Residual tumour after getting all clear

Hi Ben am in a similar situation, had two lots of laser surgery last year for SCC on Epiglottis, second surgery was in August 2019, Got clear margins and considered myself lucky.  Went for check up in January and they said stump from surgery site was raised, 4 weeks later there is another growth and I have a large lip lesion which is also cancerous.  They were going to do a further biopsy on throat but due to the lip lesion which has grown rapidly I am seeing Maxillofacial tomorrow to discus treatment.  There is a possibilit of tandem surgery but should know more tomorrow.  In addition there is a couple of lung nodules and have a further CT next Tuesday.  So nothing will happen until all of this had been done.  Feeling very down and scared this time as it seems to be spreading.  Tomorrow will tell me more hopefully as to if I have a second primary or secondary cancer on the lip.  Not sure I am going to sleep tonight.  Went to my GP for some help with stress today and all they offered me was stronger pain killers which I refused for now.

Let us know how you get on.

Mo

Sorry Ben what’s SNL?

Most of us here that have had surgery for a SCC go on to have radiotherapy or Chemo radiation. I personal just had radio. 
so you probably are in a good spot for the team to treat you successfully. Good luck. 

Hi Mo, 

Sounds like you have been through the wars I hope it is all sorted for you as quick as possible. 

I don't get the lack of urgency from these hospitals if I am being honest. I've had appointments messed about and I just feel like the one time you need the NHS service and you are let down. 

I am waiting on a tube down the throat next Thursday and then I will get a treatment plan once the results of that and the biopsy come back (again). 

I only have my daughter who works god knows how I'm going to get to and from that Clatterbridge because we are very close but she can't take morning and afternoons off constantly. 

Feel in the dark.

SNL is sentinel lymph node 

Thanks 

Ah. Thanks Ben. I thought it might be but was looking for SLN. Silly me. Sorry 

So it’s a lymph node that has more tumour that they found in ultrasound? 
I know some protocols are to do neck dissections and remove as many lymph nodes as they see fit and other clinicians leave lymph nodes intact as “sentinels” and monitor those closely with the expectation that disabling surgery can be avoided. Some people here have had surgery then some months later gone on to neck dissections if more cancer was found. 

Oh no Dani sorry that is me SLN you are totally right. 

There are so many acronyms and shortenings I get lost ..... often

Googled SNL and all I got was Saturday Night Live; wasn't quite sure how that was relevant

Sorry things moving along a bit slowly for you Ben but I was always told it was better to have the right treatment rather than quick treatment so try not to let it worry you too much; easier for me to say I know from where I'm at as opposed to where you are.

Hi Mo , sorry to hear that you are going through all of this, I know what it's like for cancer to return as it has happened to me. I would speak to the Maxillofacial consultant tomorrow about your stress as your G.P prescribing painkillers will not help, some G.Ps are a bit reluctant to prescribe them as so many people are using them nowadays when they don't need them. I was prescribed Amitriptyline when i was suffering from stress but there are others available, most of these stress-related drugs will also help you sleep.I hope all goes well for tomorrow, take care.  

                                                                             Chris x

Oh Ben that is hard if you cannot get transport to the Hospital.  Can you get patient transport some of the time and your daughter sometimes as well.  Struggling a bit here too as not on a bus route, Hoping my lot can take some turns if I am not well enough to drive myself.  Good luck for next Thursday.  I have to go again next Tuesday as no one seems able to make a decision on what is priority my lip or my Epiglottis and they did not know if this is a second primary or related to the original.  Felt a bit deflated with it today.  Trying to put it to one side for now as its driving me insane.

All the best 

Mo

Good evening Ben12, when I first got cancer it was in the floor of the mouth and suspect lymph nodes,I was operated on firstly then had a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy about a month later, however, the cancer came back a year later. My consultant used to say "it's like pulling up weeds no matter how hard you try there is always a risk of a bit of the root is left behind so nothing is guaranteed " So it's hard to say whether it could have been prevented, some people refuse to have treatment afterwards and they get no re-occurrence so it's a hard one to call. All the best.

                                                           Chris .