Cancer

The urgent care doctor sent me to a ENT specialist who sent me to an oncologist (Dr. Wahl) who ordered a CT scan and which lead to having a biopsy of the lump in my throat. Never having had such a procedure I was apprehensive to say the least. The doctor who performed the procedure was very kind and understanding and assured me that all I would feel was the initial prick of the anesthetic needle. He was right.  Based on the CT scan he felt it necessary to biopsy six lymph nodes. Me and my numb neck left the clinic and bought a six-pack of beer. 

I signed up to Swedish hospital's "My Chart" online so I could see the pathology report myself without having to make another appointment to hear the news. The pathology results: Right upper neck lymph nodes – metastatic HPV mediated (p16 positive) squamous cell carcinoma: p40 strongly positive, p16 strongly positive . . . in plain English – cancer. But it doesn't feel like reality. I don't feel anything except a sense of urgency about hearing the diagnosis from a doctor. 

Someone from the Swedish Cancer Institute in Issaquah called me the next day and scheduled a consultation appointment with Dr. Wahl to discuss my options. At that meeting she informed me of the seriousness of my condition but either couldn't or wouldn't give me a definitive prognosis. She made me an appointment for a positron emission tomography (PET) scan for better images of my lymph nodes and the rest of my body to look for other possible "mets". She also made an appointment with a radiologist.   

. . . 

I'm sure the PET scan results provided the doctors with details they need to procede but the jargon in the report didn't enlighten me any further except for one notation (not cancer related) -- I have bilateral gynecomastia . . . my man boobs are actual mammary glands!  I can't even begin to say how much I love that. 

I met with the radiologist (Dr. Spiegel) who explained in great detail what kind of cancer I have the various treatments involved. His description of the radiation treatment effects were graphic involving burns on the outside and inside my throat, severe enough to prevent me from swallowing food so a “feeding tube” would need to be inserted into my stomach. I asked about having the tumor surgically removed and he confirmed that was a definite possibility but I would still need radiation and chemo therapy. He was very blunt and scarry, but like Dr. Wahl, he couldn't or wouldn't comment on my prognosis. He only said if I didn't have the treatments that I would be dead in three or four years. He gave me the name of a surgical oncologist to see in Seattle. Driving in Seattle distresses me more than the whole cancer scare. 

. . . 

My friend Christie went with me to see the surgical oncologist in Seattle.  She drove, saving me the horror of driving and in Seattle traffic. The surgical oncologist (Dr. Golden, how perfect is that) was a hyper young fellow who enthusiastically told me that I needed surgery to excise my cancerous lymph nodes, tonsils and maybe other neck and mouth tissues. He also said that followup radiation and chemo therapy would still be needed to ensure the eradication of remaining cancer cells that surgery doesn't remove. Oh, and finally a doctor willing to give me my prognosis and status -- he said my cancer is nearly stage 3 and good thing I didn't wait any longer in seeking medical attention.  He said I'm "not going to die from this," citing a 90% survival rate with treatment for this kind of cancer and he said that Dr. Speigel was correct in saying that without treatment I would be dead in three or four years. Dr. Golden will be performing the lymphadenectomy, tonsilechtomy and cutting out whatever else he finds all in one surgical session about three weeks from today - August 23rd.