ENT

Today we met with the ENT. Right off I was in a bad mood. The receptionists were super bitchy and I was about ready to yell at one of them. We were a little late for our appointment and they seemed to really frown upon that. Oh well, screw them. We were taken back to a exam room when the Doctor came in to check Phoenix out. He fully admitted that he thought this would be nothing - until he felt the lumps. When he came in he was cheerful and happy. We gave him the history, what the other doctors have said, what we think, why we're concerned, etc. As he felt Phoenix's lumps, his face grew more and more serious and you could see that he was no longer cheerful. While he was measuring the largest of the lumps he turned to me and told me that the lumps were not lipomas - he said he was more than 95% sure of that. I felt like I was in a movie and he wheeled back to his desk, took a deep sigh and explained that we had a few choices: we could wait and see if they grow more, but he didn't advice that... we could do a needle biopsy which could tell us what the lumps aren't but it wouldn't rule out Hodgkin's and that's what he was concerned about. Hodgkin's. Our doctor was concerned about the very real possibility that Phoenix has cancer.  Our third option was the option the doctor wanted us to take - we schedule a biopsy. - so we did. Phoenix will be going in for a short, 45 minute, surgery on the morning of the 15th. We are unclear about if all 4 lumps are being removed or just a piece of one. I am thinking they'll grab was is easily accessible and then wait for the results of the biopsy before they plan anything further. The ENT told us that, because the masses are solid and hard, that this was not simply enlarged lymph nodes and, because there are no other symptoms, like redness or fever, that they are not cysts. By the time we left I felt close to tears and everyone in the office was treating us very different than how they were when we first arrived. The once rude and bitchy receptionists, stood at the counter smiling as we walked out. The nurse gave us a direct line to call if we have any concerns. Even though the surgery seems like it was scheduled in 2 weeks, the office only does surgeries every Thursday, so, getting in on the 15th was basically like getting in day after tomorrow. And, if you consider that it took nearly 6 weeks to even be seen... they felt like this was serious. Now Ethan and I have to wait.