Friends,
As I wrote earlier, my most recent CT scan showed a very small node (8mm) under my chin that had changed size slightly since the previous CT scan. MDACC recommened that I return in 3 months for another CT scan. Having been in this "game" now for almost 3 years, and having learned a long time ago to be my own advocate, I was not willing to sit around for 3 months wondering if I had a recurrance.
The doctors at MDACC recommended doing nothing for 3 months or having an ultrasound, which, I and my radiologist friends believed, would reveal nothing. Fortunately my cousin, a radiologist, operates an imaging clinic and recommended a PET scan. For some reason the head and neck doctors at MDACC do not believe that PET scans are good diagnostic tools for recurrances of H&N cancer. Others disagree, including my cousin, who has been a radiologist at at major hospital, specializing in neuro-radiology for 30 years. So yesterday I had the PET scan along with a CT scan.
Fortunately, both scans showed no recurrance, so I am very relieved.
One realizes, after a while, that medicine is as much an art as a science, and different doctors and hospitals are attached to their own protocols, which can be inflexible.
This is not to say that the doctors at MD Anderson are wrong, but I personally feel a lot better now that I have explored other avenues.

Danny G.

Hi, My husbands Doctors in Detroit, he went to one of the hospitals on the list do not like using the PET scan either. Dan may insist this month because he cannot have an MRI due to metal in his jaw during reconstructive surgery. His Team of Docs say the PET has way too many false positives.
I have heard from friends that have gone to other hospitals, for other reasons that alot of Docs don't like to use them either.

Thank you Danny for the update. I had been reading your posts and was wondering.

It is funny in a way, that the dr.s suggesting you wait for three months would also have also been right. BUT then they don't have to live with the wait do they!

Good news, I appreciate hearing it.

Thanks for sharing the good news Danny. Different strokes for different folks!!! True in the medical world also. Glad you followed up and have the peace of mind knowing there is no reoccurrance.
Buying a golf pass this year. Have alot of rounds to play. Get that handicapp down to 8 or 9. (hoping) Best part is to be golfing with my buddies again. There is life after and during cancer treatment!!!

Best Wishes, Danny Boy

Danny (Texas) glad to hear the good news, have the same deal, rather rock hard node under my chin, was going to have it needle biopsied, but after PET/CT and ultrasound they figured out it was just a hard node of some sort and said no bother. That was about a year ago and two more PET/CT's ago, still no change.

Danny Boy, glad to hear you're back playing golf. My sticks are sitting in my office, nice and conventient for that trip to the driving range after work now that my shoulder can move again. Maybe I'll get my handicap back down to 20-25 or so. Never was much of a golfer, enjoyed the heck out of it though.
Bob

Hey I'm learning how to play golf too! The CEO is a golfer and we went to the course yesterday and played nine holes. Maybe we can do a golf event at the next reunion. There is definitely life after cancer.

Bob - it looks like I'm going to be in China for two weeks toward the end of May.

Guys,
I wrote Danny privately to let him know how happy and proud I was that he is back playing golf. I played today in nice Texas weather. I told my doctor friend that I have played with for 10 years...."let's face it, we will always suck at this game". He said, " yeah, but I will always enjoy it." It is a maddening game, so exasperating, but very addictive and the occasional great shot makes you feel like a million bucks. I am very happy to be back at it again. I just throw 3 or 4 bottles of chocolate Boost in my bag in case I get hungry, keep a lot of bottles or cups of water on hand, and I am almost as good ( or bad ) as pre-cancer.

Take care,
Danny G.