So your instructions are to cut the water; Interesting - my center said water was OK.

Don, so many places have different instructions, as do the different staff members. I was just called, finally lol, for pre-treatmnt instructions, no carbs, which is different than low carbs, which others have instructed, I can drink water (my CT for stomach was no water) in fact, at another location I have to drink 16 ounces of water an hour before arriving, no gum chewing, no exercise, which I didn't do since yesterday. No one mentions brushing teeth or rinsing with mouth wash, but doing so may cause uptake from movement, and coat the mouth with sugar? Oh, and this new place likes to do CT contrast, bedsides the FDG-18 nuclear glucose tracer, but I can't do the CT contrast due to my kidneys, so they give me the barium swallow stuff, which I get to choose which flavor lol. This is probably my 13th scan. Maybe this time I'll be lucky.

It seems the only constants are low/no carbs, water OK, and to not exert oneself too much just before the scan. Good luck with your scan. I'm about two weeks out so just in a holding pattern. don

Thanks. You sort of get used to them, but anxiety is still there, and I often reflect on the past, previous tests, results, which were not always favorable in my case, and this one would be a milestone as far as being NED longer than 6 months.

Lol..holding area. I'm getting ready to take off! Best of luck with yours. Most post treatments scans are clear, in the high 90% range, if that helps.

Thinking of you Paul. Waiting for you to post great results. This time Matey.
Tammy

May your carbs be low and your uptake lower.

Positive thoughts and prayers Paul! May Mr. NED be waiting to meet you!

"T"

The anticipation continues...

Had my PET/CT scan yesterday, and had to lie about drinking some water in the morning, and was asked several times if I ate or drank anything, oh well.

Picked up my written report today from the diagnostic center, couldn't wait for the disc copy, and saw there may be some concern in level III. Met with my ENT next, who can access the scan, and then said he called the radiologist, and then the pathologist to see if a FNAB can be done under sonogram guidance, being there is a small spot in level III, where cancer was previously, which can't be ascertained what it is. If it's cancer, we'll deal with it, and was caught early, if not, I just went through some extra trouble, which I agree with. I doubt it is a reactive lymph node, being I had three neck dissections in this area. and the last cancer there was roaming, free cancer or extra-capsular spread, for lack of a better description, meaning cancer was floating around. Tomorrow I'll find out when my FNAB is scheduled, probably next week sometime.

Findings: The patient is status post revision of left neck dissection and resection of a suspicious mass in the left supraclavical fossa with placement of a pectoralis major flap reconstruction. Since 2/19/13 examination, there is interval visualization of a small lymph node along the superior deep aspect of the flap, immeditately lateral to the common carotid artery on images 76-78 measuring 7x3mm in axial cross-section. It is associated with focal metabolic activity, maximum SUV range up to 4.5

Impression: Since the prior PET/CT, there is interval visuslization of a hypermetabolic left level III lymph node along the superior derp margin of the reconstruction flap, immediatly adjacent to the carotid artery. The degree of associated metabolic activity relative to the size of this lymph node may take at least noteworthy. Distinguishing between a reactive node and a possible site of a new nodal metastic disease is limited based on current imaging. Sonographic correlation is recommended as the next step in evaluation.

To be continued....

Paul,

Sorry to hear they found something. Happy to hear they found something early. It is very small; I'm surprised they picked up a 3mm nodule and the radiologist also comments about the SUV given the size. Do small nodes have limited SUV values since they are just plain smaller or does the SUV calculation include node size?

Anyway, you're still treading water my friend, could be better but could be lots worse. Hang in there, don

Good luck with the fnab. Hope it turns out to just be an infection or inflamation from the tons of treatment yohuhave been through. Let us know how it goes.