Bummer indeed. My understanding is that a PETscan can light up while a MRI, ultrasound or CT show nothing wrong because all a PETscan does is measure sugar intake. The assumption is that high levels show cancer even though an infection or even normal tissue recovery also cause tissues to take in sugar. That's why almost all PETscans are coupled with a CT scan which actually detects tumors and not infections or normal tissues. Same thing goes for the lymph node, if it's trying to fight off an infection. Tongue cancer has the highest rate of false positives of all Petscans according to some reports.
I was wondering how they were going to do a biopsy.
I'm hoping that Emmett's Petscans were as false as three of mine. According to my Petscans, my cancer had spread throughout the entire right side of my mouth and tongue. When an MRI showed the tumor had come back on the left base of the tongue, and I had to have the salvage surgery, my doctors examined the right side intensely, even snipping some for the pathologist but zero cancer there. I drew the line after the latest false positive of a PETscan and simply refuse to have them anymore. It was so frustrating to have the tumor board explain why the results were unreliable but then recommend a follow up one. Luckily my ENT surgeon put her foot down so I no longer have to deal with the type of fear and frustration being inflicted upon you both.
What a nightmare for you both.
Charm