Need advice Quick

Why? What did the report say?

After Chemo and Rads, I had some lymph nodes that we wern't sure about. I had a choice, Take them out, or the 'wait and see approach'

I don't do well with an axe hanging over my head, so I was decided,  - Take them out!

Your ENT has reasons for his advice, ask him to explain in laymans terms, explain you do not have a medical degree, and you'd like it in small words.

Your ENT is not very communicative. You said " I asked about what he was going to do and he wouldn't explain anything. He's originally said it was in my parotid and now he says it is my lymph. wasted 2 more weeks.  He is not sociable, he just comes in, looks, says go do this and come back." He may be a great doc but you can't feel good about a major health situation like cancer if he won't even explain things to you. Can you look him up on the web and see if he is highly rated. If he is very good at least you have that going for you even though he is not a guy with the greatest bedside manners. I just went through some major things and had operations and before the operation, they explained them to me and gave me a chance to ask questions. This would be unsettling and on top of that, he said it was parotid then said it was lymph. Is there someone else on their group you can request? I think I would just wait till you go to MD Anderson as something about your explanation is not comfortable. My wife had a doc like that one time for an eye problem, he was the boss and after the first meeting, we said we are not going back there anymore. Anyway, it seems you are not comfortable with this doc and unsettled about the whole thing so you need to be with a medical team you feel confident in and comfortable with a major thing like cancer. At the very least I would get a second opinion but actually, you have that coming up at MD Anderson. I know how you feel, we all do you just want this cancer gone and move on with your life but focus and consider your options and be sure you are comfortable with each step as much as possible. Hopefully, some others will add in here-Sorry I made this so long you have some decisions to make involve wife and family if possible-Take Care-God Bless

Go to MD Anderson, Never go with someone that wont talk to you@ You are paying his salary! Remember that!

Years ago, when I messed my knee up, I needed surgery. So a friend recommended her surgeon, he was sooo great.

I went to see him, 1/2 an inch of paperwork, finally made it past the waiting room, nurse came in, asked me another 10 - 15 mins of questions.

Dr came in, shook my hand poked my knee, said.. hmm.. walked out.

Nurse came back in, said, "dr said you need a CT scan, and he'll do surgery on xx day"

I replied, No he won't, if he cannot be bothered to actually talk to me, he is NOT cutting my knee open!

So I googled Ortho's in my area, and found one that I thought would do a good job. He was also highly recommended. He did a great job, and had great bedside manner.

BUT people change, older people sometimes become complacent.

Younger Doctors while missing years of experience have new education on their side. So much so, that when I went back about my knee last year, the surgeon that repaired my meniscus, walked in, said, "you need a new knee, I'm going to cut from here to here I'll send my cheduler in"

No oh NO, I left, went to a different Dr I researched, and he went with the gel shot, and my knee *touch wood* is doing great.

So research, research, research. go with your gut, your heart and your mind. If you are not comfortable, leave. This is the only time you will ever hear me say anything good about Dr Google. As far as MD Anderson, I don't know it, but I am sure they have a lot of Drs, request the one you want. It can't hurt to try. I did, mine was awesome from start to finish

I know your worry.  I had everything ready to start treatment at one hospital, and then got a second opinion and decided to move to the second hospital but the treatment wouldn't start for approximately 3-4 weeks later.  During that time, I was a nervous wreck, crying, anxious.  I was so worried that the wait was going to cause the cancer to spread.  So I can't answer this question for you because there are both benefit and risks for waiting.  But I think MD Anderson would be better place to get treatment.  Sometimes local  hospitals don't have as good of local labs, and won't give the degree of detail that a good hospital might want in the labatory tests.  There are alot of reasons to wait.  Can you call MD Anderson and ask them to call you if they have any cancellations at all?  IF MD anderson is asking you to wait, there must be a reason for that request.  They aren't saying, go ahead, and just send us the test results...

THMoore said:

Thanks for the Great Advice and Guidance

MD Anderson Update (The Road to Surgery)

I wanted to provide the latest information available on my personal journey with Cancer. All required tests were completed last night at 7:30 PM. My primary Physician contacted us at 0800 to explain the results and plan of action moving forward. 

All tests returned showing a malignancy in one area only. My neck Parotid Gland region or saliva gland. The tumor looks to be of a less aggressive nature, but until surgery is performed, and pathology is performed on the tissue, the status is uncertain. Hope is surgery will be the only required action. If not, six weeks of radiation might be required to kill off any remaining cells. We are waiting for a surgical date from the team. It looks most likely to be this upcoming week or so.

It is unbelievable how professional, caring and loving the employees are at MD Anderson. Everyone is a team. Everyone has input. Everyone listens. Everyone wants to learn. Why can’t other facilities operate this way? 

Anyway, once again, I would to thank everyone for all the excellent advice, prayers, love, and most kind words of encouragement. I can say with 100 % certainty, we love all you from the bottom of our heart. My next update will be post-surgery.

That is really good news!   

I personnally believe in MDA. I have been getting my treatments there since 2015 and my ocal doctors origannaly told me to go home and get my affairs in order. The team there gave me radiation and chemo and now I am getting immunotherapy they are always ready to explain everything and they are on the cutting edge of new treatments. I wish you the best. What ever you feel most confident with is the best choice for you.