Tailored Treatment for Head-and-Neck Cancer Mystery
Treatment TermsHead and Neck Cancer
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Rob Vaughn found a lump on his neck that turned out to be cancer that had spread from somewhere else in his body. The trouble was, doctors couldn ’t find the original site of the cancer. That made his treatment decisions difficult -- until two Duke specialists offered him options, including the option for watchful waiting instead of extensive treatment.
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A Search for the Source of Cancer
ContentVaughn, a Charlotte, NC, father of two, was 47 and in good health when he felt the lump on his neck, just above his left collarbone. It turned out to be a tumor in a lymph node. He had it removed, and the pathology report showed it was squamous cell carcinoma -- a type of cancer that usually starts on your skin or in your mouth or throat. Tests also showed that the cancer had spread beyond the lymph node, so Vaughn would need f ollow-up treatment.Knowing where the cancer had started could help doctors determine the best way to treat it. Vaughn traveled to some of the best-known cancer centers in the U.S., undergoing tests and looking for answers. He even had his tonsils removed as a preventive measure. “Nobody seemed to know where the cancer started,” he said. “So there were differing opinions on what course of treatment to pursue.” Still unsure but wanting to take the most cautious approach, Vaughn scheduled surgery follo...
Source: dukehealth.org: Duke Health News - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: mf205 at duke.edu Source Type: news
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