The first scans often show up "hot" areas (if it's a PET scan) that are really inflammation, infecion or scarring. A radiologist who sees lot of head and neck scans can usually distinquish most of these from cancer, but if the radiologist is not as experienced, he/she will probably be super-cautious. That is the reason additional scans are done in a few months' time.

Really rough having to wait so long -- the hospital called us that afternoon with the results as they knew we were fretting...is there any way to find out sooner (call your oncology nurse?).

Gail