I saw my ENT Tuesday morning & he said all looked good - another 30 day check up. I told him I had been experiencing a slight sore throat on right side & pressure or fullness & slight pain in right ear, same as before dx. He ordered a cat scan just to be sure. I'm not freaked out, just a little nervous. Of course all the thoughts of reccurance go through my mind. We'll see what shows up. IF it's back, I'm ready this time & will fight like hell even harder than before 'cause I kinda know what to expect & what might lie ahead. I know I'm future trippin'! Isn't that what makes us human? I wish all good health & happiness! Will check in later.
Hey Erik,
Praying for you as I read this...hang in there and let us know what you find out. It's just so hard not to freak out. I get so nervous about every pain Dan experiences thinking all must be cancer related. It's always good to find out they are not!
Take care and God bless,
Debbie
Erik,
Not to minimize your concerns, those are very common post treatment symptoms. I'm over 2 year out and I still get those very pains. I had my 2 year neck CT and surgeon visit yesterday so I hope I'm not eating those words on Monday! Seriously, it sounds like normal "5 month out" pain.
Glenn
Hello Erik,
You wouldn't be human if you were not concerned. Better to stay calm and think positive about those pains. Sometimes easier said then done.
I am hoping the scan shows nothing and you continue to heal.
Best Wishes, Danny Boy
Erik,
I pray your results are CLEAR, NORMAL, no sign of recurrence NOW & FOREVER!!
I am so angry at this disease that makes us scared of our own bodies. I am anxiously awaiting my pathology results later this morning.
I am glad that we can support each other here.
Best wishes
Take care
Maria
Erik,
I get those types of pain and feelings of fullness off and on ever since my treatment ended. I'm happy to say that they get fewer and farther inbetween the farther out from treatment I get. My docs tell me they are only really interested in things that consistently last two or more weeks, which none of mine ever have. Good luck with the CT scan.
-Brett
Erik,
I have had virtually no pain in my neck for a while and suddenly a couple of weeks ago it started hurting plus behind my ear and my throat. I have had a PET scan, xray and physical exam but everything came back fine. I still worry a bit about it because it doesn't make sense. I am hoping everything comes back NO CANCER for you.
Ed
I am 3 years out never had any scans. Went for thyroid panel check Oct. 12, Dr. put me on synthroid. Also while she was checking she found a swollen lypmh node on the same side I had surgery, so she sent me for ct scan they did blood work which the lady that took the blood couldn't tell me what they were checking for, does anyone here know. I hope to hear from the scan today.Erik I know what you are going thru, your mind just tends to go where it wants to go, and you have no control. When I read all these post I just cann't help but wonder how any others are out there with no help like this. I will say a little prayer right now for good news for you, and may God Bless You.
Joan-
We are saying a prayer for you too! The waiting for results is always when the clock seems to run on molasses. I wonder why in 3 years you haven't had regular ct scans. Are you having chest xrays at least annually? - Kris
Kris I have had check ups with the Dr. that did surgery, he said he could feel anything by the time a ct scan could pick it up. I saw him every month for 6 months then every 3 months then 6months. He has just changed to annually and I did get the chest X-ray annually he never has ordered any scans. After he removed part of my tongue the next week I found nodes that were swollen he tried to tell me not to worry it was from surgry, I had to insist on him doing more surgery. He removed 5 nodes 3 were cancer, so it does upset me a little. Even if this is nothing,
Thanks for the support!
Joan
I don't know why some Drs think we know nothing about our own bodies. I will be sending positive thoughts to you... I had an MRI scan before my surgery but no-one in the head and neck clinic here talks about ct scans, so I don't know..
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen
Joan,
According to my radiation oncologist at Mass General, a ct scan can pick up anything bigger than 1 mm. in size. I don't know what the comparable size for manual palpitation by a doctor but I would be surprised if it is that small. PET scans can find activity at the cellular level but the problem remains the number of false positives and negatives.
The recent edition of CURE magazine had an article on a newer technology which combines pet/ct scans and fuses the images of both technologies. You can read the article online at
http://www.curetoday.com/currentissue/departments/housecall/index.html. I don't know if you are being treated at a comprehensive cancer center, but most of the people on this board would recommend making sure that you are. Second, I would suggest getting a second opinion from another institution that has a team-based approach to treating oral cancer (the team should include at least an ENT surgeon, an oncologist and radiation oncologist). You should ask about the scheduling of your follow ups and need for scans. I see my ENT surgeon every six weeks and this will continue at least until the end of the first year post treatment. I see the radiation oncologist every 3 months and have a ct scan each time. Others on the board might want to provide information about their follow up schedules so that you will have more data with which to compare.
Best wishes and good luck fighting this nasty disease. - Sheldon
Sheldon, et al,
My scans have been mostly the PET/Ct you mention. As an added bonus, for a mere $15 you can get a CD copy to go. My wife wants one and I was thinking of getting her one for her birthday THURSDAY!
I don't know why she wants one but I know it will scare the hell out of me to look at it!!
I am pretty much on the same 6 week schedule you mention but after tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the doctor will be pushing those out to 8 weeks for a while, the good Lord willing and the creek don't rise. I'm not sure what that means but after hearing it for years...it sounds quite apropos.
Ed
Everyone thanks for your input. Got results back Monday, they say no cancer but I do have signs of osteoporosis. So it was a yea,boo thing. Hey the yea is better than the boo! I will deal with this also. Guess I am turning 50 this year and falling apart. Never took any medicine before and now I'm getting like my grandmother who carries a Wal-Mart bag with her. What would the drug companies do without us.
Joan, that is good news on the cancer front. Don't know about osteoporosis, is that a bone thing? But it has to be better than another cancer. So hurrah! Will pray thankful prayers for you.