For over a year, Arthur L. Kimbrough had exhaustively pursued a solution to the stabbing sensation that extended from his throat to his neck and left shoulder. Despite consultations with various specialists and undergoing numerous tests and treatments, the excruciating pain persisted, perplexing his medical team.
It wasn’t until February 2022, following a life-threatening hemorrhage in a hospital waiting room, that the root cause was finally uncovered. Kimbrough, now 76, attributes his survival to fortuitous timing rather than harboring resentment towards the delayed diagnosis.
Kimbrough, an executive coach residing in the Florida Panhandle with business interests in funeral homes and cemeteries across Florida and Mississippi, reflected on the journey. Despite acknowledging the oversight in the diagnostic process, he commended the medical professionals for their diligence and responsiveness.
The initial discomfort, akin to a tender spot beneath his tongue, emerged in December 2020, distinct from a typical sore throat. Despite concerns about throat cancer due to his smoking history, reassurance from his ENT led to an initial focus on a potential salivary gland infection or jaw-related issues.
Following inconclusive treatments, including chiropractic adjustments and nerve blocks, the pursuit of a diagnosis intensified. Various hypotheses, from spinal issues to temporomandibular joint dysfunction, were explored without success. Even a consultation with a vascular surgeon in June 2021 failed to shed light on the escalating pain.
As the pain intensified and spread to his ear and eye socket, Kimbrough’s quest for answers extended to a spinal neurosurgery expert at Johns Hopkins Hospital in August 2021. Despite confirming degenerative changes in his neck, the source of his debilitating head pain remained elusive.
By October 2021, a tentative diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia was proposed, leading to a change in medication that exacerbated Kimbrough’s suffering. Subsequent consultations with neurosurgeons and pain specialists yielded no respite, culminating in a harrowing period of weight loss, swallowing difficulties, and unrelenting pain.
The turning point came in February 2022 during a fateful appointment at Hopkins, where a massive cancerous mass, triggered by the human papillomavirus (HPV-16), was discovered. The tumor’s entanglement with a nerve and subsequent rupture had caused the life-threatening hemorrhage, necessitating immediate intervention to halt the bleeding.
Following emergency procedures and a comprehensive treatment plan involving chemoradiation, Kimbrough’s resilience and the medical team’s efforts gradually led to his recovery. Despite enduring challenges with swallowing and dietary restrictions, Kimbrough’s scans have shown no signs of cancer recurrence, allowing him to resume his daily activities and even play the trombone.
Reflecting on his ordeal, Kimbrough emphasizes the importance of awareness about HPV-related cancers, advocating for vaccination and proactive medical evaluation for persistent throat or ear pain. His rare and complex case serves as a cautionary tale, urging others to challenge assumptions and seek thorough medical assessments to avoid potential diagnostic oversights.