| | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,294 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | OP  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,294 Likes: 1 | The MO placed the order for a PET and it was approved quickly as I already received a call to schedule the scan.
I am just 7 weeks post of chemo-rads and want to ensure sufficient time has transpired before getting the scan. Doc agrees minimum of 8 but does about 10 weeks seem about right to give enough time for the rads cool off and things to be stable enough that a scan will offer solid results?
Thanks
don
Don
Male, 1955
Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | Some doctors say, a PET scan is 90% accurate by 8 weeks. Some do them 6-8 weeks, in case further surgery or treatmnt is needed, which has better outcome, and reduces cancer regeneration. Under 6 weeks, a PET was not found to have acceptable findings, 4 months is better than 3 months, and a year post treatment, the PET was found to be 100% accurate. I had about a dozen PET scans, the earliest were mostly 3 months, and one at 5, and another at 8 months. Sometimes they do another scan, like MRI, to get a better look at areas that may have been inconclusive of show better.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I agree w/ Paul. Most people on this site that have scans pre 4 months have something picked up which "can't be excluded".
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 92 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 92 | I have my first PET after tx next Thursday, that is 2 months after tx. Are you saying that most ppl who have it that soon have something picked up which "can't be excluded" David? If so does it come back on later scans as clear sometimes?
AGE 38 10-2012 thru 3-2012 swollen lymph node,painful jaw and ear,2 antibiotics,X-ray,CAT scan,needle biopsy,scope, no answers
3-4-13 tonsillectomy and selective neck dissection, DX R tonsil SCC,METS to 1 lymph node,BOT,HPV+, stage IV
TX 35 RAD,3 chemo cisplatin/Taxol started 4-8-13
rad end 5-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | I had my first PET/Ct at 8 weeks but it was more to evaluate the primary site to better determine if a neck dissection was warranted. The primary tumor had shrunk to nothing at that point so it was ruled out. My hyoid bone and surrounding area lit up but was ruled out as disease but PET/Ct's were done monthly just in case for 3 months.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Rosy,
Don't have those statistics but in my case it took 3 scans to finally get an ALL CLEAR.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,294 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,294 Likes: 1 | Thanks all. This is a range answer for certain, seems like 12 weeks is about the median time to get that first scan. I was thinking 10 weeks originally so 10-12 weeks is where I plan to do the first post-tx PET.
I'm also somewhat curious, maybe a lot anxious, to see what is going on with these two undetermined spots on the lungs that have shown from the beginning.
don
Don
Male, 1955
Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
| | | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 188 Likes: 4 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 188 Likes: 4 | Just met with my doctor and she said 12 weeks is minimum to get reliable results.
Age 55 HPV 16+ SCC, BOT 050613 Stage IV
great team at OSU
Tx 6 weeks of rad started June 3
8 weeks of chemo started May 28
RTOG Phase III trial Cetuximab group.
Treatment completed 7/16/2013
PET Scan completed 10/08/13
Results discussed 10/11/13
NED - Free but am I
Next part of the journey?
1year PET 10/24/14 NED
Good reports now 10 years out.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,294 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | OP Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,294 Likes: 1 | ok. at this point setting the PET four weeks out make sense. thanks don
Don
Male, 1955
Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 92 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 92 | My MO set mine for 8 weeks out, I hope I don't get the beegeesus scared out of me for no reason. I am already beginning to wonder why she set mine so close to tx end. Well, that is 2 days away and I meet with the RO and MO the same day so I should have my answers then.
AGE 38 10-2012 thru 3-2012 swollen lymph node,painful jaw and ear,2 antibiotics,X-ray,CAT scan,needle biopsy,scope, no answers
3-4-13 tonsillectomy and selective neck dissection, DX R tonsil SCC,METS to 1 lymph node,BOT,HPV+, stage IV
TX 35 RAD,3 chemo cisplatin/Taxol started 4-8-13
rad end 5-29-13
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,279 Posts197,205 Members13,413 | | Most Online2,371
Sep 11th, 2025 | | |
|
