First found possible nasopharyngeal carcinoma during TBI medical testing at Boston Mass General, Project Home Base. Project Home Base is a not for profit supported by the Boston Red Sox, and the Navy SEAL Foundation(for NSW patients). Project Home Base has a program both for PTSD, and TBI screening. I reported to HB on 13 Nov 21, did labs and MRI’s of the head and neck. On 15 November, The primary care manager informed me that two indicators between a tumor, and affected lymph node had appeared on MRI and that we needed to retool the week’s schedule to conduct more tests to identify if the mass was cancerous, etc While I’m Boston, the HN team support an entire regimen change focused on diagnosis. Kelly flew out to Boston to support during the biopsy surgery and get me home safe. Multiple scopes, CTs and a biopsy surgery later….
Happy Thanksgiving; you definitely have Cancer. The family was camping in Sedona, when we scheduled a call with the Head and Neck Oncologist from Boston.
Formal diagnosis; 24 Nov 21- NPC, 3mm^3 tumor, with hyperactivity in adjacent lymph node, roughly in location of adenoids. With suspicious activity in left neck lymph node.
NPC is rare in the US, 7 out of 1M, and predominantly prevalent in Asian genetic background. NPC has also been linked to breathing heavy metals and Burn Pits overseas.
Addition PET, and follow on scans back at SD- 1-15 DEC.
Updated diagnosis and prognosis.
NPC, stage 2. T1, N1, M0
Treatment prognosis is chemo and radiation standard of care- 90%
1-24 Dec; multiple opinions and initial coordination inside of the military medical system, as well as referrals to Moores Cancer Clinic at UCSD with a Head and Neck specialty.
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