Hard lump on lower jaw

sheepstew21

Yeah I assume that will be the case, I had my CT Friday and I was told the results will take 2-3 weeks but the report has already been done!? So I’m a little worried now, if it’s potentially bad I’ll probably get a phone call this week so then I should know more if not they will wait until the 6th for my next appointment and if they wait then I can be hopeful

do you think something may have been seen on the CT if they did the results that quickly? My hospital is normally terrible for waiting times I never got my x ray results until the specialist looked at them which took weeks

CinnamonScone

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713016#Comment_1713016

Sheep, I can't speculate on anything, particularly because I am not a UK citizen with an knowledge and experience of the NHS. I'm not clear as to what you mean by this: "I had my CT Friday and I was told the results will take 2-3 weeks but the report has already been done!" Are you saying the CT scans were read on Friday, but a doctor won't be able to give you the results for 2-3 weeks? If this is what you what you are saying than I can only imagine that if you have something critical (like a malignant tumor), a doctor would call you immediately to report the results to you. That's what I would imagine, but again, I have no experience of how the NHS works. My advice: continue to gently assert yourself.

sheepstew21

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713019#Comment_1713019

generally the scans are put into a ‘pile’ and looked at by a radiologist within order so normally a report would be ready within 2/3 weeks is what it means, my report being ready today is very fast for the nhs and my local hospital - I can not view this for a few weeks myself though that’s part of the hospital system.

The report are then sent to the ordering doctor so I will be told the results when that doctor looks at them or at a future appointment

CinnamonScone

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713024#Comment_1713024

I see. Okay, keep us posted.

wbcgaruss

Cinnamon this has been gone over quite a bit and it seems the holdup is the medical system where he lives. I certainly agree a biopsy is the answer to it all which would define what it is in the biopsy sample.

They may eventually get to the point of taking a biopsy but they are sure going the long way around. I guess I am used to being here in the USA and being Blessed with the healthcare in the area I live in. Anytime I had cancer they either saw something visually or by scoping or did not see anything or feel anything like the time I had soreness in my neck. But anytime I had cancer I would see my ENT, and he saw or didn't see anything, the next step was a CT scan with contrast, and from that he could see there was cancer or a growth or something not right and the next thing was a Biopsy which proved what it was. And most people on this forum traveled the same road.

So it was an office visit ENT, CT Scan with Contrast, Biopsy, results, and summary, that was it.

Not the run-around long path they are giving this guy.

So he can wait on them and hope something happens soon or gets a little pushy with his doctors and put some pressure on them and let them know he's upset because while they dilly and dalley around he could have a cancer that is growing and spreading and threatening his life or his physical body and possibly looks in the end. Sheep I hope you get some solid answers soon, it seems no one of the physicians you have seen wants to give you a solid answer.

Like the last specialist you saw was happy to just say ‘It’s part of your face’ and leave it at that. She also asked you where it was when feeling for it but everyone else and all other people felt it with no problem kind of felt like she couldn’t be bothered. So she couldn't be bothered, of course not, and if there is a real problem here you are the only one that will be paying the price for a delayed diagnosis and the results thereof. I hope you soon get a proper diagnosis so treatment can proceed or hopefully, it is in fact nothing to worry about and you can rest easy again.

Take Care, God Bless

Russ

CinnamonScone

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713080#Comment_1713080

Sheep,

I don't know what to think.

I've heard praise for the UK's beloved NHS. The UK socialized healthcare system is certainly different than the US profit-driven model--with many advantages and disadvantages. Yet with all the hassles we face in the US, when it comes to having cancer, especially a viciously aggressive one in the head and neck region, the US seems to move at a much faster pace than the UK.

I recall when my former partner was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in the maxillary sinus, the doctor who gave us the news (an oral surgeon who did the initial biopsy) said to get to a head and neck surgeon immediately. His actual words to us: "Get to a head and neck surgeon immediately - not tomorrow, but today!" That is exactly what we did.

On that very day, we were instructed to go to a radiology lab for a CT scan and bring the actual film to a head and neck surgeon on the same day. When that head and neck surgeon put the scans on the light board up, he showed us where the tumor sat (in the right sinus) and all the bones it had already infiltrated and destroyed. He said: "You need surgery immediately for this very aggressive cancer." When we asked him if he could perform the surgery, he said it required expertise far beyond his surgical skillset.

He suggested we see three different surgical teams in New York City: (1) Mt Sinai, (2) New York University, and (3) Memorial Sloan Kettering. He made a phone call to his mentor at Mt. Sinai Hospital (where he went to med school) while we sat in his office, and we were given an appointment to meet the Mt. Sinai surgical team the next day. When we met the Mt. Sinai team, it suggested we interview 1-2 additional surgical teams and make a decision as to which team we preferred "quickly" -- "quickly" as in a matter of days, not months! Once we made a decision as to our desired surgical team (within three days), the hospital administrators, at our hospital of choice, bumped other scheduled operations to perform surgery on my former partner within weeks. Clearly, these experts thought 'time was of the essence' and proactively moved into action immediately.

Sheep, I tell this story not to scare you, but to challenge you to do whatever you can to get the medical attention you need. I am not a Brit, so I don't know what's it like to live as one in the UK, but I do think, from what you describe, that your situation could be serious, and it may be imperative that you get treatment as soon as possible -- "not tomorrow, but today!"

sheepstew21

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713085#Comment_1713085

The NHS is good for some things like routine testing for cancer, pregnancy, basic needs but if you need a and e average 5 hour wait and for things like potential cancer/other maybe serious issues you will be on waiting list unless dying quickly - my dad even got private healthcare here because he was told it would be a 3 year wait for hernia repair surgery and he might be told no so he got private and was offered next day surgery. I even saw my dentist the other day and I updated him and he still said ‘well let’s hope it’s just a cyst or something’ after I told him it was a bony prominence

its okay thank you for sharing that story, I’ve tried chasing it up but they said on the phone the doctor needs to review my CT report and will either change my appointment if needed or keep it as it is but I can try and contact pals again which is the hospital patient care and they can normally help, the nhs basically likes to do the bare minimum and they have a system where is cancer is suspected it will be treated within 61 days the issue I have is she took me of that pathway after just viewing the x ray. I will be more proactive in trying to find out my report since it’s ready now

Thank-you for all the advice and help, all I can do now is try and get a doctor to contact me regarding the CT

sheepstew21

Hi there I managed to see my CT results which said it was well defined, well cortigated and contained marrow

i assume they think it’s a benign bone tumour is what this means? it also said exostosis on the report

CinnamonScone

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713225#Comment_1713225

That is good news, Sheep. Most likely, your mass is benign (“exostosis”). Did a doctor actually meet with you face-to-face to explain the details in the CT report? If not, you should follow up with a doctor to explain next steps — for example, is surgical removal of the mass an option? Or, is no further treatment required?

sheepstew21

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1713226#Comment_1713226

Thats great to know! Thank you for advising me on all of this

I haven’t spoken to a doctor about it yet I will on the 6th of march but when I had the x ray she said they wouldn’t do surgery because surgery would be aggressive and I assume that’s because it doesn’t cause any symptoms

I would assume its a case now of if it grows big or fast in the future to go back asap

wbcgaruss

YaY, Sheep, finally an answer that seems to define something.

And that answer seems to be very good news as far as I can see it by looking up the words that you related from your report. Your physician will advise you on it I am sure.

So to the words you provided...

You gave the word "cortigated" but when I search it, it comes up "corticated or corticate", and is defined in the medical dictionary as such...

corticate

(kôr′tĭ-kĭt, -kāt′)also corticated

(-kāt′ĭd)

adj.

Having a cortex or a similar specialized outer layer.

And the report said it contained marrow and the only thing I know of that contains marrow is bone.

Secondly the word "Exostoses", and this is the clincher, it says it all. Looking this up tells me Exostoses is bone....definition below...from The Cleveland Clinic...

What is an exostosis?

An exostosis is a benign (noncancerous) bone tumor. The plural form of exostosis is exostoses.

Exostoses are benign bone tumors that form on top of your existing bone tissue. In other words, they’re bumps of bone that grow out of one of your bones. They’re not cancerous. This means they’re not a symptom of cancer, and they don’t cause it. An exostosis also won’t spread to other parts of your body (metastasize).

So it appears to me you have a bump of bone that has grown out of your bone with the added word corticate which means a covering over it and my guess is all bone has this or it is calcium or something and the best news we have been waiting for (noncancerous).

The article also says...

Exostosis

An exostosis is a noncancerous bone tumor. You might not need any treatment. It depends on which bone an exostosis grows on — and if it’s causing pain. Certain types of exostoses need to be surgically removed. Visit a healthcare provider as soon as you notice a new growth or bump near one of your bones.

Here is a link to the whole Cleveland Clinic article on it there is a lot of information...

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25114-exostosis

I tell ya sheep this should make your day congratulations and God Bless, we have been waiting for this a long time and you remained persistent in getting an answer despite the slowness of your country's medical system. I am so glad to see this report because it is so often on here that we get reports of cancer or many people come here already having cancer seeking help and support and it is good to see someone with a report of no cancer.

I celebrate with you.

Wishing You The Best

Take Care, God Bless Russ