My One Year Exam

Joel4
Joel4 Member Posts: 263 Member
It was supposed to be a happy one but not quite.
I was diagnosed SCC unknown primary one year ago this week and had a left neck dissection one week later with no radiation.
Every six weeks I have gone in for a scoping and exam. Several months ago they had me go in for a BOT biopsy for something suspicous which turned out to be nothing.
This morning all started well until the scope began. He found a "mass" behind my nose which may be nothing more than swollen adenoid tissue since I have been fighting off a cold/virus.
They sent me down the hall for bloodwork and an EKG and I'll have the biopsy in the OR in ten days.
No results for two weeks...ugh.
This was supposed to be an exam like most of the others where they marvel at how well I am doing and we exit the room with relief and smiles. NED stood me up for the big one year anniversary.
Keep me in your thoughts and prayers the next couple of weeks. It'll be a tough stretch but God is good and I'll be believing.
Thank you all!
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Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Joel
    My thought and prayers are all ways there with you my friend, I am in dead heart broking to hear this but please keep positive till you know for sure.

    Prayer are with you
    Hondo
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    Joel
    Sorry your one year visit wasn't more encouraging but please don't get discouraged yet. I had a similar experience with a routine checkup at my ENT's office. He found something "suspicious" in my nasal passage and did a biopsy in his office but I had to wait a week for the results. I was panicking and expecting the worst (as usual :) Got my results a week later - BENIGN!!!

    I will keep you in my prayers.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna
  • KristynRuth86
    KristynRuth86 Member Posts: 140
    Glenna M said:

    Joel
    Sorry your one year visit wasn't more encouraging but please don't get discouraged yet. I had a similar experience with a routine checkup at my ENT's office. He found something "suspicious" in my nasal passage and did a biopsy in his office but I had to wait a week for the results. I was panicking and expecting the worst (as usual :) Got my results a week later - BENIGN!!!

    I will keep you in my prayers.

    Stay strong,
    Glenna

    Joel
    I am just so sorry to hear that your one year exam wasn't easy breezy. It makes me sick. I will be praying that it isn't anything you even have to worry about, I know that doesn't help your anxiety, but you're in my thoughts. I know you will come back and report to us once your results are back, I'll be waiting!
    Take care and lots of love, thoughts, and prayers are heading your way.
    -Kristyn
  • Joel4
    Joel4 Member Posts: 263 Member

    Joel
    I am just so sorry to hear that your one year exam wasn't easy breezy. It makes me sick. I will be praying that it isn't anything you even have to worry about, I know that doesn't help your anxiety, but you're in my thoughts. I know you will come back and report to us once your results are back, I'll be waiting!
    Take care and lots of love, thoughts, and prayers are heading your way.
    -Kristyn

    Thanks
    Hondo, you are a rock and I so appreciate how empathetic you are despite all you have been through. You are always in my thoughts.
    Glenna, thanks so much for sharing your very similar experience. It helps so much and I'm hoping for a repeat performance!
    Kristyn, you are going to be one heck of a counselor (you already are) Your prayers and thoughts really do mean the world to me!
    It'll be a tough wait but your support and encouragement will make it easier.
  • susan0803
    susan0803 Member Posts: 90
    Joel4 said:

    Thanks
    Hondo, you are a rock and I so appreciate how empathetic you are despite all you have been through. You are always in my thoughts.
    Glenna, thanks so much for sharing your very similar experience. It helps so much and I'm hoping for a repeat performance!
    Kristyn, you are going to be one heck of a counselor (you already are) Your prayers and thoughts really do mean the world to me!
    It'll be a tough wait but your support and encouragement will make it easier.

    positive thoughts
    Joel,
    I very much hope that the results are good and it is benign. It must be so tough to have to wait for an answer. I wish you luck and sending you positive thoughts for a good report.
    Suzanne
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Stay Positive Joel
    I know that is so easily said than to be going through your anxiety. I still haven't gotten to the point of not worrying when something is going on...

    The only thing that I can say is try to stay positive until you get the official word. So far all has been clean and you have been fine. Hoping that is still the case, and for now it is...you haven't been told otherwise.

    Thoughts and Prayers Brother...
    John
  • JUDYV5
    JUDYV5 Member Posts: 392
    My Prayers
    I am praying that it is nothing - stay positive
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    Yes
    I will be praying for you Joel. Keep the happy dance shoes handy for later in the month.

    Bob
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228

    Yes
    I will be praying for you Joel. Keep the happy dance shoes handy for later in the month.

    Bob

    Joel
    Sorry to read this, but let's just hope the happy dance is just postponed for a couple weeks. Will keep you in extra prayers.
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    Joel
    Sure hope it turns out to be nothing major. Stay strong and be positive. Cheers

    Jimbo
  • Kimba1505
    Kimba1505 Member Posts: 557
    Jimbo55 said:

    Joel
    Sure hope it turns out to be nothing major. Stay strong and be positive. Cheers

    Jimbo

    Joel!!!!!!!!
    Sh*t...and believe me, I wanted that to be another word. You and Mark are diagnosis buddies, in that he too was diagnosed a year ago. Let's go with the doctor's initial impression of swollen adenoids. We will wait with you. Mark sees his ENT tomorrow, and it is the anniversary of diagnosis. We never really get to relax do we? I know this will be difficult during this time of waiting, but Mark always says, live every day to the fullest. He has done that...that is my wish for you in these next weeks.
    Everything I got, coming your way,
    Kim
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    NED WILL HAPPEN
    Joel, I just have to believe that what they saw was something benign. My thoughts are with you during this waiting period.

    Stay strong

    Best!!

    Mike
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    Joel
    Holding you in my thoughts. Here's to complete health and healing.

    Deb
  • Irishgypsie
    Irishgypsie Member Posts: 333
    Joel4 said:

    Thanks
    Hondo, you are a rock and I so appreciate how empathetic you are despite all you have been through. You are always in my thoughts.
    Glenna, thanks so much for sharing your very similar experience. It helps so much and I'm hoping for a repeat performance!
    Kristyn, you are going to be one heck of a counselor (you already are) Your prayers and thoughts really do mean the world to me!
    It'll be a tough wait but your support and encouragement will make it easier.

    Positive Thoughts!
    Sorry about the bad news and long wait. You will be in my thoughts and prayers for negative results.

    Charles
  • miccmill
    miccmill Member Posts: 248
    D Lewis said:

    Joel
    Holding you in my thoughts. Here's to complete health and healing.

    Deb

    Thinking of you
    I'm praying your exam will be negative and everything that was in that 1 node is gone forever.

    I am glad though, that they're being really vigilant but I can only guess how nerve wracking that is.

    Lisa
  • Joel4
    Joel4 Member Posts: 263 Member
    miccmill said:

    Thinking of you
    I'm praying your exam will be negative and everything that was in that 1 node is gone forever.

    I am glad though, that they're being really vigilant but I can only guess how nerve wracking that is.

    Lisa

    Thanks
    I really appreciate the kind words everyone.
    You know that feeling you get when you're being pulled up that first huge hill on a rollercoaster?
    That's what the waiting feels like. Except that its a two week ride to the top and not 1 minute!
    You try and focus on other things
    So when the doc noticed this "mass" behind my nose he asked if I was having difficulties hearing. I have not. Have any of you had hearing issues that led you to get checked out?
    Thanks again everyone!
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    Hey, Joel
    Sorry to hear your good news has been delayed for a couple of weeks. I am also hoping and praying for the best. As always "a lump is just a lump until it is something else". Yeah, the waiting is hell. I just went a week waiting for a scan result and it was a very, very long week. Best of luck to you.

    Roger
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    mixleader said:

    Hey, Joel
    Sorry to hear your good news has been delayed for a couple of weeks. I am also hoping and praying for the best. As always "a lump is just a lump until it is something else". Yeah, the waiting is hell. I just went a week waiting for a scan result and it was a very, very long week. Best of luck to you.

    Roger

    Positive Thoughts
    Joel,

    I've got a big hike planned for this weekend and I know you're a birder so every new bird I see - I'll be sending positive vibes with it, to take back to you for an all clear!

    Greg
  • Joel4
    Joel4 Member Posts: 263 Member
    Greg53 said:

    Positive Thoughts
    Joel,

    I've got a big hike planned for this weekend and I know you're a birder so every new bird I see - I'll be sending positive vibes with it, to take back to you for an all clear!

    Greg

    Thanks
    Thanks again everyone. Have fun on the hike Greg, should be fun with migration kicking into gear, and speaking of birds I just changed my profile pic to a Purple Finch I photographed yesterday!
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Joel4 said:

    Thanks
    Thanks again everyone. Have fun on the hike Greg, should be fun with migration kicking into gear, and speaking of birds I just changed my profile pic to a Purple Finch I photographed yesterday!

    Joel
    Great picture!