Hello Again everyone,

My sincere hopes that everone is doing well on the roads to, and continued good health. Once again I find myself here seeking advice. Let me begin by saying that I am approx 1 year post-op and ENT says "everything looks good". Mouth has healed well, and none of my concerns "raise any red flags with him". However, I have received many different opinions from some who work in the medical profession and I wanted to get some opinions from this board, since I truly value all of the advice I have received here in the past. A few months ago, I visited an oncologisst (first time since surgery because of a couple vague symptoms), who ordered a CT of neck and of chest. On the ST neck CT a 1.5cm sub mandibular node was discovered. The explanation was that after a neck dissection, the remaining nodes have to "work harder to compensate". OK....well, a few months have past and there is another palpable node (much smaller, but discovered myself), on the left (side tumor was on), slightly anterior to hyoid bone. Again, I was given the same explanation, and that these were nothing to worry about "YET". The 1.5cm node (considered WNL in size and homogeneous), has not gotten any smaller, and now a new one "pops up". My question, should I be concerned, or or these just normal post-op changes. I work in Nuclear Medicine and truly feel that a PET/CT would be useful in evaluating the nodes. The argument from ENT, the false positive fasctor. OI realixze that this is a debatable issue and see both sides, however, if to evaluate nodes, I do not see ANY harm in having the scan. Once again, I thank you all for your help, and truly wish you all the very best. You are all in my prayers. Take care!!!!

Rick

Rick , if it would make you more comfortable to have the scan, then do it. You do not want to be saying , "I wish I had or I should have done".
Pete has had a few since he finished treatment, and I can tell you, it feels good to get the "all clear". I know there is a chance of a false positive, my opinion, better safe than sorry.
Best wishes
Marica

Rick:
There is much contraversy involving Pet scans and CT/Pet scans. It is my understanding that it requires a specially trained radiologist to read these things properly.
According to my ENT, at a recent symposium, a question was put forward regarding this very subject and 9 out of 10 of a team of doctors from 2 major Comprehensive Cancer Treatment centers relied on the Pet and Pet/ct as an effective tool.
A small needle biopsy may be in order for you to resolve your anxiety and give you peace of mind.
Remember, we have a motto here "It ain't Cancer till you look at it on a cellular level".
Darrell

Thank you guys, I appreciate your input! I made an appt with the oncologist (whom I have only seen twice since my surgery) and feel pretty confident he will take some action (more than likely PET/CT, maybe biopsy). Thank you again for replying!!! I just wonder if I over-react, or if these should truly cause concern. Time will tell, I guess. Thank you and I wish you both the very best!!!

Rick

My ENT (otolaryngologist) felt he could "find" a problem before it was an issue yet he provided me with a Journal of Otolarngology that had a speicif study of the efficacy of the PET/Ct and followed that with a hand on my shoulder and wise words that whatever gave me peace of mind, he was more than willing to do anything to make that happen. My medical oncologist likes to see one every 6 months still.

Peace of mind is worth a lot less anxiety.

Ed

Putting aside the controversy over using PET scans, the advice above is very good. If your doc has a radiologist who knows how, get one and get it read. In fact, get it read by more than one doc. Additional opinions are not hard to get. Have them spin your scan onto a couple of extra CD's and send them out to folks who really know their stuff. You'll feel better. Your health will be safer. Don't give the beast an inch. Play out your hunches. No one knows your health as well as you do. Trust that. Be strong. Tom