Where to start. Back in August my wife (42 y/o) woke up with a golf ball on the upper right side of her neck. Ultimately ended up with a US, which showed a 3.1cm x 2cm x2cm hypoechoic mass. Differential was complex cyst vs neoplasm vs lympadenopathy. ENT order a FNA. radiologist extracted white opaque fluid, and said it was benign right when she pulled the stuff out. We were thrilled. The lump went away after the fluid was extracted. Later that day the cytology report came in " Atypical squamous cells with a background of acute inflammation, branchial cyst vs Squamous cell mets lymph node. She followed up with ENT who said we could also do a CT scan, but since the lump went down we didnt. 2 weeks ago, she came down with a mild/ normal upper respiratory cold, and sure enough the thing starts coming back. ENT sends for CT scan. Results " In the right jugulodigastric chain there is a solid/cystic lesion measuring appx 2 x 2 x 3.5 cm. The cystic portion measures roughly 1.5 x 1.8 x 1.7 cm. No surrounding inflammatio or edema is seen. The lesion is separate from the Parotid gland. the rest of the CT scan was unremarkable. Impression: Solid/ cystic lesion suggesting prominent lymph node with cystic component. Differential includes metastatic lymph node vs type 2 branchial cleft cyst." N
Now we have a US guided core biopsy scheduled this coming Monday. Figured Id start here as if its cancer it looks like it would come from the oropharyngeal region. Shes never smoked or drank. Which I know doesnt matter much it seems. The other thing is she was born via Csection and both of us have never had any type of sexual relatins of any kind with anybody else (weve been together since late teens. Just scared, frustrated that after all these tests we keep ending up with nothing definitive. We both just want it cut out and sent in, but alas here we are
Just hold on. You don't know till you know so try to step back a little. I know it's hard
Although HPV is labelled an STI it's not as simple as that. It can be passed by any skin to skin contact and 80% of the population has been infected at any one time. Some of us cannot shake the infection off and the virus sits in our cells just waiting to sometimes transform the cells into cancer.
What can also happen is couple can pass the infection over to each other time after time until just once the infection isn't dealt with.
The other thing is that this cancer is curable with cure rates in excess of 90% which are the best odds
Good luck with the investigations
Wd are here if you do need us
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below
https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com
