Terminology Help !?!?

BarefootBob
BarefootBob Member Posts: 72
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hey all, I have checked the "superthread" and have tried to google the term with no avail....

When the doctor told me that 54 nodes were removed during dissection and the Pathology came back w/ only 2 showing signs of cancer. He used the term "non-esoteric" i believe??? Either way he said that these particular nodes were high up in the neck and had not "opened up" or "burst" - something like that.

Could someone help me w understanding what this means?

Thanks,

Bob

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    Boy, I have no idea Bob....
    but I'll be Pat (longtermsurvivor) or John (Skiffin) will know. The only word I know about tumors etc that have not burst is "encapsulbed"....and I don't know if it would apply here.

    p
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Non-Esoteric
    I could be off base here, but I presume he meant not a cluster or not confined to a small group or area. As in two single lymphnodes....not sure though.

    Pat will more than likely provide a better answer.

    JG
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
    must be referring to encapsulation
    non-esoteric would mean not smart. Those dumb nodes:). Anyway, encapsulation is the key issue. If a node has tumor invading or past the outter lining, it increases chance of spread. Similarlupy, if a node, or the tissue next tipo the tumor shows lots of inflammatory cells, that improves yhe odds of good outcome. All of this is kinda splitting hairs because positive nodes means cancer spread, and spread needs treated.

    Pat

    wow I hate typing on an ipad.
  • BarefootBob
    BarefootBob Member Posts: 72
    #5
    longtermsurvivor said:

    must be referring to encapsulation
    non-esoteric would mean not smart. Those dumb nodes:). Anyway, encapsulation is the key issue. If a node has tumor invading or past the outter lining, it increases chance of spread. Similarlupy, if a node, or the tissue next tipo the tumor shows lots of inflammatory cells, that improves yhe odds of good outcome. All of this is kinda splitting hairs because positive nodes means cancer spread, and spread needs treated.

    Pat

    wow I hate typing on an ipad.

    Thanks All...
    So, what you are saying is that because these two nodes had cancer that I should expect rads and/or possible chemo treatment options when I see my Oncologist tomorrow? But I do know for sure that these two particular positive nodes had not "burst"...so much info...i just am still trying to swallow it all

    - thank you for the detailed explanation,

    Bob
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    BarefootBob said:

    Thanks All...
    So, what you are saying is that because these two nodes had cancer that I should expect rads and/or possible chemo treatment options when I see my Oncologist tomorrow? But I do know for sure that these two particular positive nodes had not "burst"...so much info...i just am still trying to swallow it all

    - thank you for the detailed explanation,

    Bob

    Hard To Say Bob...
    I think that's gonna be hard to say, so many variables, MD, facility history, your background, etc....

    I can pretty much say, LOL....

    Tx will more than likely consist of surgery, chemo, radiation of any combination of the three....

    But then, you already knew that.

    Not making light of the situation....., just the way I see it.

    JG
  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #7
    Skiffin16 said:

    Hard To Say Bob...
    I think that's gonna be hard to say, so many variables, MD, facility history, your background, etc....

    I can pretty much say, LOL....

    Tx will more than likely consist of surgery, chemo, radiation of any combination of the three....

    But then, you already knew that.

    Not making light of the situation....., just the way I see it.

    JG

    Nodes
    Damn those nodes. Surgeon told me I'd have surgery and maybe radiation but chemo not likely. They took 30 nodes 2 positive one was not encapsulated so I ended up with rads and chemo. When planning your Tx, they are always going to error on the side of caution. I sincerely hope you don't need the rads or chemo. Good luck!

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