Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 63
Meli Offline OP
"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
OP Offline
"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 63
Hi all,

Been a long time since I visited. Diagnosed with Oropharyngeal SCC back in 2013, had surgery, neck dissection, radiation & chemo. All has been fine with my checkups since. However now 7 years later and I've found a lump behind my jaw, under my ear. It's hard, fixed and non-tender and my ear feels slightly blocked (as long as I'm not imagining it). Reported it to my GP who sent me for an ultrasound which said it wasn't looking suspicious but didn't identify why there was a lump. I chose to go back to my original surgeon and have it checked out. He did another ultrasound and camera down my throat and also confirmed it didn't look suspicious on ultrasound but has sent me for a CT scan to confirm exactly what it is. He said it could just be the lateral process of my C2 vertebrae and noted this on the CT scan form "lateral process of C2?" and also "parotid?".

Has anyone known of a lump that turned out to be the C2 process?

Thanks for your advice,
Mel.

Last edited by Meli; 08-07-2020 03:26 AM.

39yr old female, DX BOT SCC Stage IVA (T1N2bM0) HPV+
28 May 13 - Pharangoscopy & tongue biopsy
29 May 13 - BOT Surgery & right ND (lvls 2-5)
31 May 13 - Hemorrhage, emergency trach, critical care
BOT clr mgns, 9/67 nodes & extracapsular extension
Finished chemo (cisplatin) & 30 rads
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
Hi Meli! I havent heard of the C2 reference but the lump is something that Ive seen happen before. I first noticed this with my adult son who has had this come and go a few times. His doc and the members here who had this have been all been told not to be concerned about it as its probably nothing serious, it could be a sign of an infection thats causing a lymph node to swell. My son is now 30 and first had this happen when he was about 17 or 18 years old. Its happened about 4 or 5 times since and always seemed to be an early warning sign of an upcoming major illness. Its always been a rare occurrence when my son gets sick, maybe once every few years. Hopefully what you have going on is also not anything serious!!!


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
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 63
Meli Offline OP
"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
OP Offline
"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 63
Thanks Christine.

It's been there about 6 months now as I had the ultrasound in February, then Covid hit and I put it out of my mind until my ear started feeling blocked and I realised that whilst the ultrasound was clear I didn't get confirmation about why there was a lump.

I'll get the CT results this week and will update everyone (when it turns out to be an innocent lump) so it's recorded here.


39yr old female, DX BOT SCC Stage IVA (T1N2bM0) HPV+
28 May 13 - Pharangoscopy & tongue biopsy
29 May 13 - BOT Surgery & right ND (lvls 2-5)
31 May 13 - Hemorrhage, emergency trach, critical care
BOT clr mgns, 9/67 nodes & extracapsular extension
Finished chemo (cisplatin) & 30 rads
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 63
Meli Offline OP
"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
OP Offline
"OCF Kiwi Down Under"
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 63
Scan confirmed it was asymmetrical C2 spinous process plus scar tissue. No baddies, strange but great news.


39yr old female, DX BOT SCC Stage IVA (T1N2bM0) HPV+
28 May 13 - Pharangoscopy & tongue biopsy
29 May 13 - BOT Surgery & right ND (lvls 2-5)
31 May 13 - Hemorrhage, emergency trach, critical care
BOT clr mgns, 9/67 nodes & extracapsular extension
Finished chemo (cisplatin) & 30 rads

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