Unexplained Hard Lumps: What to Know About Subcutaneous Growths
There is an unknown hard mass located on the lower part of the right forearm, which is not visible but can be felt upon palpation? About six months ago, I discovered a small hard lump about the size of a mung bean on the left posterior side of my neck. Two days ago, I felt anothe...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Dear Modena: Although benign conditions are more common (such as lipomas and fibromas), the possibility of malignancy cannot be ruled out. Please consult a general surgeon for evaluation. Wishing you safety and health. Sincerely, Dr. Gao Zhongnu, Attending Physician, Department o...[Read More] Unexplained Hard Lumps: What to Know About Subcutaneous Growths
Understanding Symptoms: Possible Conditions Behind Limb Weakness and Lymph Node Swelling
Question Hello Doctor, since February 20th, I have suddenly experienced frequent weakness or soreness and numbness in my limbs. I have undergone MRI scans of my neck and lower back, a CT scan of my brain, and even an electromyography, all of which showed no issues. Additionally, ...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Frances: If there is persistent lymphadenopathy, considerations include 1. tumors, such as lymphoma or nasopharyngeal carcinoma; 2. infections, such as tuberculosis or HIV; 3. autoimmune diseases. Based on what you described, a diagnosis cannot be made immediately. It is recommen...[Read More] Understanding Symptoms: Possible Conditions Behind Limb Weakness and Lymph Node Swelling
Understanding Persistent Shoulder Swelling: Could It Indicate a Tumor?
Shoulder swelling? I have had swelling in my left shoulder for some time, and I also feel tightness when turning my neck to the left. Initially, I thought it was due to overuse, as I mostly just felt soreness and didn't pay attention to the swelling issue. However, it hasn&#...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Dear Mr. Nick, After the physician's palpation and examination, it seems that the likelihood of a tumor is low. However, if there are still concerns regarding head and neck tumors, please consult the ENT department at a larger hospital. You can also inquire about the swelli...[Read More] Understanding Persistent Shoulder Swelling: Could It Indicate a Tumor?
Understanding Subglottic Cancer Treatment Options in Taiwan
Subglottic carcinoma Hello, I am a bride from Mainland China and I have obtained my identification card. My father has been diagnosed with subglottic cancer, which has already been surgically removed. After the surgery, he underwent radiation therapy, but less than a month after ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Dear Ms. Chia-Jung, Hello. If surgery is required, please consult an otolaryngologist regarding the surgical costs. The cost for radiation therapy for head and neck cancer is approximately around 300,000 NTD, while the cost for adjuvant radiation therapy post-surgery is about 2...[Read More] Understanding Subglottic Cancer Treatment Options in Taiwan
Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Symptoms, Recurrence, and Aftermath
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma Dear Dr. Chen, 1. Previously, in July 2008, I inquired about experiencing body-wide tingling after undergoing radiation therapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in July 2005. A PET scan, which I paid for out of pocket, suggested recurrence in the left neck a...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello, Shang-Jun. 1. The probability of recurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma after treatment is less than 3% after three years, so try to relax a bit. 2. Have you considered consulting a neurosurgeon or an internist? The cause of neck nerve compression could be due to fibros...[Read More] Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Symptoms, Recurrence, and Aftermath
Understanding Suspected Tumors in a Child's Neck: What to Do Next
There is a suspected tumor in the upper posterior neck? Hello, Doctor: I would like to ask about my niece, who is 6 years old. When I was giving her a bath the day before yesterday, I noticed a suspicious lump on both sides of her neck near the base of the skull while washing her...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Annie: Based on your description, it is difficult to determine whether it is cancer. I recommend consulting a pediatric surgeon or a pediatric hematologist-oncologist. Wishing you all the best.[Read More] Understanding Suspected Tumors in a Child's Neck: What to Do Next
Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer Recurrence: Key Insights and Concerns
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma recurrence Dr. Chen: I discovered a lump on the right side of my neck in May 2005, and after examination at the hospital, I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. I completed radiation therapy at the end of July that year (without chemotherapy). Rec...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. I recommend that the next examination be a positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT). I believe that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and X-ray examinations can only detect tumors larger than 0.5 cm, while PET is too sensitive and may also pick ...[Read More] Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer Recurrence: Key Insights and Concerns
Understanding Neck Discomfort: Could It Be a Tumor?
Something feels off with my neck? I would like to ask the doctor, recently for the past week, I have been feeling tightness in my left shoulder and left side of my neck. When I turn my head to the left, it feels very tight, and my shoulder tends to shrug unconsciously. I also fee...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Nick: Head and neck tumors refer to 1. cancers originating in the nasopharynx, oral cavity, or throat, which may not always be palpable, and 2. lymph nodes in the neck that may be involved due to metastasis. If the lymph nodes are too small or located deep, they may also be non-p...[Read More] Understanding Neck Discomfort: Could It Be a Tumor?
Understanding Lumps in the Throat: Should I Be Concerned?
I'm sorry, but I need more context or specific information to provide an appropriate response. Please provide more details about your situation? Hello, Doctor. My last name is Lin, and I am 28 years old. I have a problem that has been bothering me. I discovered a lump in my ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. The lump that has been present since you were 20 years old, I suspect is not cancer. If it were cancer, it would have manifested and posed a serious threat to your life by now, given that you are currently 28. 2. Now that you have just noticed a hard mass in your neck, it cou...[Read More] Understanding Lumps in the Throat: Should I Be Concerned?
Targeted Therapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Efficacy and Prognosis
Can nasopharyngeal carcinoma be treated with targeted therapy? Hello Dr. Chen: Recently, a friend of mine was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and the pathology report indicates it is stage II. Aside from a hard mass in the neck measuring about 3 cm, there are no other cl...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. Due to the high sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells to radiation, radiation therapy has been the primary treatment for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. While radiation therapy can effectively control local tumor cells, nasopharyngeal carcinoma is prone to metastasis; theref...[Read More] Targeted Therapy for Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Efficacy and Prognosis
Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Survival Rates, Recurrence, and Nutrition
Hello, doctor! Hello, doctor! I would like to ask about my father, who was diagnosed with stage IV nasopharyngeal cancer a month ago. What is the likelihood of recovery? Is there a chance of recurrence? What kind of foods can he eat? Will chemotherapy cause significant suffering ...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
1. The probability of recovery in stage IV is divided into IVA, where there is more severe local invasion of the nasopharynx; IVB, where lymph node metastasis occurs to the supraclavicular lymph nodes; and IVC, where there is distant metastasis to the liver, lungs, or bones. The ...[Read More] Understanding Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Survival Rates, Recurrence, and Nutrition
Navigating Rare Breast Cancer Treatment: Seeking Guidance for Unusual Cases
Treatment for breast cancer patients with special conditions - please help! Hello, doctor! We truly value medical resources, but we are feeling quite lost, which is why we are seeking your advice. My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer at the He Shin Cancer Hospital in May th...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Dear Jason: The principle of positron emission tomography (PET) is to utilize glucose labeled with radioactive elements to detect areas in the body with particularly high metabolic rates. It is generally assumed that tumor cells have a higher metabolic rate than normal tissues, s...[Read More] Navigating Rare Breast Cancer Treatment: Seeking Guidance for Unusual Cases
Understanding Lymph Node Issues: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Lymphatic issues Hello, Doctor: I would like to ask you about lymphatic issues. Recently, I discovered a lump on the left side of my neck, approximately 1.5 cm by 1.5 cm in size. It moves when touched and is not painful when pressed. I went to a general clinic, and the doctor sai...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
It sounds like it might not be a big issue. If you're really concerned, you should consult a surgeon to have it removed for testing to obtain the most accurate diagnosis.[Read More] Understanding Lymph Node Issues: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Cost of Comprehensive Health Checkups and Blood Tests for Tumor Concerns
Regarding the cost of blood tests in hospital health check-ups? Hello, doctor! Recently, I have noticed a few round lumps (about 2 to 3) on the side of my neck and near my Adam's apple. They feel movable and are not painful. There is also a small round lump on my right shoul...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
A full-body health check-up costs approximately six thousand to twelve thousand NTD out-of-pocket. Blood tests range from about four hundred fifty to eight hundred NTD.[Read More] Cost of Comprehensive Health Checkups and Blood Tests for Tumor Concerns
Understanding Chemotherapy Duration and Recurrence Risks for Neck Lymphoma
Secondary and unspecified malignant tumors of the lymph nodes? How long does chemotherapy typically last for the above-mentioned condition, and how many weeks does each cycle usually take? The tumor is located in the neck, and if the superficial tumor has disappeared but there is...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello: 1. Based on the information you provided, it is difficult to determine whether it is: a. an undifferentiated malignant tumor of the cervical lymph nodes with an unknown primary site, but suspected to be a head and neck cancer with cervical lymph node involvement, or b. l...[Read More] Understanding Chemotherapy Duration and Recurrence Risks for Neck Lymphoma
Understanding Lumps and Pain: When to Worry About Cancer Risks
Unaware of what illness I have? Doctor, since August, I have noticed a hard, round lump on the right side of my neck behind my ear. It is not visible, only palpable, and it has not gone away for a long time. Is there a significant chance that this could be cancer? Is there also a...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
If the mass behind the ear has not changed much since August, the likelihood of it being cancer is low. However, it is still advisable to see an otolaryngologist to check for any nasopharyngeal tumors. The most straightforward way to conduct other examinations would be to remove ...[Read More] Understanding Lumps and Pain: When to Worry About Cancer Risks
Understanding Soft Neck Lumps: Causes and Treatment Options
There is a lump on the right posterior side of the neck? My brother has recently developed a soft lump on the right posterior side of his neck, approximately the size of an egg. It feels fluid-filled when touched. He is currently seeking treatment from a traditional Chinese medic...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Girl: I really don't know how to respond. Since traditional Chinese medicine has limited effectiveness, why not consult a Western doctor?[Read More] Understanding Soft Neck Lumps: Causes and Treatment Options
Understanding Neck Lumps: Concerns for Cancer Patients and Symptoms to Watch
Neck mass? Hello, about 8-9 years ago, my mother was diagnosed with rectal cancer. After surgery, her condition was good, and there were no visible issues. However, four years ago, it was discovered that the cancer had metastasized to her lungs, and after another surgery, she bec...
Dr. Fan Sheng Reply:
Doris: Based on your description, lymphatic metastasis from rectal cancer remains the primary concern. It is advisable to perform blood tests for tumor markers related to rectal cancer, conduct a chest X-ray, and perform a liver ultrasound to check for any metastatic lesions else...[Read More] Understanding Neck Lumps: Concerns for Cancer Patients and Symptoms to Watch
Understanding Axillary Tumors: Fibromas vs. Lymphadenopathy Risks
Axillary tumor I'm not sure if these are the same as what others refer to as "fibromas" or if it's due to lymphadenopathy. However, I remember having a very small lump under my left armpit since childhood. It doesn't hurt when I pull on it slightly, and t...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello: 1. Due to discoloration and pain, it is necessary to see a doctor promptly. 2. Most cases are benign and can be managed effectively. Sincerely, Dr. Chen Sih-Jung, Oncology.[Read More] Understanding Axillary Tumors: Fibromas vs. Lymphadenopathy Risks
Understanding Neck Tumors: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Concerns
Neck tumor Hello Dr. Chen: I have been experiencing headaches for over a week, and then I developed a lot of phlegm in my throat along with some pain. Shortly after, I noticed a lump about 1 cm in size on the right side of my neck. I visited an ENT specialist who examined my naso...
Dr. Chen Sirong Reply:
Hello: 1. It is sufficient to see an otolaryngologist once a month for examination. 2. Try drinking a large glass of water with an expectorant before bed. 3. Medication may reduce the size; it is said to be caused by an infection, so don't overthink it. Sincerely, Dr. Chen S...[Read More] Understanding Neck Tumors: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Concerns