Hi Michelle

Alex and I were told the same thing as you - PET at 12 weeks after treatment and then only if indicated. We just went for our 9 month post treatment check up yesterday and didn't even get the scope (for which Alex was extremely grateful).

The US head and neck cancer guidelines suggest follow up should be

History and physical check up every 1-3 months for the first year, 2-4 months for Year 2, and every 4-6 months year 2 to 5 and then every 6-12 months 5 years and beyond. I assume this also means the scope if the doctor is inclined.

Post treatment imaging (PETs or CTs) within 6 months of treatment and further imaging based on signs or symptoms.

The guidelines also talk about dental evaluations, counselling for smoking cessation and TSH levels at 6-12 months which I will not go into here.

Google NCCN clinical guidelines, register and then look for Head and Neck. The website is currently down so I can't tell which page to go to (it is a long pdf document) but you are looking for a hyperlink FOLL-A (stands for follow up I think) which will take you to the post treatment page.

So I guess the good news is the docs are confident your treatment has been successful.

Karen