First off let me say, you guys are great! I've finally got the nerve up to write after reading all these posts. This has been a very imformative site & you all make me feel comfortable talking about this thing that is taking over my life!

Okay, here it goes..my mom, age 72, non drinker, non smoker -almost a saint(well I think so anyway) has been diagnoised with SCC left side base of tongue. Wednesday we went for a 2nd opinion- in the beginning the dr. was so optimistic plans were to do surgery to remove part of tongue & left side neck disection & cancer should be gone, he said this is great we caught it early & she's only in stageII- then I said the 1st dr. suggested we should have a PET scan, his reply was there would be no need- most of the time if a PET is done & cancer is found elsewhere it's too late for treatment, I had to interrupt, I told him other tests (I think CT)detected there was something found in the chest area. He looks through her file again & says yes this would determine you need a PET scan.

Okay, now here we go waiting again her scan will be done Tuesday, this has been such a long process! Mother found out she had to have the biopsy a month ago, is this normal? All these tests & having to wait so long in between, I feel like the longer we wait the cancer will be everywhere. Mom trusts us(her kids) & I want to do everything right.

Mom & dad would have been married for 52 years, we lost dad in '97. I am the youngest of 7 children, mother has always lived her life for the Lord, her husband & her kids-her selfless acts I've seen throughout my life makes me ask, Why? I'll shut up now & get down to some real questions I know that someone can answer.

How long after PET scan does it usually take?

Is there anything on the market to maybe numb her pain so she can eat?

Can the dr. really know she is just in Stage II before the PET results?

All the optimism the dr. had before PET was mentioned-should we still rely on that info?

Thanks for letting me whine, I hope I didn't bore anyone. Please pray for my mom. Thanks again!