Early In Diagnosis - Need Advice

Hi all,

I am working though the system of diagnosis for tonsil cancer.  I have had a CT scan that shows a 1.9 x 2.2 cm mass on my left tonsil that looks like cancer (has central necrosis, etc).  The CT shows no lymphadenopathy.

Most of this mass is not visible in my mouth.  I am wondering how invasive this could be?  Does anyone know if this would be stage II?  Is it more serious since it is inside instead of visible from my mouth?  I have some sensation in the left roof of my mouth and that concerns me too.  Any advice or opinions on his would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

 

On 2/24/2008 DebAnn wrote:

Hi all,

I am working though the system of diagnosis for tonsil cancer.  I have had a CT scan that shows a 1.9 x 2.2 cm mass on my left tonsil that looks like cancer (has central necrosis, etc).  The CT shows no lymphadenopathy.

Most of this mass is not visible in my mouth.  I am wondering how invasive this could be?  Does anyone know if this would be stage II?  Is it more serious since it is inside instead of visible from my mouth?  I have some sensation in the left roof of my mouth and that concerns me too.  Any advice or opinions on his would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

 

I would call this stage 2, which means a tumor that is 2-4 cm. My tumor was also stage 2, it was 2cm by 2cm, left tonsil. I also had no nodes. Is your tonsil enlarged? My tonsil was enlarged, yet the tumor was not visible because it was all inside the tonsil. A year prior to my diagnosis I had a CAT scan of the enlarged tonsil, and since there was no node involvement, they reported no evidence of malignancy, unfortunately. If you have anymore specific questions I would be happy to answer.

Dear GirlCat36,

I have a question regarding the CT Scan that did not reveal your tonsil cancer.  Was the CT Scan done with Contrast Agent?  Your answer will help me and others that are facing symptoms like yours. 

Thank you for the excellent quality information that you are providing on CancerCompass!

SeattleHiker

Yes, there was contrast with my CAT scan.

 I am glad to be of any help to anyone who may be facing this illness. It kind of gives me a reason to have gone through all this.

Seattlehiker--did you get a diagnosis?

Hi,

Thanks for telling me your story.  I hope you are well!  By the way, I am 52 years old.  What kind of treatment did you have? 

DebAnn

 

On 3/2/2008 DebAnn wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for telling me your story.  I hope you are well!  By the way, I am 52 years old.  What kind of treatment did you have? 

DebAnn

I had a tonsillectomy 3-1-07, radiation and chemo(cisplatin), TX completed 6-6-07.

Doing pretty good now. I have a link to a website I kept during my treatment. If you are interested, I will PM it to you

Dear GirlCat36,

Thank you for replying.  I’m so sorry that your doctors trusted the CT Scan with Contrast, and left your tonsils in for another year.  

 

I’m having my tonsils removed this week.  I sure hope that no cancer is found, although my story is quite similar to yours.  I’ll send a more detailed update once I get the report back from the pathologist.  Thanks for asking!  

 

Best of health to you, and to all the others who are battling Tonsil Cancer! 

 

SeattleHiker