One for Sqad, or any suitably qualified AB'er.

[andy-hughes]

I hear talk of a neighbour (off sick) who says he has 'contained throat cancer'. He says it is a tumour which is 'contained' in his throat and will be removed by surgery. He is not receiving any treatment, but says he is on a list for surgery. Symptoms include breathlessness and one nostril blocked. I know nothing about this - is he on the level, or spinning it a bit?

[bednobs]

sounds possible to me

[ummmm]

My grandad had contained bowel cancer. The treatment was the removal.

[jno]

is that essentially the same as "benign tumour"?

[ummmm]

I don't think so. I think contained tumours are cancerous with the potential of spreading but have been caught it time.

[Sqad]

Interesting question.....very interesting.

If by "throat cancer" one means vocal cord " cancer then the vocal cords are the only part of the body that is surrounded by cartilage and cartilage is totally resistant to malignant spread.....and hence vocal cord cancer can be described as "contained."

So in that sense, your neighbour is quite correct.

However i cannot relate his symptoms of breathlessness and nasal obstruction to vocal cord cancer.

Interesting question though !

[Sqad]

Of course, if the term "contained" is used in a non medical way, then it means that the cancer has not spread........and I think that this may well be the answer.

[cassa333]

My sister in law has just had surgery for stage 3 throat cancer. it was contained and had not spread to any other parts of her body.

She had one and a half treatments with cemo (missed one and a half because she became so ill half way throught the second) and then had surgery to remove the cancer.

As far as I know her symptons were a cough that wouldn't go away and pain swallowing.

I can't see how a blocked nostril and breathlessness are symptoms of throat cancer but it could depend on which type he has!!