ct results update

My FN biopsy was a seperate appt.  Mine was ultrasound guided.  About 1 hour.  For me there was a numbing shot before biopsy.  Neck dissection was not a horrible as it sounds.  If it is 'c,' it is doable.  Hopefully nothing, but better to get it checked, and sooner rather than later is the best.  Yes, we do learn to wait.

I did my biopsy in the chair while my ENT was scooping me, it was OK until she hit a spot close to a nerve and I screamed she backed off and said I am sorry did that hurt; Da what do you think doc. Anyway it did not take long but was a little uncomfortable as she was digging in my sinus area. I am still praying for you sister that it is not C just keep your faith and no matter what it is God will give you the strength to bear the trial before you

God Bless and keep you while in His Workshop

Tim Hondo

phrannie51 said:

I just went back and read

what you wrote on the 26th....the day you went to the new Dr.  Then two days later you were celebrating your 2 year anniversary....you were celebrating both events.  Therefore, take the words "I believe the cancer is back"....and toss them behind you.  This time of year, any one of us could be fighting the germs that abound around us everywhere we go....we're always inside, and folks around us are doing their thing even tho their coughing and hacking, blowing their noses, wiping kids's noses (then touching the friut and veggies in the store).....and laryngetomies are more vulnerable because they don't use their nose to filter things.  Didn't you just have a bug and you were talking about trying to blow your nose, but couldn't?? 

I personally will not believe that the cancer is back....only the words on the scan report, and the ENT's words put you into this thought pattern....and at this juncture there is no reason to go there....borrowing trouble is what my old auntie used to call it.... You don't have to do that!!!

p

PS....I guess I learned something here, too.....I thought ENT's were the surgeons for the head and neck.....that this was their specialty, just like a heart surgeon does hearts, and a thorasic surgeon does the chest.....

My ENT that Dx me, was the MD that did the surgery to take the tonsils out, and did a quick read biopsy as well as the scopes, exams, etc... The tissue was sent out for results for HPV though.

Debbie, our local ENT scoped my husband on every visit before and after his laryngectomy.   In fact it was our local ENT who did the first two biopsies and they were great doctors who knew what they were talking about.  But they didn't do the surgery my husband needed and they referred him to the H&N specialist.   Our H&N specialist scoped my husband both before and after surgery (my husband decided all follow up procedures would be by the H&N specialist.  He was just tired of going to our local ENT one month and then the H&N specialist the next).   They went thru his nose and down his throat.  Even the radiologist/oncologist scoped my husband during some of the visits.   Two biopsies my husband had done were done as outpatient procedures and one he was kept in the hospital for a few days because they had to do a trach (this was before the laryngectomy).  And just because the vocal cords are gone doesn't mean there is no need for scoping in the doctor's office. 

Personally I am finding that too many healthcare professionals and that includes doctors don't know anything about laryngectomees.  Even our hospice doesn't know and I am forever explaining supplies that are needed and how my husband breathes.  This is scary because when you have no voice you can't explain anything and if you have no one to help care for you, it is really scary especially since once you are a laryngectomy and the way you breath is very different.

Wishing you the best -- Sharon

Debbie, Jim's ENT was the surgeon but he sent us to someone else for needle biopsy to base of tongue with local. I thought the wait and see was a little risky myself. They had Jim wait and see for 3 months when they found the first lung nodule. Three months later he had numerous nodles in both lungs. I don't believe it would have made a difference in his case but just saying a lot can happen in a couple months. Praying it is an infection. Would say don't worry but we both know that is impossible to do. I will pray for some peace and that the doctors move quickly to get the answers.

Debbie

debbiejeanne said:

thank you everyone!!  doing

thank you everyone!!  doing my best to remember that its not cancer until the doc says it is, easier said than done...lol.  P, i've had a neck dissection and didn't do to well afterwards.  my skin was very thin from the rads so it didn't heal and then i got a fistula.  i was in the hospital for a month recovering.  ruining skin is just one more gift from rads :0(   i don't recall having a bug but my nose did run for a few days making the skin very chapped.  my nose does that a lot since the laryngectomy. 

i am confused with some of what this ent said.  for one, no need to scope cuz the voice box is gone.  well, i've had a total hystorectomy and no longer have those parts but i still have to have yearly paps.  i mean i'm truly confused.  was lead to believe i didn't need to see my surgeon (ent surgeron who specialized in cancer) as his job was done once i healed from surgery, told a regular ent should do my checkups, but regular ent said i should see my surgeon.  plus, this ent that was recommended by the new doc disagrees with the "wait and see" decision and tells me to see my surgeon right away for a biopsy.  damn, does this have to be so hard?!!  i think i will just see the surgeron/ent who fixed the fistula and seen me every 4 months since and that's all.  if i think something needs to be done that he isn't suggesting, i'll bring it up.  i just have to trust him to take good care of me and hopefully, keep me cancer free or at least be on top of it and catch it early. sighhhhhhh............

I didn't know there were "regular ENT's" and "ENT surgeons".....that there were two varieties.  If you want this node biopsied, tell the ENT that you WANT it....Talk to him about this node that has gotten bigger.....Oh, and if the surgeon ENT is who you've been seeing, why hasn't HE scoped you?  My mom was a laryngetomy and got scoped every three months....you might not have a larnyx, but there's other parts that need to be looked at now and again....

p

debbiejeanne said:

P, i agree w/u about the

P, i agree w/u about the scope but my ent surgeon and this new ent both said no reason to scope unless there is a problem.  i don't know, maybe there isn't different types of ents.  i just know my ent surgeon is the one who fixed my fistula and has checked me since.  can a regular (?) ent do that type of surgery?  who knows.  he has done other surgery on me too but i can't think of what it was for, one surgery was for a TEP.  maybe i just worry to much about nothing.  i'll just have to wait and see what doc says next wed.  :0)

dj

DJ if you don't like this ENT please find another one.  You know you have to have trust in the doctors that are treating you.  I guess we were lucky that our local ENT referred us to a head and neck specialist and from there on he did everything and that included scoping at every 3 month check up and Joe had a complete laryngectomy.   Our local ENT told us that not many ENT's know about laryngectomees because there are so few in this country today but the number is increasing rapidly.  Your ENT surgeon should be doing the scope since he knows you.  And if it was me I would be more comfortable with him doing the scope than someone you don't know or who doesn't know you after all you have been thru.  Just my opinion.

Wishing you peace -- Sharon

debbiejeanne said:

P, i agree w/u about the

P, i agree w/u about the scope but my ent surgeon and this new ent both said no reason to scope unless there is a problem.  i don't know, maybe there isn't different types of ents.  i just know my ent surgeon is the one who fixed my fistula and has checked me since.  can a regular (?) ent do that type of surgery?  who knows.  he has done other surgery on me too but i can't think of what it was for, one surgery was for a TEP.  maybe i just worry to much about nothing.  i'll just have to wait and see what doc says next wed.  :0)

dj

I have to be scopped every two months for the first year because I didn't have RAD , then it will be every six months for five years. So far NED.

If they didn't remove all of your lynph glands they can get enlarged with infection or colds. It's not cancer untill they say it is. [ Just hard to remember when it's you]

Yes some ENT don't do surgery of at least major surgery. One doctor was going to send me to a local ENT before I went to Stanford, and he did surgery. He took out tonsils. Sorry he might be very nice but he is not going to do cancer surgery on me. I do have a local ENT to scope and check me but if he thinks he found anything he will send me back to Stanford, and I'm good with that.

DJ,

I had a FNA (Fine Needle Aspiration) of a lymph tumor in office. It was a breeze. The primary was BOT and for that I went under general and into the OR for biopsy. Like all things cancer, it depends. Good luck, Don