“When I got the results, you really could have knocked me over with a feather,” 58-year-old Roberto Johnson said concerning his diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma. Johnson was never a smoker or a drinker; he never dipped or used tobacco products.
In July 2014, a fairly mundane task became a life-altering experience. Johnson was brushing his teeth when he came across a lump on his upper right jaw. Because there was no pain, he ignored the growth.
After a few weeks, Johnson started to notice some irritation and scheduled an appointment with his dentist, who recommended a root canal. Unfortunately, that didn’t resolve Johnson’s pain.
“A couple of weeks after the root canal, I discovered I still had the same symptoms, discomfort and the lump on my gums,” Johnson explained. After a second root canal and a few more weeks of pain, Johnson’s…show more content… 22, 2014, Johnson was told that the tissue taken was positive for adenoid cystic carcinoma. Immediately, he was referred to Rui P. Fernandes, MD, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville. Johnson was diagnosed on a Wednesday and was seen by Dr. Fernandes that Friday.
Johnson was immediately put at ease by Dr. Fernandes, who took the time to explain the details of the surgery. “He told me that it would be a major surgery, require the loss of some teeth, bone and part of my palette. He took the time to show me a skeletal model of where I would be losing my teeth and bone.”
Working as a Sergeant in the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Johnson had some familiarity with UF Health Jacksonville. “As a first responder, I knew that UF Health had a great reputation as a trauma center, but I didn’t know they were known for cancer treatment,” Johnson explained. He shared his concerns with Dr. Fernandes, who gave him the names of doctors in Miami, Tampa and Gainesville, and encouraged him to seek a second opinion if that would help him feel more
