I've just had a thought....I haven't mentioned any of the details...I think maybe its because the details actually scare me. Let me start with the lead up to the details as that's less scary!
I've had a lump in my neck for ages. 15 years actually. It started as quite a small and painless lump. Maybe about the size of a pea or smaller. My doctor had said that it was very common to have slightly enlarged glands after an infection or glandular fever so I never really worried about it. The lump slowly grew and in the last 18 months the rate of growth really sped up and the lump was causing a bit of pain throughout my jaw, cheek and neck. At this stage it felt like it was about the size of a walnut.
After Nate was born in October last year I thought I should get it checked out. The pain had become a constant presence. After the lump didn't respond to a course of antibiotics my GP sent me off to see an ENT surgeon. I had ultrasound scans followed by CT scans. They thought it might be a blocked duct. Although no blockage was evident in any of the scans they didn't seem to be concerned and told me it was very common to have an infection or a small stone, like a kidney stone, in the duct. More antibiotics were prescribed to specifically target the infection they thought was causing the blockage. Still no change. The ENT suggested a procedure needed to be done to clear the duct. He would go in through the duct under my tongue with a tiny tube and camera to clear the duct. That was done back in May this year. I distinctly remember waking up from the surgery and feeling the lump in my neck still and my heart sinking. The ENT had said this procedure was successful in about 80% of patients and the other alternative was to remove the gland. I didn't really want that to happen as I, rather vainly, didn't want a great big whopping scar on my neck! More antibiotics were prescribed. I might just throw it in here that I don't react well with antibiotics so I was a bit annoyed at having five rounds of them! Of course, that didn't work and so surgery to remove the gland was scheduled.
The actual surgery itself went well. I did have a few issues with nausea afterward which meant instead of just one night in hospital I spent two. The surgeon commented that the gland was bigger than we first thought, about the size of a kiwi fruit (why the reference to fruit I'll never know, don't think I can bring myself to eat them again without feeling a little sick!) and it was quite hard and was very much embedded in my jaw. There was still no suggestion of anything more sinister than just a non-functioning, infected gland. I was disappointed at the size of the incision (you can see it on my pictures page) and also concerned about some droop on the right hand side of my lip. A little bit like I'd had a mild stroke. The doctors felt it was just due to the nerves being squished with the swelling and would right itself within about six weeks.
A follow up appointment to remove the stitches and check on that droop was made for a week after the surgery. The stitches came out well and the surgeon was impressed with his handy-work (as they so often are!!) and felt it was healing very well. He also felt there was a very slight improvement with the droop but would check it again a week later. The pathology results weren't back yet, which they weren't concerned about, just a matter of routine.
That following appointment has become a blur. I still feel nauseous whenever I remember the doctor telling us that it wasn't good, that it was cancer. We didn't find out then what sort of cancer but we did find out the margins weren't clear and there might be more surgery. They told us that my case would be referred to the specialists at the Royal Adelaide Hospital where it would be reviewed in a Multi-Disciplinary Meeting. I had another CT scan scheduled to check for evidence of the cancer spreading. The waiting to find out more was horrible. I lost over five kilos in a week and my GP prescribed tablets to help me sleep.
.......on to more of the details.....
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