| Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 21 Member | OP Member Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 21 | Hi everyone, I was just wondering what your doctors do at your (post treatment) check ups? I had a cancerous tumor removed from my vocal cord 6 weeks ago (no chemo or rad needed) and just had my 6 week appointment. The doctor scoped me and said all looked well? Is that it? Is that enough? Next appointment is in 2 months. What can I expect and what should I request to have done at future check ups? Thank you.
1/10/12 laryngoscopy 1/12/12 diagnosed with laryngeal cancer (T1N0M0) HPV+ 2/1/12 had partial laryngectomy 2/7/12 post op appt. surgery seems to be a success (no other treatment needed). Praise God! 3/20/12 6 week follow up. all seems to be well
| | | | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 112 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 112 | Hi, I had Stage I tongue cancer. Yesterday I had an appointment to show MRI scans. Everything ok and nice.
My doc asked me to come back in 60 days again...
December, 2011 - T1N0M0 SSC Oral Tongue sugery (Dec 07, 2011). Partial glossectomy, primary closure. Selective Neck dissection, all 57 nodes free. 29 at diagnosis, no risk factors at all. No smoking, drinking and HPV negative. Can you explain? I can't.
| | | | Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 42 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Jan 2012 Posts: 42 | Annie, I think you have it covered. The check-ups are pretty simple, just the scope inside to look for anything on the surfaces. And for folks who had positive lymph nodes removed just a physical check of the external neck area.
This is the way my doctor handles it, I believe he is an expert in the field.
Nov2011Tonsil Cancer Stage3 T1N1 HPV+, Non-smoker, slight drinker Dec2011 Radical Tonsilectomy (TORS), Jan2012 Neck Disection areas 2,3,4 Feb2012 Opinions from 5 RO's decision for No Rads/No Chemo Jan2013 all clear at 1 year , continue regular check-ups Jan2014 all clear at 2 years, less frequent check-ups Jan2015 all clear at 3 years, MRI, chest x-ray, blood work all good | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 Gold Member (200+ posts) | Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 | The only difference for me is that my doctor also does an ultrasound of my neck every other visit. I had positive lymph nodes so my doc pays a lot of attention to my neck. I did also get an MRI and PET/CT after three months and another MRI at six months. I'm not sure if that is standard, though. It is part of the protocol for a clinical trial I participated in.
Tracy - 33 at diagnosis SCC right ventral tongue Dx 4/11. T1N2M0 1st resection 5/11. Bilateral neck dissection: 2 pos nodes 2nd resection w/graft 6/11. Erbitux x 11 completed 9/11. IMRT x 30 completed 8/11. 3 month MRI and PET/CT all clear. 6, 9, 12 and 24 month post treatment MRIs all clear. | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | I think regardless of lymphnode involvement initially a good dr will still feel around there just because there weren't an issues upon dx doesn't mean it can't and won't be found there later. My dr scopes me and then feels my neck etc. Ive had 2 cts. As well. And see them trimonthly.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 493 | I had a PET scan 3 months after treatment, and then CT scans every three months, then every 6 months, but I had stage IV with lymph node involvement. I also had radiation and chemo. It sounds as if yours was caught early, so your follow up sounds reasonable. Continued good luck to you!
Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.
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