HPV16 squamous cell Head and Neck Cancer?

sandysp
sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
in Anal Cancer #1
I have had a terrible time with asthma and coughing. I also feel light headed a lot. My Oncologist several times last year asked about the white spots in the back of my throat and told me to ask my dentist about them. I did but they weren't there when I went to the dentist. But they are there now. My Internist saw them (I have been coughing my brains out and too hoarse to sing) so I had to finally asked her after the allergist told me to go to her after seeing the Pulmonologist for asthma which was raging out of control). (The Pulmonologist who xrayed my lungs to rule out pneumonia after listening to my lungs was not worried about my throat at all but the Allergist warned me about that and told me to follow up with my Internist. I waited five hours to see my Internist yesterday. (Isn't it awful being in need of a doctor?) She looked at my throat and sent me to a specialist who I see tomorrow - an Otalaryngologist. Anyway, I looked up what they do. They are a good choice for me as they specialize in people who sing professionally and are located right across from Lincoln Center. I am already in the city tomorrow for an appointment with the Pelvic PT, but I am afraid of having another hpv related cancer. It is entirely possible. I looked it up. White things and swelling in the throat area, the hoarseness the horrible cough the cuts off my air are not good. The Allergist said he thinks I may have something that is also further down in my throat. Please send up your best prayers for me. It may also just be a reaction to the asthma medication.

Thanks,
Sandy

Comments

  • Phoebesnow
    Phoebesnow Member Posts: 600 Member
    #2
    Hi Sandy,
    I used to use Qvar 80 for my asthma. I Would get those bumps if I did not rinse my mouth after each dosage. I hope that's all it is. I will include you in my prayers tonight.
  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #3
    Praying for you!
    Hi Sandy, I am so sorry that you have to worry about this. I am sending you positive thoughts and I will be praying for you! I hope that everything goes well. I did not know there could be hpv related lung problems. I just got over pneumonia and it scared the hell out of me. I hope they get to the bottom of your issues very soon. I am glad you are following up on these symptoms. Good luck! Stay positive.

    Mary
  • eihtak
    eihtak Member Posts: 1,473 Member
    #4
    Prayers in progress!!!
    I always include my "friends through cancer" as I call us, in my daily prayers, but will surely add a special one for you on this. Please keep us posted!
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #5
    prayers for you
    you are blessed by many prayers. thinking of you. hugs sephie
  • torrance
    torrance Member Posts: 118
    #6
    absolutely
    Sandy,

    I will hold you with everyone else in my prayers. I am so glad you are following up on your symptoms. Sometimes it just sucks, but we need to know anyway. Here's hoping you won't have to wait five more hours to see this dr!

    Love,
    Joanne
  • Lorikat
    Lorikat Member Posts: 681 Member
    #7
    torrance said:

    absolutely
    Sandy,

    I will hold you with everyone else in my prayers. I am so glad you are following up on your symptoms. Sometimes it just sucks, but we need to know anyway. Here's hoping you won't have to wait five more hours to see this dr!

    Love,
    Joanne

    EXTRA prayers coming your
    EXTRA prayers coming your way....
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #8
    Lorikat said:

    EXTRA prayers coming your
    EXTRA prayers coming your way....

    Sandy
    I am keeping you in my prayers as well.
    Hugs
    Liz
  • shirlann54
    shirlann54 Member Posts: 162
    #9
    Sandy
    You will be in my prayers Sandy. Shirley
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #10
    Fear
    This was a lot about fear really running me around. Head and Neck cancers are often hpv16 related but according to the doctor, I have no sign of any hpv related activity in my throat. The doctor said it has to do with my tonsils and they produce little "stones" that come and go that look like white spots. I am on Qvar80 now. My internist also thought the spot might be from the steroid inhalers but wanted me to check it out. I am very conscientious about rinsing after with mouthwash each time, if that works.

    Life has been a lot about medical appointments this year. Next week a colonoscopy and then I will have totally been checked head to toe. Besides getting treated for this asthma problem I have been in Pelvic PT which is going great but causes me to feel sluggish and tired later. The therapist says this is natural. She has been helping with lymphatic drainage which is a good thing but I guess there is a process to getting better. However I already am A LOT BETTER now because of this therapy.

    Thank all of you for your prayers. I felt a lot of gratitude hearing the news that my throat is about allergies, swelling and mucus but everything other than that looks fine. It was like hearing Beethoven's 5th or other heavenly music!
  • Marynb
    Marynb Member Posts: 1,118
    #11
    sandysp said:

    Fear
    This was a lot about fear really running me around. Head and Neck cancers are often hpv16 related but according to the doctor, I have no sign of any hpv related activity in my throat. The doctor said it has to do with my tonsils and they produce little "stones" that come and go that look like white spots. I am on Qvar80 now. My internist also thought the spot might be from the steroid inhalers but wanted me to check it out. I am very conscientious about rinsing after with mouthwash each time, if that works.

    Life has been a lot about medical appointments this year. Next week a colonoscopy and then I will have totally been checked head to toe. Besides getting treated for this asthma problem I have been in Pelvic PT which is going great but causes me to feel sluggish and tired later. The therapist says this is natural. She has been helping with lymphatic drainage which is a good thing but I guess there is a process to getting better. However I already am A LOT BETTER now because of this therapy.

    Thank all of you for your prayers. I felt a lot of gratitude hearing the news that my throat is about allergies, swelling and mucus but everything other than that looks fine. It was like hearing Beethoven's 5th or other heavenly music!

    That is a great relief!
    Who can blame us for our fears? Good for you staying on top of things. I don't know about you but I was misdiagnosed for years, not just for anal cancer, but for a second cancer. I was sick and in pain for years and told it was just that I was getting older. When in doubt, check it out!

    Have a great weekend!

    Mary
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #12
    sandysp said:

    Fear
    This was a lot about fear really running me around. Head and Neck cancers are often hpv16 related but according to the doctor, I have no sign of any hpv related activity in my throat. The doctor said it has to do with my tonsils and they produce little "stones" that come and go that look like white spots. I am on Qvar80 now. My internist also thought the spot might be from the steroid inhalers but wanted me to check it out. I am very conscientious about rinsing after with mouthwash each time, if that works.

    Life has been a lot about medical appointments this year. Next week a colonoscopy and then I will have totally been checked head to toe. Besides getting treated for this asthma problem I have been in Pelvic PT which is going great but causes me to feel sluggish and tired later. The therapist says this is natural. She has been helping with lymphatic drainage which is a good thing but I guess there is a process to getting better. However I already am A LOT BETTER now because of this therapy.

    Thank all of you for your prayers. I felt a lot of gratitude hearing the news that my throat is about allergies, swelling and mucus but everything other than that looks fine. It was like hearing Beethoven's 5th or other heavenly music!

    yea
    so great!!!! fear is our second nature. who can blame us. always lurking like a bad dream. congrats again on good news. we all need it. hugs to you sephie
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #13
    Hi Sandy--
    I've been on vacation and I'm so sorry to hear that you haven't been feeling well. I hope by this time, you are doing better and that the source of your problem has been determined to be nothing serious. Hugs to you, my friend!
  • sandysp
    sandysp Member Posts: 868 Member
    #14
    Marynb said:

    That is a great relief!
    Who can blame us for our fears? Good for you staying on top of things. I don't know about you but I was misdiagnosed for years, not just for anal cancer, but for a second cancer. I was sick and in pain for years and told it was just that I was getting older. When in doubt, check it out!

    Have a great weekend!

    Mary

    Your story sounds just like mine.
    I posted this elsewhere but thanks for your post. I love this board since our experience is one that is rare we need each other more than the average Joe, I feel.

    I am having a CT scan to take another look at the lungs. My right lung has a spot which is smaller than it was but because of the way I sounded today the Oncologist wants to take a look at the lymph node in the lungs or next to the lungs? I wish I knew more about lymph nodes and lungs. Guess I will look it up. I had three suspicious lymph nodes and was T2N1MO.

    I sing for money and love my singing job at an Episcopal church but this year it is really tough since I have been coughing and have not been able to sing well since August. Hopefully this is just a bad run and it will be over soon, but I am weary and afraid of losing or having to give up that job. I resigned on Sunday but then changed my mind, still hopeful to recover soon.

    Thanks for being here.

    Fondly,
    Sandy
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #15
    sandysp said:

    Your story sounds just like mine.
    I posted this elsewhere but thanks for your post. I love this board since our experience is one that is rare we need each other more than the average Joe, I feel.

    I am having a CT scan to take another look at the lungs. My right lung has a spot which is smaller than it was but because of the way I sounded today the Oncologist wants to take a look at the lymph node in the lungs or next to the lungs? I wish I knew more about lymph nodes and lungs. Guess I will look it up. I had three suspicious lymph nodes and was T2N1MO.

    I sing for money and love my singing job at an Episcopal church but this year it is really tough since I have been coughing and have not been able to sing well since August. Hopefully this is just a bad run and it will be over soon, but I am weary and afraid of losing or having to give up that job. I resigned on Sunday but then changed my mind, still hopeful to recover soon.

    Thanks for being here.

    Fondly,
    Sandy

    Hi Sandy--
    My best wishes go out to you today for encouraging results on your scan. I'm sending you many positive vibes!
  • sephie
    sephie Member Posts: 650 Member
    #16
    sandysp said:

    Your story sounds just like mine.
    I posted this elsewhere but thanks for your post. I love this board since our experience is one that is rare we need each other more than the average Joe, I feel.

    I am having a CT scan to take another look at the lungs. My right lung has a spot which is smaller than it was but because of the way I sounded today the Oncologist wants to take a look at the lymph node in the lungs or next to the lungs? I wish I knew more about lymph nodes and lungs. Guess I will look it up. I had three suspicious lymph nodes and was T2N1MO.

    I sing for money and love my singing job at an Episcopal church but this year it is really tough since I have been coughing and have not been able to sing well since August. Hopefully this is just a bad run and it will be over soon, but I am weary and afraid of losing or having to give up that job. I resigned on Sunday but then changed my mind, still hopeful to recover soon.

    Thanks for being here.

    Fondly,
    Sandy

    hi sandy
    love to you and hugs to you. you will recover and be able to continue singing. the nodes will be ok. i do know that it is scary but prayers will win. sephie

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