| Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 | A PET might give a false positive this soon after surgery. What kind of activity... pain? soreness? he was just operated on a month ago... it's normal to still not be completely healed. good luck... hugs... hope it isn't a return of cancer.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Im so sorry your father is going thru a possible recurrence so soon. Hopefully it is not what you suspect. Im hoping it is just scar tissue and pain from the surgeries.
It takes months for swelling to go down. I agree with Cheryl that a PET will probably give a false positive. My doc explained this to me in detail. A PET should be done a minimum of 3 months post radiation to avoid false positives. With a surgery, it can take up to a full year before swelling is completely gone. I hope this is not the case with your father and that the PET is accurate.
Best wishes! ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 49 | Hi Cheryl and Christine,
Thank you for your wishes! I hope it isn't either. I'm sorry for writing such short and incomplete posts. Please bear with me as all this seems surreal even now, after his first diagnosis last year.
We have been running here and there to keep up with his appointments and filling some important paperwork...
I found out about his possible recurrence after his radiology oncologist examined the area of the surgery with a scope. We were told not to worry because it could be a false alarm. He had two MRIs following the radiation oncologist visit. Soon after his MRIs, his medical oncologist contacted me with regard the results and told me that it appeared to be lymph node involvement. He also told me my dad would possibly be given other drugs besides Cisplatin. But I didn't get any details because they still needed resutls from a PET he had to have on Thursday. I will find out more next week I guess...
Hoping everything goes well... I will always keep positive Benfy
My Dad: Squamous Cell Carcinoma,Stage 2, Right side of Tongue Dx 7/19/10 Partial glossectomy and neck dissection 8/18/10 Reocurrence: 04/2011 Base/back of Tongue right side Surgery: Partial glossectomy, flap 06/15/2011 Rad and Chemo finished on Sept/ Oct 2011 Recovery and assimilation. Enjoying life
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