Hi guys, Minnie here. It's almost 3am and I cannot get to sleep. I want to clarify that it's not my doc at Hopkins that gave us the written report, it's the local facility here where I had the scan done. They also gave us a CD of the PET to take to Hopkins with us tomorrow (well, today actually!).

My biggest concern is the new uptake on the left side of my neck. We've been watching the node on the right side since August and this is the first time there has been any change. But it's the first time the report has shown any uptake on the left side, which is the side of my cancer. I've already had a disection on that side. What I have had issues with the past 6 weeks or so is that the left side of my neck has started pulling more and it's affecting the right side now. It's visable under my chin that it has become tighter, pulling at the right side. So, I'm hoping it's all to do with new scar tissue developing.

The area in my lung is the same area that they ruled out as scar tissue 6 months ago. If they come back now and tell me it's a tumor, than someone will have some explaining to do. After it showed up on my first PET in September, a CT with contrast showed it to be scar tissue.

I'm pretty sure I'm facing a neck disection on the right side and maybe some type of surgery on the left side to see if anything is there??? Not sure.
One good sign is that as far as my mouth goes there is no evidence of disease. Here I spend all my time worrying about it coming back in my mouth and they have me worrying about everywhere BUT my mouth. This is so tough on my family, I'm tired of it. It seems surreal at times..........I'm worrying about new cancer and new tumors while I'm helping the 17 year old pick out her JR/SR Prom dress, babysitting for the oldest so she can work an extra day, going to softball games to watch the youngest two play..........amazing how we learn to continue on with our daily lives even when our fears are overwhelming. I've even went from 104 pounds to 121 pounds, which has really boosted my energy. I hate to dive back into recovering from surgery, I have such a tough time healing. The graft area on my thigh still isn't healed and it's been 6 months. I still have an open area approx. 3inches by 2 inches. Imagine having a neck disection on radiated tissue.

I'll post tomorrow night and let you know how it went.

Minnie