Svegas

Thank you for your reply, Janner.  I understand what you are saying about the SLNB.  I just don't know what my options are.  If nothing shows cancer cells in my body, I can't really ask them to treat me with chemo or immunotherapy, nor would I want them to, right?  As for peace of mind, I get the feeling I won't have that about the cancer for some time to come.  I am relying on my faith in God to give me peace now in the uncertainty, and will keep relying on that faith for years to come (well, I hope for years to come!).

the lymphoscintigraphy showed drainage to one intraparotid node on right side, and one node in upper cervical.  On CT scan, the node in parotid shows potential lesion.  Doctor says removing this node may be difficult due to proximity to facial nerve, and she may have to do parotidectomy even before biopsy if the removal of the node is extremely complicated.  She does not want to risk scar tissue if she had to do it in two operations.

my neurologist in AZ (whom I see for migraines) wanted brain MRI, so will have that at MD Anderson a couple days before SLNB.  My chest X-Ray was clear, and LDH bloodwork relatively normal (slightly high monocyte percent).

I obviously have been reading everything I can about this interesting illness we have.  I just don't know what options I have besides (in addition to) the SLNB and the scans.  I have not even begun to look into treatment options in case cancer has spread; just taking it one step at a time.

thanks again for all the support you give to people here.

Thank you for your reply, Janner.  I understand what you are saying about the SLNB.  I just don't know what my options are.  If nothing shows cancer cells in my body, I can't really ask them to treat me with chemo or immunotherapy, nor would I want them to, right?  As for peace of mind, I get the feeling I won't have that about the cancer for some time to come.  I am relying on my faith in God to give me peace now in the uncertainty, and will keep relying on that faith for years to come (well, I hope for years to come!).

the lymphoscintigraphy showed drainage to one intraparotid node on right side, and one node in upper cervical.  On CT scan, the node in parotid shows potential lesion.  Doctor says removing this node may be difficult due to proximity to facial nerve, and she may have to do parotidectomy even before biopsy if the removal of the node is extremely complicated.  She does not want to risk scar tissue if she had to do it in two operations.

my neurologist in AZ (whom I see for migraines) wanted brain MRI, so will have that at MD Anderson a couple days before SLNB.  My chest X-Ray was clear, and LDH bloodwork relatively normal (slightly high monocyte percent).

I obviously have been reading everything I can about this interesting illness we have.  I just don't know what options I have besides (in addition to) the SLNB and the scans.  I have not even begun to look into treatment options in case cancer has spread; just taking it one step at a time.

thanks again for all the support you give to people here.

Thank you for your reply, Janner.  I understand what you are saying about the SLNB.  I just don't know what my options are.  If nothing shows cancer cells in my body, I can't really ask them to treat me with chemo or immunotherapy, nor would I want them to, right?  As for peace of mind, I get the feeling I won't have that about the cancer for some time to come.  I am relying on my faith in God to give me peace now in the uncertainty, and will keep relying on that faith for years to come (well, I hope for years to come!).

the lymphoscintigraphy showed drainage to one intraparotid node on right side, and one node in upper cervical.  On CT scan, the node in parotid shows potential lesion.  Doctor says removing this node may be difficult due to proximity to facial nerve, and she may have to do parotidectomy even before biopsy if the removal of the node is extremely complicated.  She does not want to risk scar tissue if she had to do it in two operations.

my neurologist in AZ (whom I see for migraines) wanted brain MRI, so will have that at MD Anderson a couple days before SLNB.  My chest X-Ray was clear, and LDH bloodwork relatively normal (slightly high monocyte percent).

I obviously have been reading everything I can about this interesting illness we have.  I just don't know what options I have besides (in addition to) the SLNB and the scans.  I have not even begun to look into treatment options in case cancer has spread; just taking it one step at a time.

thanks again for all the support you give to people here.