I am curious about PET, CT, or other scans after treatment. I have been cancer free for two years now and regular physical and oral exams by a dentist, an otolaryngologist (long name for an ENT) and my radiation oncologist. I have had no scans since radiation finished in May 2004. I asked the ENT the other day about scans. His response was that he only calls for a scan if a physical exam reveals anything unusual. He is a top ENT & should know his business. And I am indeed grateful to be found cancer free at the 2 year stage.

However, I would like to know if this is the standard or have any of you had scans done even when physical exams were positive. I may be overcautious but with having recurring cancer once, I think I have good cause to think this way.

This is absolutely the best oral cancer forum going and I wish everyone the best.

Jim Haucke
--------------------------------------------------
SCC Rt lateral tongue Dx 9/03, Surg 11/03 (T2/N0M0);recur SCC BOT and anterior tongue Dx 1/04; surg 2/04 (T4/N0M0) smile subtotal glossectomy, forearm free flap, floor of mouth reconstruction,pharyngoplasty;trach until 3/04;PEG still have; 36 rad (3/04-5/04)