Its been three months since My mothers last RAD treatment. She had her first scan two weeks ago and it showed positive so the ENT Oncologist ordered a MRI on 9/3/14. We received the results yesterday on 9/5/14 and its also shows positive for regrowth. However the ENT Oncologist doesn't want to believe that it is regrowth . He said he is going o get together with the RAD Oncoligist to see what he thinks . in the mean time my mother is in a lot of pain . The ENT oncologist seems to think inflamation could be causing a false positive. What do you think about this anybody
There are many of us who have had the false positive result from a PET. Its fairly common, it happened to me too. If you use the search feature and put in the key words false positive you will find this discussed many times by many members.
Yes, inflammation can create a false positive result. With having a major surgery such as the mandibulectomy and finishing rads only in June, its very possible there is considerable swelling still there. This will cause the scan to light up like a Christmas Tree.
Wishing your mother all the very best with this! Hopefully its exactly what your doc explained, just a false positive and nothing else. Best wishes!
Thanks for the help Christine.
What has us really concerned with the positive scans also is that she is in so much pain . As I type this it is 1:30 am and we are debating on weather or not to go to the emergency room. Her ear is really hurting the most. Today was a really bad day.
If there is ever that much pain to question a trip to the ER then you should go. Always better to get checked out and help make sure everything is ok. Maybe some pain meds that will help could be gotten.
Pain will make healing more difficult. It does not help patients at all other than to alert them to a possible problem. Even scar tissue can cause pain. Hopefully it will be under control soon.
Good luck!!!
Well today on Monday 9/8/14 we met with the RO and ENT Oncologist to discuss the Positive CT Scan and MRI . The MRI Indications were Carcinoma the floor the mouth, Partial left mandible resection .
The CT Scan indicates 25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth Carcinoma.
A biopsy will be taken this week to be 100% sure . My mother is so upset that a recurrence has happened so fast.
Im sure she is terribly upset by this. Poor thing, after everything she already has been thru! Im so very sorry!!!! Ive been thru recurrences my self and know how scary they can be.
The likely course of action would be another mandiculectomy. Ive actually had 2 of them myself. From what you said this one would take more tissue to get the floor of her mouth's cancer.
Hoping for the best! Good luck with the biopsies.