3) Diagnostics in Regional Hospital in Tiel: April, May 2002
The day before the CT scan found Peter to shave right above the collarbone a bulge in his neck. The ENT doctor immediately have to take a puncture and plant CT scan of the chest. On April 19, 2002 is clear that it is cancerous. It is-now under the responsibility of the internist, who is also the pulmonologist turn - directly a search started for the primary tumor: gastroscopy, ultrasound of thyroid and testes, CT examination of the abdomen, biopsy, skeletal scintigraphy, new chest X-ray, bronchoscopy . However, no primary tumor.
In late May, the diagnosis: it is a poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with lymph node localization right (supraclavicular) of neck, diameter of 3.5 cm (stage IV) of unknown primary origin, but given the location of the gland probably no lung cancer. The internist is currently still consider the fact that it is a primary head and neck cancer will. And they are, so he told us in the final visit on May 28, 2002, usually managed.
With all the emotions and uncertainty seemed to us - given the circumstances - a pretty positive result. Better this than a huge study primary tumor would have been, so we thought. Later it became clear that the average life expectancy in some cases three to four months. And the unknown of a primary tumor also means your condition does not belong in the field of a particular medical specialty. You fall so were, among many specialists, you have no real hoofdbehandelaar. For experimental research you're not interesting, because what can be measured by someone you do not really know what he has. Later shows that the disease an English letter, namely Cancer of Unknown Primary (CUP). A nice title for a science fiction, but not an adequate treatment plan.
We knew all that were not on that beautiful day in May when we got those results. We enjoyed the ride back to our village on the beautiful Waaldijk, where the cow parsley was in full bloom.
Moreover, there were more positive developments. For further research and treatment, we referred to the University Medical Center St. Radboud. That's according to the GP at the top of the bill ENT area, so that gives civil courage. On May 30 was already a PET scan scheduled in that hospital, so that it looked very quickly to treatment could be started. Further we had been acquainted with the site -www.kanker actueel.nl , with lots of information and stimulating experience stories. And we had already noticed that the Houtsmuller Diet very tasty and partly because it was easy to maintain. In short, every reason to stay positive and keep trying to get the best.
