Well we just had our first CT scan post treatment --- and today we were given the great news that it was all clear ! I can breathe again ! Was some opacity in one lung but apparently it was there pre treatment and told it is unchanged. We were told we will follow up with monthly visits and scopes but will not have another scan until next August...I guess was a little surprised at that. sound normal? We vacationed last week ( much needed getaway for both of us ) and I got 9 pounds on him - was very excited about that. ( not so excited to learn I gained almost the same - lol) they have scheduled an ultrasound of his gallbladder as his bilirubin has been slightly up the last two visits, and he has had some vague pain in abdomen. Hoping all ok? Re dentist - we were never given any guidelines- do we continue to visit every six months or more often? Wanted to share our news, and of course I always have questions ! Thanks !

Congrats on the NED! That's great news. Hopefully everything is good with the gallbladder.

My dentist recommended a general cleaning (no more deep cleanings) 3 times a year with an exam and fluoride treatment. I use a fluoride rinse twice a day (Listerine children's rinse - the blue stuff) as opposed to trays. My team was good with that schedule.

"T"

Congrats on the great news!!!

Continue to see your dentist every 6 months for regular check ups.

Congratulations! There is no consensus when a routine scan should be done post treatment, other than for any suspicions. In fact, the NCCN guidelines for the post treatment scan is recommended 3-6 months, but only for certain H&N cancers, like oropharyngeal, a few others, but only for T3 and T4 disease, and not others. This is just a guideline, and my experience at several hospitals was a scan at 3 months post treatment, and a scan every 6 months thereafter, but I never made it to that point before I had a recurrence, until yesterday. ENT's have a guideline from their professional otolaryngology society, once every 1-3 months the first year, progressing a month further apart each year, up to five years, but have visited them much sooner depending on my medical need. A recent report says the palpable is just as good in detecting cancer as a scan, but I read otherwise, that a PET scan is much better in detecting cancer than a physical exam by a certain percentage, which I forget, but was quite high, and can detect cancers as small as 5mm.

As far as dentists, I would want to visit more than once a year, probably every three months. Radiation does damage directly to the teeth, gums, as well as by the dry mouth causing demineralization of the teeth, cavities. Mine were fine post treatment in 2011, for a while, but then started to get the white spots, demineralization, and now need all my teeth removed. Some dentists do remineralization of the teeth, but I didn't do that nor did I use a dental tray or prescription fluoride, even though I knew were available.

Great news!!

Yeah,.. After two clear scans I'm told no more...

Thanks everyone-wanted to share the good news. Also wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your input and feedback , and allowing me to pick your brain through this journey. You were a big support to me -( still are), and even though I'm a nurse with some oncology background, it's a whole different animal when your dealing with your own family member! Besides I know where to go for the best input and suggestions- it's to the people that have actually walked down the paths themselves- and you have helped me survive this nightmare when I had my doubts either one of us would! A million thanks. Will do our best to give back. Hugs