Paul, can you please post the source of your statement that HPV+ve patients relapse after a longer time period than HPV -ve patients please (as per the forum "rules")?

I found the the information published by Maxwell et al in Clin Cancer Res. 2010 February 15; 16(4): 1226 (link below)very interesting in that it further stratifies HPV+ve patients into never smokers, former smokers and current smokers and gives the disease free survival rates and progression free survival rates based on smoking status. There is no evidence that time to relapse is any different for HPV+ve patients compared with non-HPV patients.

http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/16/4/1226.long

Llisa
So sorry to hear that you have come so far only to have to potentially face it all again. You are right, 5 years moves you into zone where risk is much lower, but unfortunately it is not an absolutely safe zone. The risk of recurrence remains lifelong, so there is never a cutoff point where one can stop being vigilant. Seems you are under the care of a vigilant doctor which gives you the best chance of a positive outcome. Here's hoping the PET scan has picked up a chest infection only.