 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Hi Don,
No, I did not have a PET scan until the new cancer in 2001. I'm not certain that Pet scans existed in 1997. I was at a major CCC, Hospital of the University of Pa or HUP as it is known. However, I don't know if they always have the latest up to date equipment. There are so many good hospitals in Philadelphia I think they sometimes use each others fancy machines rather than installing one in every location.
The doctor took many sample biospies in my mouth when he did the neck dissection and they all came back negative. I have no tonsils. Primary had most likely been at the back of my throat where a bad cigarrete had burned a hole when I lit it 4 months prior to the diagnosis.
Take care,
Eileen
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Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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