Results aren't in yet but the doctor told me she doesn't expect them to come back *normal*. I wasn't prepared for that but I did appreciate her honesty.

She said in her opinion and years of head/neck surgery, she said it's most likely squamous cell. There is more than 1 node involved.

She told me my ear pain is referred pain from the nodes and from the sore itself. However she saw something I never paid attention to and that's when I opened my mouth, stuck out my tongue, on the right side in the back there is a large swollen area in the tissue that sticks out.

My neck hurts really bad. Real, real bad. I guess that could be from just muscle pain or from having my mouth open so much.

It doesn't hurt to touch my chin to my chest. It's kind of more on the sides of my neck down to my shoulders and a little in the back of my neck with sore spots all over.

Atleast she was honest. That's all I can say. She took part of the open sore, a little piece of my lip and a fine needle biopsy of one of the nodes.

She advised me to make an appointment with an oncologist. She also said there was a chance the biopsies would come back ok but in her opinion, they probably would not. And that hurt. That hurt more than having the stuff done.

Is she jumping the gun or is that just what they do? I mean, she didn't sugar coat any of it.

Hi Tiffini, Wow...what a thing to hear,huh?! I know how you feel - when my husband went to the ENT doc originally back in June, he had a "golf ball" size (rather large) unpainful mass on the right side of his neck, and would you believe at that time when the ENT doc did the fine needle aspiration and did some other tests...he still could not make a diagnosis, nor did he even want to speculate. He scheduled him for a surgical biopsy in August (which to me seemed an incredibly long time to wait since June) and then the doc told us it was squamous cell carcinoma at the base of the tongue (stage III, possibly stage IV). Prior to all this - my husband kept going to our doctor at the time (when I was with a previous HMO Insurance carrier) complaining of ear pain and a sore throat. That doctor never did any tests or refer him to a specialist. When I switched doctors, that's when things started coming to light. Anyways, until you hear conclusively about the results from the tests - try not to worry. I know that's easier said than done. In a way, at least you are prepared for any "news" they may give you, but on the other hand - dwelling on this won't help. Please let us know how things are - and good luck! I remember at the time between June and August - I did a lot of research on the computer, and everything I saw wasn't good. So when the doctor told me the news about cancer - I was upset, but yet at the same time...I was prepared, because I had a feeling this is what it was, so that helped to lessen the shock to some degree.

Hi Tiffini:
I know it is all scary and not what you would like to here, but I would rather the doctor be honest. All mine were, and while I was scared, didn't know which way to go I did know what to expect because they all were very upfront and openly honest. Keeping a positive attitude is the best defense, when I first joined I raed a post by someone that said cancer is but a word and is not a sentence. I wish I could remember who it was because that has stuck with with me ever since and helped with some of bad days.

Mike D.

Diagnosed 06/2002, w/Laryngeal cancer, 1st stage

Tiffini,

Don't be panic before you got a definite diagnose. My diagnosis took two biopsy, the first one came back negative, I was so happy but my ENT doctor said he just thought it does look right and I was very upset when he said so. He took a bigger piece of tissue for the second biopsy and it came back to be cancerous. Now, I am very thankful he did it that way. otherwise...

Initilly, he felt I had only one lymph node involved, so I was staged at T1N1. The surgical pathology report indicated that I had 4 nodes involved and I was upgraded to stage 4 which carries pretty bad prognosis. I was upset again. My oncologist told me that for oral cancer, even it is stage 4, it is still CURABLE ! So, we should always keep ourself on the positive side.
My thinking is that if getting upset could help one to recover, let us all get upset, however, it is just the opposite.

Hi Tiffini,

You heard some things that all of us have heard in one way or another. Either ourselves or our loved ones. Not anything we would wish on anyone.

But, I will say if she is right, at least now you can get treated and start on the road to getting better. Before you were scared and in pain. Now you can be scared like all of us; and fight like hell.

I've had many doctors in the last year and half and I can tell you I'd rather have the ones like you found. Honest and up front. They seem to be the fighters. And that's who I want in my corner.

If it isn't cancer, you have found a doctor that seems to awnt to find out what it is and that's a good thing.

"The devil you know, is better than the devil you don't."

Yes, I am the one who posted - "cancer is a word, not a sentence"

Good luck and keep us posted.
Dinah

Hi Tiffini:
I forgot to mention an educational site that helps with free information on the diagnosis and what treatment your doctor suggest. The web site is www.AmgenAccess.com, the brochure I have came from a drug rep at the support group I attend. It is from Amgen Inc.. Hope this will help answer
questions and give you a place to start gathering info.

Mike D.

Diagnosed 06/2002, w/Laryngeal cancer 1st stage

Hi Tiffini,
My first ENT wrapped a piece of gause around my tongue, stuck a mirror in the back of my throat, and proceeded to tell me that I had a highly invasive tumor, probably SCC and that I should get my affairs in order. He also told me later that if I waited until Jan 1. to get treatment, it would be "...a life & death decision." (No biospy or anything). Well it's Feb and I'm STILL BREATHING! I guess I am grateful that he scared me to action (I fainted when he gave me the news). I am in treatment for stage III SCC in the right tonsil. Getting chemo and radiation only. Had no signs of mets and all scans were clear. Tumor has already melted dramatically after only 7 rad treatments (IMRT). It's a little scary while they gather the data because our "magic magnifying minds" tend to run wild. One day at a time...