 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im so sorry your father is going thru a possible recurrence so soon. Hopefully it is not what you suspect. Im hoping it is just scar tissue and pain from the surgeries.
It takes months for swelling to go down. I agree with Cheryl that a PET will probably give a false positive. My doc explained this to me in detail. A PET should be done a minimum of 3 months post radiation to avoid false positives. With a surgery, it can take up to a full year before swelling is completely gone. I hope this is not the case with your father and that the PET is accurate.
Best wishes!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
