New to this and being proactive in the process of support....

My mother is a yet-to-be diagnosed sufferer of an mandibular tumor 4cm. X 1.2 cm, "eroding" 2/3 of her mandible bone, with another 1.3cm. tumor adjacent, also invading the bone. We have yet to find out if her tumor(s) are metastatic or primary -and of coarse praying for a primary, treatable condition. My Mom and I both are Histotechs.....we gross tissues, prepare slides, test tissues for immunohistochemistry stains, etc....basically, we know too much....We live in SB county. We have done inhouse H&E stains which confirm malignancy. I did a cytokeratin stain, which proved positive, which prob concludes an epithlial tumor. An oral pathologist has just received my Moms biopsy today (he is in San Diego) and is is supposed to be "the best"....so, we are just waiting.

Just sending out a hello to see if there is anyone out there that can lend an ear.

My Mom is an active, seemingly healty 61 y/o - she eats well, exercises and has no other symtoms. She has had "clear" mammograms, colonoscopys, lung xray (she used to smoke), pap smears, etc. She had a blood test that indicated her kidney function is "normal".

I did many immunohistochemical stains "inhouse" today at my lab and have results - but our pathologists "have never seen a tumor like this". So, waiting on answers from the "expert". If it is a metastic tumor, doesn't look like renal cell carcinoma. It is CK7 Positive and CK20 negative. From what I can tell from Google.....it could be a salivary gland primary.....we are hoping so.

Is anybody there?

Bueller - Bueller!!!! lol!!

Comments

  • laynie11
    laynie11 Member Posts: 36
    also.....
    i think we have ruled out multiple myeloma and sarcoma, based on the positive keratin stain....but who knows.
  • laynie11
    laynie11 Member Posts: 36
    also.....
    i think we have ruled out multiple myeloma and sarcoma, based on the positive keratin stain....but who knows.
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    your mom
    Laynie, I'm sorry your mom is having this problem.

    I agree: sometimes knowing too much is just too much! Hopefully, you have physician's in whom you can place your trust.

    Mandibular tumor makes it sound like you should also check the head and neck cancer board, but I don't think I've ever seen this type of cancer there and am wondering if the primary cancer will be bone?

    Hang in there - the two of you will get through this.
  • laynie11
    laynie11 Member Posts: 36

    your mom
    Laynie, I'm sorry your mom is having this problem.

    I agree: sometimes knowing too much is just too much! Hopefully, you have physician's in whom you can place your trust.

    Mandibular tumor makes it sound like you should also check the head and neck cancer board, but I don't think I've ever seen this type of cancer there and am wondering if the primary cancer will be bone?

    Hang in there - the two of you will get through this.

    Thank you for your response.
    Thank you for your response. We are still waiting. I am glad I live locally to be there for my Mom. I have a feeling I will need CSN message board support soon. I thought I would navigate around and find a kind soul to listen. Sounds like you are, kinds, and I appreciate it. Hoping her condition is a primary.

    Gretchen (Laynie is my daughter :) )