UPDATE:

Monday, I met with the Oncologist and went over my P.E.T. scan results. The first words out of his mouth were

As I did not have radiation I cannot relate to what you are going through. I feel lucky right now but also scared that if my cancer returns I will have to have it also. You sound very brave.
I wish you well. Take care.
What the heck is a "Pin Head" mask. I am also not familiar with a PET scan. Is that new?

"PET (or positron emission tomography) is a medical imaging tool which assists physicians in detecting disease. Simply stated, PET scans produce digital pictures that can, in many cases, identify many forms of cancer, damaged heart tissue, and brain disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and epilepsy. Technically, PET is a medical imaging technology that images the biology of disorders at the molecular level before anatomical changes are visible.

A PET scan is very different from an ultrasound, X-ray, MRI, or CT, which detect changes in the body structure or anatomy, such as a lesion (for example, a sizeable tumor) or musculoskeletal injury. A PET scan can distinguish between benign and malignant disorders (or between alive and dead tissue), unlike other imaging technologies which merely confirm the presence of a mass.

A PET scan can detect abnormalities in cellular activity generally before there is any anatomical change. A PET scan can, in many cases, identify diseases earlier and more specifically than ultrasound, X-rays, CT, or MRI.

PET can also help physicians monitor the treatment of disease. For example, chemotherapy leads to changes in cellular activity and that is observable by PET long before structural changes can be measured by ultrasound, X-rays, CT, or MRI. A PET scan gives physicians another tool to evaluate treatments, perhaps even leading to a modification in treatment, before an evaluation could be made using other imaging technologies."


This information came from this web page: http://www.petscaninfo.com/zportal/portals/pat/basic/whatispet

"Pin Head" was a creature/demon in the movie "Hellraiser".

I know, I'm a dork.

We wish you a smooth road ahead with your treatments. It gets rough, but you will get through it. Please don't be afraid of having the PEG tube. It may become your best friend.

Thank you AngAk, I appreciate it

Hello MK

Are they extracting all your teeth? I have full removable lower dentures. On top I have 4 teeth that my removable partial dentures clip to. My MO who is also a dental surgeon, said my 4 teeth need to be extracted. My RO confirmed this. I asked if I should get an imprint before they pulled the teeth. He said no. That they would make a new set. I asked why not get them now, so they will be "waiting" for me, and be like my present ones. He said that my gums would shrink so much that taking imprints now is not required, and that they would make new dentures based on my gums, not my teeth. Are they only extracting some teeth on your right side?

PeteyB,

I have a full set of teeth - the imprints are for flouride trays being made to try and save all my teeth. Hopefully, they work.
I tried sending you a PM earlier; it was rejected telling me your PM box is full.

MK

Hey, thanks Mike. I'll go delete my old messages. Hey! I DIDN"T KNOW!

Mike,

Best wishes on Health and strength as you begin your treatment, And when you are done and make your mask look like spongbob...I PROMISE to do MY BEST and trying to get you on martha stewart to show it off and tell your story !