Finding the Source is a Big Deal

My original biopsy results used the adjectives "poorly differentiated", which basically means the cancer cells tested is not where the cancer originated. I don't know how they know that, but it is a big deal to find out the source. 

For me, my left lymph node is hardened and full of cancer, which suggests the source could be somewhere in my throat, tongue or mouth, and more often from the same side as the lymph node. So to find out more about the cancer, and to see how far it has spread, the ENT orders a PET scan. For my scan, they injected a radioactive concoction into my veins, and put me into the CT scanner. The scan covers you from your head to your thighs, providing a detailed view into every organ and cavity in your body. The radioactive stuff acts like glucose, and the cancer sucks it up. The scan shows areas in your body that are "lit up", indicating cancer. My PET scan provided good and bad news. 

The good news was that there doesn't appear to be any other cancer throughout my body, and my cancer is localized to the left lymph node. Cool, I guess.

The bad news is that no obvious cancer lit up in my mouth, throat or tongue. No source to target. That's what is meant by "poorly differentiated", and that has repercussions for the treatment plan.

Now the ENT has to get his hands dirty and physically biopsy tissue from several spots inside my mouth, tongue, throat and nasal cavity. For this procedure a few weeks ago, the surgical team put me under with anesthesia, thank god. The ENT did his thing, and I awoke with a sore tongue and throat for about a week. 

The biopsy came back positive for cancer at the base of my tongue. This is good news because now the my team of doctors can craft the treatment plan to target these spots, and minimize the collateral damage done to areas that don't show cancer.

I have 3 doctors coordinating together for my treatment: the ENT, a Radiologist, and a Oncologist, all part of the UC San Diego Cancer system. The plan is now set - a combo of daily radiation and 3 rounds of chemo over 7 weeks. Even though I thought I had crappy health insurance, I feel blessed to have access to the UCSD Health network - these people are so good at what they do, and always help me emotionally along the way.