Another Chapter in my H&N Journey-Biopsy Today

The heat is on in Oregon, probably pretty unusual in your area. Matt this was just my biopsy. The fella took 5 samples. He said he always takes 5 because that way the pathologist always has enough and the patients don't have to have a do-over. They find the right area and lymph nodes with ultrasound to get the samples as they can see on the screen what is going on. The fella said he was going to use lots of lidocaine because he said there was no need for this to be painful. He let me know ahead of time the device makes a loud snap noise when he takes a sample and demonstrated so I wouldn't be alarmed. He also seemed to want to emphasize that he has done thousands of these and never once did any of his patients get an infection.

You can watch on the screen and as he pushes the needle in you can see things move like my tissue for instance and see the needle although I couldn't see that well without my glasses on as he gives a push, another push and maybe another little push or two and when he is satisfied he is in position for a good sample he would let you know he was going to take it and count 1-2-3-Snap.

After doing this I have my follow up with my ENT Sept. 4th or sooner depending on when he gets the results and I figger at that time he will have the next step in my plan or maybe the whole plan. Will keep you updated. I have already been told he wants me to go to Phila. for any operation on lymph nodes because of previous rads.

Matt, I'm doing OK so far on this no-fun adventure but it is made easier by you and all the H&N folks here on CSN who give each other such great support, ideas, experience, prayers and much more. Not looking forward to any of this just the part where I am through it and done with it and I have made it quite clear to Mr. Cancer that we're not friends, never were friends and that I don't want to ever see him ever again or he'll get a kind word, no wait, an unkind word and a two-by-four.

And I do agree you are certainly a spread it on kinda guy.

Your buddy in PA

Russ

skidog said:

thinking about you..

And all that you have been through. Hoping for the best for you through this hurdle. Keep up the good fight. You are a strong warrior!

Response and pitching in with support and confidence-God Bless

Logan51 said:

Russ

C found by a CT? Read your original post. Only one very little lymph node? And now a needle biopsy in 5 places? Have you considered that the CT very well could be an inadequate way to reach a diagnosis, and none of the biopsies will come back positive for C? Just think about it. I had a needle biopsy done to one of my enlarged lymph nodes and it came back negative. Only the surgical biopsy revealed the NPC in what was one of two very enlarged lymph nodes. I am having a real problem with your Dr. saying its C in a node from a CT scan, Russ, as I don't think that is possible, or very likely at all.

A PET is definitely in order before a radical neck dissection. And maybe a surgical biopsy.

Your tightness or stiffness in the neck just may be Rad damage, which is very typical. Lord knows I've had that symptom on both sides of my neck for many years. AND, today I met with a PT who deals with post-Rad damage. ENT scoped my throat and said its a mess- "there's scar tissue everywhere." The PT today explained the scar tissue is not only in my throat, but also outside in the tissue and muscles, e.g., in my neck. 

I've been seeing a Neurologist for over 6 years to help me deal with both sides of my neck because the tightness had advanced to semi-frequent spasms. He got to witness a spasm in my left side on my very first visit, and said what nerve it was. No CT or biopsy done. Just the expected Rad damage. The first couple years were not bad- took time for the scar tissue to grow and develop into problems with putting pressure on the nerves, as I understand it. That's the problem with scar tissue- it grows, which is why after 9 years Aspiration developed with me and I'm now on a FT for the rest of my life.

Therefore, I'd be wary of the Dr.'s C diagnosis from a CT, and stand your ground about the need for at least a PET. People do not like to think of it in this way, but C treatment is "Big Business." What Phrannie mentioned about research in Israel that is now being tested at MD could send shock waves thru the world C Industry- a cure that might make Rads, Chemo and radical surgeries OBSOLETE! Reminds me of something my retired GP told me: go to a Surgeon with a problem, and they'll tell you Surgery is the option. Go to a C center, and they'll tell you C and R is the solution. Go to a Therapist, and they'll say Therapy will take care of it. It is not C until there is definite biopsy proof it is C, unless it is a large growth/tumor a MRI can find, for instance, with a lession(s) under the skull.

Keep the Faith, Russ, and do not let the Dr.s jump the gun by doing something additional that might not be needed. My Dad had a growth the Dr.s thought was C in one of his kidneys. U of Iowa removed the kidney. Post-Op. biopsy revealed it was benign, and Surgeon apologized to Dad for taking his kidney out!!! Said there would have been another option without removal. And the U of Iowa is a very highly ranked Medical Center.

 

For your response and the issues, you bring up. First off I really trust and have confidence in my ENT. But you bring up some very valid questions that I will ask him as I certainly don't want to go through any medical treatments I don't need. I originally went to him for my regular checkup as I have been seeing him every month and I think very recently every 2 months since he removed a cancer spot from my tongue with clear margins last year. I had this neck soreness and stiffness a bit before seeing him but just waited till my appointment to have him check me out since it was coming up soon. He scoped me checked my ears, nose, mouth and obviously throat and felt my neck and said it is a little stiff but that I had been a little stiff on that side anyway since getting radiation in that area. He said that he did not see anything that really alarmed him But he said just to be safe he ordered the CT scan with dye just to be sure. Then when he got the results it showed cancer. So then he ordered a biopsy to actually confirm the CT scan as to "is it cancer for sure?" and what variety. So I feel he is going in a step by step diagnosis here to be exactly sure what we are dealing with. But I will ask him and pose to him your situation and ideas every bit of input helps.

Just to clarify I am not sure if I only have one lymph node or more involved that is something I will be asking him. When He called that day and told me the results of the CAT scan and that it was cancer again and in the lymph node or nodes I was sort of blanked out at that point like most of us who have gotten their news and at that point, I didn't ask for details. I know I have gotten it before twice but as some of us know it is still difficult each time.

And I would also like to clarify the biopsy because I guess I did not explain it properly. I have one sore spot on my neck now with a small lump or raised area basically swelled up from the procedure where the Doctor took the tissue samples. I consider it normal swelling. It was a needle biopsy and I think he put the needle in generally the same insertion area each time but I am assuming once inside a sample was taken in a slightly different area to make sure they had it covered. He could see where he was taking the sample by watching a screen as they were using ultrasound. I was watching some of it but did not have my glasses so I could not see a lot of detail. As the doc said we take 5 to make sure we have enough so the patient doesn't have to come back and go through it again. So I had 5 samples taken in generally the same area to be sure they had enough of that area where my problem is. "I Did Not Have 5 samples taken from many different areas."

Hope this explains my situation. Dave thanks for your input it is good to have information given from our CSN veterans as not only have you been reading this forum for years and have gathered knowledge from it But you have had your own personal battle. Thanks, again-God Bless