Husband had 1 lymph positive for SCC---unknown primary. Finished treatment on 3/15---had cisplatin, carbo/taxol, and 39 radiations.

Had first pet scan post treatment a month and a half after finishing treatment. 1.2cm spot on top of left sternum lit up at 11.1. All of neck was clear.

Had MRI which showed nothing until reader read petscan and really searched for spot---said it wwas extremely subtle.

DR said yes, it could be a tumor, an infection, or nothing. He said it is so small it may not even be biopsied---they just may watch it. Original cancer was in right lymph node.

I am freaking out----has anyone had anything show up so small on an MRI and be nothing? Does SCC come back in the sternum? Please advise.

Jessica, don't fret. relax.... PET scans are real easy to misread and are notoriously unreliable..... Most people do not experience metatastic disease... I did, but it is an exception rather than the rule... and my tumor is responding to chemotherapy (taxotere and cisplatin).
Darrell

Jessica
I suppose the reason it takes the Doc years to qualify to read and then to understand the scans is why we have to trust their judgement.
Most of us on the forum have at sometime or other been told that the best option is to watch and wait, but that does not mean that you do nothing, make sure that any other changes are quickly reported to the Docs and ensure that all follow up dates are booked, (we all know that the system can lose a patient from time to time)
So when did the Doc say he wanted to see your husband again?
Sunshine..love and hugs
Helen

Jessica, try not to freak out. Yes SCC can spread via the lymph system and other pathways. That DOES NOT mean the PET has found cancer. We have had many people here with PET scans that included ROI (region of interest) or "hot spots". Gary, I believe had abnormal PET scans for over a year (correct me Gary). I think this kind of thing is what Darrell is referring to in his comments. PET scans are very accurate in showing no cancer. They start to have problems when infection is active and sometimes things light up for no explainable reason and are gone on the next scan. The people that read the scan results are often stuck with giving you all of the possibilities and frankly not very good with softening the blow of their explanation.

Take a moment to re-hear the comment

Thank you for all of your responses. I just want to make it clear, however, that although the petscan lit up, after careful examination of the MRI they found a very subtle spot in that area on the bone. Could this still be nothing? I know you are not doctors but has this happened to anyone? Once again, thanks for your replies.

Jess