extrascapular involvement on my lumph node- damn!

was on my pathology report....just that one needle biopsy had me entering the world of chemo and rads.  I had NPC (nasopharyngeal Carcinoma....that's behind the nose)....with two enlarged lymph nodes, one on each side of my neck.  From there the ENT gave me the phone numbers of both the radiologist and the oncologist which I had to contact myself  (at that point I was thinking I've got to get out of this podunk town and get myself to a big center....like doesn't this sound like I should be getting referred by the Dr. himself????)....it all turned out alright, tho.  As it turned out tho, I got just as good of care, modern equipment, and good Drs. 

It's going to be ok....really.  Like Candi said....the treatments are doable, the side effects can be trying, however.  It takes a while after you're done with everything to come back....BUT you do come back.  Sticking around here....asking questions as you go through treatment will make this even more doable.  There's lots of people here with lots of ideas to make this as comfortable as it can be.  The Drs. do the doctoring.....ah, but here is where the details on how to get thru it are taken care of.  Things the Drs. don't even think of because they've never actually gone through treatment.

p 

PJ47 said:

Hi, Our oldest daughter lives

Hi, Our oldest daughter lives in Swan Lake Mt. the boonies.  I was asking about extracapsular extension as I just learned about last nite when my surgeon said I will have to have rad/chemo.  Have since found a great study from Wash. medical center in St. Louis Mo.  which has actually graded this from 0-4 and prognosis is ok with all but a 4 which predicts mets and reoccurance.  So that is worth knowing about.  I called my MDs office to ask what the grade is but have not heard back yet.  Hoping for a 1-3.

PJ

Your daughter is just a hop, skip and jump from me.....about 35 miles. 

p

PJ47 said:

Are you in Kalispell or

Are you in Kalispell or Polson or thereabouts?  We love it there and and I visited my grandbabies the week before surgery.  Took them to Glacier to get their Ranger Badges among other things.  Their favorite place Gma took them to was Kehoes Agate Shop.  PJ

It's just so cool when I hear that one of us has connections close to me.

p

Roar said:

I had similar

I had an unknown primary with one lymph node involved which I had removed and was told it was well encapsulated and it did not try to extend outwards. However I was given about 40 rounds of rads and 3 chemo citsplatin - 1 on week one of my first rad 1 right in the middle of rads and the same same day as my last rad which by the way was the toughest of all. All I can tell you is to enjoy your favorite foods from now until rads and chemo start and do not worry about gaining weight as you will soon go on the best diet in the world and as you will probably not be able to taste them again for a while. Also on the days when you have chemo and the day before and after drink as much water as you can hold in addition to the hydration they will administer 

good luck my fellow warrior

Ralph

ralph, what does encapsulated mean?

ty.

dj

But my take on well encapsulated was that it looked like a nice clean marble and did not try to spread or attach itself to other areas - ot hats how the Dr. Explained it