We finally got some good news, in fact, the first good news we've had since we started this journey just about a month ago. My husbands original diagnosis was a tumor at the base of his tongue with lymph node involvement and a nodule in his left lung that appeared malignant according to the PET scan.

Well, last week he had a needle biopsy of the left lung. On Monday they called and said they did not have valid tissue from the biopsy and that the procedure would have to be repeated. Well we had the procedure repeated at a different hospital that had a pathologist who reviewed the samples as they were taken to be certain there was valid tissue. On Friday we got the call, and now the repeat procedure makes sense (whereas it really made us mad to begin with.) The second biopsy has confirmed that the nodule in the lung is NOT malignant. Even though he had been through five courses of different anti-biotics before his diagnosis - he has some type of infection in his lung that caused a false positive on the PET scan. They are now "growing" the culture to determine what it is and how to treat it.

He still has the tongue tumor and lymph nodes to deal with but - you have never seen two happier people than to find out there is no metastises to his lung. The oral surgeon is going to remove the necessary teeth this coming week and treatment should start the following week, which, as is apparently true with most folks will be a combined regimen of chemo and radiation.

I'm sure you know what a relief it has been to us that his lung is negative. He had the Bardport installed Friday for his chemo and I'm having a hard time convincing him to keep his activities down. It's like he's in a race to get as much done before treatment starts as he can.

Just wanted to share the good news. Your support has truly been appreciated. I know I'll be leaning on you guys as we go through the next couple of tough months, but at least we've narrowed down the battlefield a bit.

Daisy, I could not be happier for you, and I am sure everyone who reads your post will feel the same. What you are dealing with now has been dealt with successfully by so many people here. You are in known territory now, and there should be no more surprises. What wonderful news!

Daisy, That's fantastic news! Hooray!

I can relate to your husband's activity frenzy--I also went into a frenzy of activity in the couple of weeks before I was waiting for my treatment to start and in between having teeth pulled. It was partly to try to make it easier for myself in the future when I knew I wouldn't be feeling well from chemo and rad and also so my husband would have the least possible amount of extra work during that time.

But it also kept my mind off of wondering how bad the chemo and rad would make me feel and dwelling on it too much--so my advice is let your husband be extra active right now if it helps him cope.

Again, the news about the PET scan is absolutely fantastic--the chemo and rad can be a rough road but, as Joanna says, it is known territory and there are many many people here who have succesfully made it down that road.

Nelie

Daisy, my husband decided to build a wood fence after surgery and before rad. started. I pitched a fit for 2 days and then gave up. He got it finished before rad started and was really pleased with himself. "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do" Amy

Daisy, I'm curious to know what it was as I had a similar experience with a PETscan. Something lit up in my upper right lobe; went in for a needle biopsy a week and a half later. The contrast CT showed nothing left to biopsy.