Hi my name is Juan. I am new. I have some questions maybe somebody can help me. I have a friend who had a lump in the top of the mouth in the back of the mouth. They operated and took it out. They are waiting a month to recheck this person. I have noticed that there are some lumps near his shoulder blade and one down by his waist. Does this sound like it is spreading?

You have not said what it was that the doctors took out. Besides malignant masses, there are a variety of benign masses or lumps which may have been removed from your friends mouth. Cancers spread or metastasize when malignant cells travel through either the circulatory system with the blood or through the lymphatic system to distant locations from the original site of the primary cancer. The locations where you have described new lumps occuring, are certainly locations of groups of lymph nodes, and these are common sites for a metastasis to occur. I think that he should see a doctor to have these lumps examined and biopsied to know for sure what is happening. Most likely they will do a fine needle biopsy of several of the lumps, which is not that uncomfortable to have done, and not expensive. The small amount of cells removed by the needle will then be examinined by a pathologist. My personal preference would be to go to an oncologist who is familar with cancers rather than a general MD or general surgeon. If there is a cancer center or clinic close by, they will have a multidiciplinary staff who will be able to provide the most well rounded opinion. Remember that will all types of cancer, the best end results come from the earliest diagnosis and treatment. Please do not waste time looking for answers on the web.......only a trained professional can make a proper diagnosis after seeing the patient in person, and even then, only with a biopsy of the suspect tissue.

He didn't really say. He said there's growth and tissue around it, at the top sides and back of mouth. Even befor the biopsy he became very tired and out of breath. Since the operation (he didn't tell the doctor) they gave him amoxcillian he said that he had congestion but couldn't spit it up because of the mouth. He is not coughing nor has any congestion, but gets tired easily. Sent him to hospital and they said nothing coming out of... I think left lung, maybe collapsed they said. He used to smoke. They said pnuomonia and gave him Levaquin. Does this sound like lung cancer? What is a good place to go to? The area is Central Jersey.

This is getting to far away from my area of knowlege to be able to help you, and too many things that you describe seem unusual. I can not tell you what clinics are in New Jersey, but one of the finest cancer centers in the world, Memorial Sloan Kettering is in NY. Your friend needs to get another opinion of what is going on, and he needs to ask lots of questions so he knows exactly what the situation is. I am sorry I could not be of more help with this.

Thank you. I apprciate all the info that you have given me.