I had a routine PET/CT scan today and it was not great. Started with the scan and then went to see the MO. He said he was seeing some areas light up but he did not feel it was a recurrence. We looked at the scan together and he showed me what was going on.

I have had an ulcer that has been very slowly healing along the tonsilar pillar. It is almost gone except for a pocket that has formed about 1/8 in. in diameter in width and depth. He showed me where that area was lighting up and then worked though a few slices of scan to show how that was connected to the nearest lymph node (brighter on the scan) which is the one that was treated for cancer. The lymph node also was lit up. The MO felt it was a situation where the ulcer was inflamed and infected and that had worked its way to the lymph node. He said that the head of the team, the ENT/Surgeon, wanted to see me also.


The ENT was not so sure about this being infection and seemed genuinely concerned that this was a return of the cancer (although he did not say this outright). He did a fine needle biopsy right there to see what the lab would find. He was non-committal on the diagnosis and said he had no gut feeling about this one way or the other and he was just as anxious to see the results as I am. He put a rush on the biopsy order and we hope to get the results in 24-48 hours. So here we go with the waiting game.

Very strange situation for me as I am praying for an infection.