r/cancer • u/TheEvilSatanist • 18d ago

Patient Just got diagnosed

This weekend was absolute chaos and clusterfuck. I went to the ER on Saturday for what I thought was a persistent stomach bug.

After a CAT scan of my stomach and a battery of tests this weekend, I was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer.

They did a biopsy Sunday, to see if they can determine where the cancer is coming from.

I also have another CAT scan coming up to see if it has expanded into my chest and lungs.

I really have no idea what I'm looking for, I'm still trying to process all this.

Also, I am a Satanist for a reason, so please save all the "just give it to God" or etc bc it's not something I personally believe in.

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u/surfaholic15 18d ago

I just got the phone call, mine is back after 4 years.

Really sucks rocks, and i hope they figure out a plan for you. And if they can't figure out a plan or it doesn't work, i hope you handle it in a way that works for you, and make the most of the time.

Live your life best you can, every day, every way.

None of us know how long we have anyway.

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u/mcmurrml 18d ago

How did you know yours was back?

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u/surfaholic15 18d ago edited 18d ago

Same way i found out i had it the first time, i started dreaming about it.

First time the dreams started 6 months before symptoms showed up. This time 2 months before symptoms, and far more accelerated and urgent.

My symptoms in both cases were a sudden non painful mouth sore and pieces of my gum falling out. Really weird and gross. Along with a weird deep itching feeling. No way to describe that.

This time i was really insistent about a serious biopsy instead of just the punch thingie right from the start, since it was far more aggressive and i knew it. The ENT took 4 larger chunks. And here we are.

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u/Kamelasa 18d ago

punch thingie

Do you mean needle biopsy? So, what do you want instead, open surgery? I was shocked that the so-important biopsy was just a punch thingie, as you said, which describes what I experienced, needle biopsy.

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u/surfaholic15 18d ago

It looks like a little punch, literally. Takes a tiny cylindrical chunk. here is an explanation . That is the usual for oral cancer diagnosis.

What they did instead is the scalpel biopsy, which they clip out. Bigger chunk.

That was also what was needed for confirmation last time around, since the punch was inconclusive. Some types of oral squamous caners can be tough to differentiate it seems.

That said, this time it is far more aggressive also.

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u/Kamelasa 18d ago

I see the difference. The needle biopsy had a similar mechanism, but it went a few inches into my liver. Fortunately, the rest of my liver is "unremarkable" - faint praise, but I'll take it.

I'm sorry to hear it is more aggressive this time.

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u/surfaholic15 18d ago

Yeah, needle biopsy are really good for some cancers, punch for others, or scalpel. I will say the lidocaine shots actually hurt worse than the biopsy, but i dislike dental stuff for obvious reasons.

Unremarkable is my favorite word to see on my lab reports. We take what we can get....

This whole aggressive thing may prove very unpleasant.

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u/Kamelasa 18d ago

The lidocaine shots hurt more for me, too. They even warned me about these shots and referred to dentistry. These hurt more than dentists' shots maybe because they were deeper, there were many more of them, and that area is already stressed by cancer. They did hurt and I gritted my teeth, but they did not hurt as much as the emotional pain of the neglect and mistreatment I've been getting so far. Yes, aggressive indeed sounds unpleasant. I wish you unremarkable things, except for a remarkable improvement.

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u/surfaholic15 18d ago

My ENT is usually good with the needle, and he had me use numbing mouthwash first. But yeah, not fun.

I hope all of us get to unremarkable. Except for improvement.

Thankfully my docs have been great.

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u/MistaDontPlay34 17d ago

Is your SCC hpv related?

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u/surfaholic15 17d ago

Mine is an oddball. Verrucous carcinoma. At least the first one was.

Usually seen in folks who chew betel nuts, folks who chew tobacco, appalachian hillbillies, alcoholics... slow growing and non aggressive in general.

Considering it started where i spent almost 5 years parking my nicotine gum and lozenges, i am thinking it may get more common. I also am a recovered binge drinker 35 years sober, had long time dental issues... basically many of the risk factors.

I do know a dude originally from alabama who is in the same boat, he used chew for decades, and soent a decade homeless and drinking post Army Days.

THIS time, i have not looked at the biopsy results yet. Just got the phone call and have been fielding phone calls since.

So who knows, could be a typical SCC. I have never tested positive for HPV, so doubt it would be from that.

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u/MistaDontPlay34 17d ago

Damn, I'm sorry man. I ask because squamous cell from hpv is super treatable. Currently dealing with that now. It spread to a lymph node in my neck. I had surgery for removal and trans oral robotic surgery as well to take the primary out of the base of my tongue. As well as a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. Still can barely taste or smell. I'll begin chemo and radiation soon and if all goes well, there should be a light at the end of this tunnel. I hope your outcome is a good one man

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u/surfaholic15 17d ago

Well, my last surgery went great, other than nerve damage to my lips and cheek and messed up taste since i lost a chunk of tongue.

I am hoping the PET shows it is not as bad as I think it is. But doubtful....

Here's hoping your treatment is a fantastic success!