I'm happy to hear today is the last of his treatments, that's great! Some cancer care centers have a bell that you ring on your last day of treatment, thinking of your dad ringing that bell!!! ;o)

I had my first PET 11 weeks post treatment, which showed two hypermetabolic lymph nodes. Docs felt these were false positives, which was proven correct in follow up PET at 19 weeks post treatment. I am now just short of 8 months out, and have no currently scheduled PET scan, but do have monthly physical exams by either surgeon, RO or MO.

I had a ct scan about 1 1/2 months after surgery and before radiation with my mask on. I have never had a pet scan and I wonder. My ent said at least 6 months after rads but I was a year this month. I am leary of getting one because I don't want to wait and wonder again. I think I will ask my ent next month. I still go back for exams every 2 months and I want to do that much.

When I asked Buzz' RO why CT scans were being done and not PET scans, he laughingly replied 'cause our doctors here don't OWN any PET scan equipment' (indicating to me that it's about the $$$$$) Does this make any sense to anyone?

I don't know of any small hospitals even that own their own PET equipment it is VERY expensive. They job out to radiology companies, or you have to go to a major hospital/cancer facility. The scan is about $1,000 to the patient or insurance company. CT's and PET's look for very different things (see main web site or search for previous discussions of this) Some docs now order a CT/PET fusion scan which takes both and fits the different data together.

I do not post a lot on OCF yet, but I do READ posts. I will say that it is a wealth of information. Truly is!

Best to you and your family

Just to follow up-I went back to ent for checkup and he wants me to get a pet/ct scan. Oh my, so claustrophobic. I will be taking meds but I want to know if this takes longer than usual and with us head and neck people do they put your whole body in this thing?
I must be at a pretty big hospital since they have one.
Thanks ahead for any info
Debbie

Deb,

The PET scan isn't so bad. If you are claustrophobic, close your eyes. The thing I don't like about all the tests and xrays is "Hold your breath" as I am never sure if I am breathing in or out and have trouble holding my breathfor long. I had to take Red Cross swimming three times(class, audit class, class) to pass for gym because I breathed in water instead of air.

Debbie,
this depends on your docs order but they generally do full body scan. After all you are already there and are already injected with the tracer. The idea is to look for distant metastasis (hopefully not present). The CT portion may also be done with a contrast agent, which may give you a warm rush. (no big deal). This may take anywhere from 20-40 minutes, depending amongst other things on how new (sensitive) the equipment is. To my sense it is quite roomy in the scanner and the tube is rather short (probably depending on the model)... but you do have to keep still. Remember to follow the preparations for the scan.

Markus

Hey Malka,
We are the same! I never did pass the red cross test. Could never stand to swim because of breathing.
I can screw my eyes closed, but my mind starts racing and causing me to panic. I took meds just to do a ct scan and that was for a minute? I am thinking of counting or something to keep my mind from freaking me out.
Did they do a whole body thing on you Malka? It makes sense what Markus said about the body. Do you continuously go in and out of the pet "donut" or do you stay still? I know silly questions but the more I know, the better I can handle my mind playing tricks on me.
Debbie