Hi there. I know its hard... You'll get through it - just stay strong -Magic mouth wash is great it numbs the pain but you can still feel to swallow - every hospital makes it different, the one I had you could swallow. It was great as I would swallow it then chug an ensure (at the end of treatment when things were bad) it doesn't last super long but it lasts long enough.

CT machines are like a doughnut so you aren't fully covered - maybe older ones are different - I've never had a PET. But take a sedative anyway the lack of stress won't hurt, but I think you'll be okay.

I was afraid after I was diagnosed (particularly after reading about lung mets etc...) my dr. Immediately sent me for a head and chest ct. I think it's protocol. At the time my tumor was in situ with perineural involment but hadn't spread - however after my biopsy it took less than a month to move into a node. Thankfully all others were clear only one had cancer - with ECE - post surgery they again sent me for a head and chest ct again. Since I've had 2 clear scans of my head I requested a chest ct just a few days ago.

The tumor was small - so far you've had wonky nodes (possibly your body's way of telling you something was going on) so the likely just want to make sure.

After my radiation dr sent me into a panic over my second chest ct. (it was the same as my first I found out later - clear) I looked into lung mets - generally speaking (I asked 2 oncologists this at the time) it takes more involvement than just a tumor and a node for it to move into the lungs, and for some people despite the progression of the disease - it never does.

I totally understand what you're going through - the fear and anxiety etc... I'm not sure if you're a member of h & n survivors on face book. But there's a woman there who's had three recurrences, three rounds of radiation, and is cancer free. Hugs you can do this.