CAT SCAN 1-19-2023 RESULTS

Had blood work and then CAT scan yesterday at TGMC.   Got results today.

FINDINGS OF CAT SCAN OF HEAD AND NECK - 1-19-2023

1.  Atrophic submandibular glands and stable 5 mm stone within the right submandibular (salivary) duct.

     - Stress can result in salivary gland hypo-function, which will             reduce salivary flow.

     - Salivary stones and tumors can be smaller than a marble or                 larger.  Most aren't cancerous, but if left untreated can develop           into cancer.

2.  Degenerative changes in the cervical spine, especially C6-7, where there is moderate to severe spinal stenosis.

     - If left untreated, spinal stenosis can result in permanent damage         to the spinal cord. This could cause bowel and bladder                         incontinence as well as paralysis.

    - When the spinal cord gets injured at C6-C7, pain, weakness,             or paralysis may occur in one or more parts of the body below         the injured level. Reduction of bowel, bladder, and/or breathing         functions may occur in some cases. Typically, nonsurgical                   treatments are tried first to control the symptoms of C6-C7                 injuries.

3.  1 cm nodule right lobe of the thyroid, decreased in size. Remainder of the thyroid somewhat atrophic.

     - Thyroid atrophy is the end result of either severe thyroid                     damage or total loss of pituitary stimulation.  The possible                 causes are: (1) irradiation (2) atrophic auto-immune thyroiditis.

So I was wrong about this lump being a cancer recurrence.  However, there are some things to be concerned about in these results.  Notice how the words "stress" and "radiation" keep popping up as causes.  

I am relieved that the cancer has not returned.

CANCER CENTER APPOINTMENT WITh NEW ONCOLOGIST

Had visit with a new Oncologist today for my one year check up.  He examined my lump on my neck, looked at my throat, and took a brief history of my last cancer 5 years ago.

He asked if I had been scoped and I informed him that my ENT doctor did so a week ago.  He said that he would prefer if we continue to allow the ENT to do the scopes of my throat as he is not comfortable doing so.  That made me like him immediately.

He discussed the course of action he would take if my biobsy comes back positive.  I knew what he was going to say... surgery.  I asked about Proton Radiation Therapy and Immunotherapy and he was not for either one of these.  So it would have to be surgery to remove the lymph node completely.  No radiation.  He did not mention chemo.  He will be leaving the cancer center in April so I will be seeing another doctor when I return in 6 months.  All my future care will be through my ENT.

On leaving he said to me that he did not think that it was a return of the cancer I had 5 years ago but could not elaborate on why I had this lump on my neck in the same place as before as well as the ear ache, just like before.

Tomorrow I get my blood work and CAT scan.

HAVING A CAT SCAN ON MY HEAD AND NECK - HERE WE GO AGAIN

Saw ENT today and he examined the lump on my neck.  He ordered a CAT scan but said that he was not too concerned about it as it was a small lump.  It is the size of a marble.  He said that it could be from an infection or illness of some kind that my system was trying to fight off.  I have not had an illness except for the problems with my heart which is not an infection.

I did some research and this is what I found.

  

Swollen lymph nodes are a sign that your immune system is fighting off infection or illness. Swollen lymph nodes are more likely to be benign than malignant. Benign means the lymph nodes don't contain cancer cells.  Benign lymphoma can sometimes turn into cancer, although it is not common. 

There is a link between stress causing swollen lymph nodes and mental illness. Swelling lymph nodes can occur when we face stress triggers and is a physical symptom of mental problems.

Chronic stress induces signalling from the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and drives cancer progression.  

A persistent lateral neck lump in an adult should be considered malignant until proven otherwise.

At this point in time, it is my belief that my cancer has returned due to the extreme amount of stress

I have endured for 8 months while caring for my son.

I may be wrong but it is my gut feeling.

Stress is a killer.

LUMP STILL THERE

Completed the meds given by ENT doctor and the lump is still there.  Only shrunk a tiny bit.  Seeing doctor a week from today. Am going to ask for a CAT scan. 

The steroids and antibiotics have given me a rash in my mouth and my genitals.  Have cream for the genitals.  This is very uncomfortable.

ENT VISIT - NEW LUMP ON MY NECK - So here we go again.

Noticed a small lump on left side of my neck last week in the same location as the cancerous lymph node of 5 years ago and also having an ear ache.  Saw ENT today and he put me on a steroid and antibiotic to see if it would shrink the lump.  If not then he will order a CAT scan in 2 weeks.

On November 10, 2022 Two Doctor's Visits With Good And Bad News

My brother got his stomach PEG tube removed... finally.  It was implanted on August 2, 1019 - 3 years and 3 months.  I only had my tube for 8 months.

My cardiologist visit was not so good.  He ordered an EKG,  Echocardiogram and a CT Cardio Scan to look for blockages.  Have had A-fib on and off for the last few weeks due to stress.  Then had a blood pressure drop where I almost fainted. B/P taken after attack was 81/41.  Very scary.

Dr. Abben put me on a blood thinner and Digoxin.  The blood thinner makes me dizzy.  Not in A-fib any longer.  Just a hard thump now and then.

Dr. Abben took me off of Eloquis and will put me on Zerelto.  I'm not to take any more blood thinner meds till I find out what the lump on my neck is.

 

FOUR DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS THIS WEEK

First appointment was with my ENT.  Got scoped and he said I had a blood blister on my esophagus.  He was not concerned about this finding. 

I informed him about the throbbing sensation I am having on my thyroid where the nodule is located.   He ordered an Ultra Sound.

Left ENT office and went to see my Oncologist next.  Discussed my continued improvement from Radiation Therapy.  He is very satisfied with my getting more saliva.  I'm guessing I'm at about 80%.

Next day I saw my family doctor.  Discussed continued bouts of allergic reactions where my throat closes up for several seconds.  Also informed him that my blood sugar is really high on fasting.  It has been between 180 and 200 every morning since I started taking the thyroid meds.  I told him I felt that the Levothyroxin was causing the high blood sugar numbers.  He disagreed.  Sent me for blood work.  Said he would call me with results.

He called me yesterday and said he wanted me to start taking an increased dosage of the thyroid meds.  So now I'm on Levothyroxin 50 MCG TAB ALV instead of 25 mcg tabs.

While we were talking on the phone I had a throat spasm where my throat closed up.  I quickly drank a sip of water then another sip before I could speak.  I told him my throat had closed up again.  He didn't seem concerned and stayed quiet while I gasped for breath.  It's been happening more frequently and it is very scary.

Today my ENT did the Ultrasound and said the nodule on my thyroid had not grown.  He suggested that the sensation I am having in that area could be a muscle spasm.  Is considering a biopsy of the nodule.

I told him about the throat closing episodes and he wants me to take an antihistamine - Zyrtec plain daily.  It's an over the counter drug used for allergies.  Will see him again in 6 months.