PET scan results show cancer

joannaw81
joannaw81 Member Posts: 185 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
so the results came back and mom will have another neck dissection like the doctor predicted, the enlarged lymph node on the right side shows cancer. He believes that it comes from the small second primary cancer on the right sidethat she originally had removed back in nov of 2010 together with the tonsil from left side. Is it possible that it shows up just now??? On top of that her tongue lighted up somewhere where she had her surgury this passed october. mass of 0.5 cm. The problem is that the doctor can't see it or feel it. Does this mean this tumor is somewhere inside and it is not operable? I have so many questions and no asnwers. Doctor said his plan is do feel the tongue again when she's asleep during neck dissection and see if he can find it if not he will removed more tissue from where the last surgury was. Hopefully he can find it and remove it. So this will be the third surgury that my mom will have, will it be the last??? what are her prognosis? I'm not even trying to think about that since everyone is different but it's hard not to in this situation.....I am so upset.

Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    I don't know
    what it all means except that it sounds like the docs are still sorting things out, to early to tell or make a real prognosis. Going to have to sit on that fence a little longer. Waiting is suffering and we have all been through some form of it. Use every support system you have.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Thoughts & Prayers...
    Going out for you and your Mother....

    Can't remember, has she had, or are they planning to do any chemotherapthy also?

    Best,
    John
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
    it is possible
    that the node has been there, with microscopic disease, this entire time. That's likely as a matter of fact. The 5mm tongue thing, it isn't inoperable. Whatever it is is simply down in the tissue of the tongue where it ccannot be felt in the office. I don't claim to know what it is.

    This is going to take a bit to sort out. Sorry for your angst, and her discomfort. Wish these things ccould be resolved faster.

    Best to you both.

    Pat
  • CaKat
    CaKat Member Posts: 28
    #5
    Hope...
    The neck dissection will give her a bit of a barrier...now on both sides. I think it's real possible that they will remove the .5cm area while she's there. Hopefully when she wakes up you will get clean margins and no more cancer!
  • joannaw81
    joannaw81 Member Posts: 185 Member
    #6
    CaKat said:

    Hope...
    The neck dissection will give her a bit of a barrier...now on both sides. I think it's real possible that they will remove the .5cm area while she's there. Hopefully when she wakes up you will get clean margins and no more cancer!

    I am still hoping
    thank you all or your thoughts. Her surgury will be probably on 3/1/12, I will keep you posted.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #7
    Continued
    Thoughts and prayers continue for you and family as you do the waiting game and for the doctors.

    be strong and keep a positive mental attitude

    john
  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #8
    Best thoughts
    Hi Joanna, I hoping with you that the next surgery will be the last. Though your mom will be going through a third surgerical procedure if the doc has some extra work to do on her tongue, thankfully, he may well be able to finish up the surgery sessions at that time.

    It is possible that a recurrance from the small second primary might show up now. Someone has pointed out before that cancer progresses in a kind of geometric way. A slow type starts with one cell and may take years to grow to pea size, but at a certain size it seems to grow quickly because so many cells are replicating.

    Your mom's prognosis is hopeful, and again, I'm crossing my fingers that the combo surgery will take care of it.
    Hal

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