyway...
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#46076 10-17-2005 10:57 AM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 251 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 251 | Michael,
If you haven't already, why don't you give your doctor's office a call and try to talk to him (or at least a Physician's Assistant ). You can at least describe what is going on and they will let you know if it something to have looked at right away or just something commonly experienced shortly after treatment. We're not 3000 miles away - just 150 - but when my husband was just out of treatment, we called alot with concerns. I think they expect it. Sometimes I would send a fax so that I could more clearly describe the problem.
Try not to worry too much (easy to say, I know) - LOTS of strange symptoms come up for quite awhile after treatment.
Best,
Anita
Husband Dx 12/02 Stage 4 Tonsil Cancer T1N2bM0; surgery, radiation, chemo 1/03 - 4/03.
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#46077 10-17-2005 01:07 PM | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 349 Likes: 2 | Good idea...I'll send em a fax so that they will have it in the morning.
- Michael
Michael | 53 | SCC | Right Tonsil | Dx'd: 06-10-05 | STAGE IV, T3N2bM0 | 3 Nodes R Side | MRND & Tonsillectomy 06/29/05 Dr Fee/Stanford | 8 wks Rad/Chemo startd August 15th @ MSKCC, NY | Tx Ended: 09-27-05 | Cancer free at 16+ Yrs | After-Effects of Tx: Thyroid function is 0, ok salivary function, tinnitus, some scars, neck/face asymmetry, gastric reflux. 2017 dysphagia, L Carotid stent / 2019, R Carotid occluded not eligible for stent.2022 dental issues, possible ORN, memory/recall challenges.
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#46078 10-17-2005 03:18 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | I wonder if I can teach an 18 mo. old to sit quietly while I watch all of these movies. Grandma Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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#46079 10-18-2005 12:16 AM | Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 122 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2005 Posts: 122 | Hi Michael,
Do you have a digital camera? I would take a picture of my incision after my doctor re-did it and email it to him. (Had to wait for the ok to put scar less gel on it. I sent him a picture weekly for the first month after revision.) If you could get a couple of pictures of it from various angles that might help them.
Just an idea!
Lisa
SCC Tongue T1N0M0\Dx 3-10-03
Hemiglossectomy, alloderm graft, modified neck dissectomy 4-14-03
3 Year Survivor!
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#46080 10-18-2005 01:40 AM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 624 | Hi Michael -- Maybe call or fax your doctor and try to describe what you are seeing. He may be able to recommend a colleague locally who could look at you and report back to him -- Having said that, there is a reason that you and Barry are not seeing your doctors until November (and at Hopkins, they will not even evaluate the results of his treatment until two months' out) is that (per our RO) "lots of weird little swellings pop up and there's irritations and scar tissue and frankly, we don't want to be upset and have you upset by what is only inflammation..." Of course you are already upset so I think you will feel better if you run this by the doctor... Gail
CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!
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#46081 10-18-2005 02:45 AM | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 54 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 54 | Michael,
Just to affirm what Gail said - our ENT told us a story of a patient who he would have said still had the cancer at the first apt after treatments but it was gone within several weeks as the treatments continued to work with no recurrence noted later. He too did not want to be aggressively assessing response too soon. Of course, he wanted to hear any of our concerns so as not to miss anything that triggered a red flag to him. Also, a radiologist friend of ours told us long ago when we asked what actually happens to the lymph node post radiation that it doesn't actually disappear but becomes smaller and hard like a kernel. Just some thoughts about what may be going on but of course seek professional advice!
Janet
Caregiver, Husband diagnosed 7/6/05 SCC left tonsil, T2N2bM0, Concurrent chemo/radiation begun 8/2/05 (Cisplatin). Received 2 cycles cisplatin, 38 radiation treatments. Completed course 9/27/05.
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