#67397 01-12-2008 06:16 PM | Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 35 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2007 Posts: 35 | Hi,
I just completed week 5 and have 4 more treatments to go. That's the good news. I should be very happy...
Now the bad:
I've got to start over. Yes, yes, 6 more weeks of radiation, except now I need chemo in addition to the radiation.
My initial treatment plan was to treat my right side only, as I had right side tonsil cancer with a one large right side lymph node without extracapsular spread and negative on the other lymph nodes that were dissected. Because of this, I was spared bilateral radiation because there is only a 0.4% chance of cancer spreading to the other side of the neck.
Monday I had a CT scan which revealed a left side node 1.6 cm and oval shaped with "lumescence". The PET scan on Thurday revealed "uptake" in this lymph node. They are pretty confident it is cancer, based on my history and the diagnostic and clinical results. A biopsy is slated for next week to confirm.
Preliminary plan is to add 6 more weeks of radiation therapy with a platinum based chemotherapy agent every Friday.
As you can expect, I'm disheartened about this. Plus, now I'm worried about my prognosis.
The other bit of good news is that the PET scan only showed this one node as indicative of cancer.
I've read some posts where false-positives are possible with the PET, but these doctors are pretty sure this is cancer. We'll see. I hope that's the case, but at this point, I seriously doubt it.
So, my journey continues on.
Thanks for reading,
Oscar
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 580 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2007 Posts: 580 | Oscar,
Sorry to hear the news. I hope that this is one of the false positives.
Stay strong my friend.
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Mike
Dentist since 1995, 12 year Cancer Survivor, Father, Husband, Thankful to so many who supported me on my journey so far, and more than happy to comfort a friend.
Live, Laugh, Love & Learn.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 718 | Oscar,
That is terrible news. I can't imagine a person going through 12 solid weeks of RT.
I sure hope that the biopsy proves that the uptake was a false positive. I have read about that many times before here. I'm surprised they did a CT and PET scan mid treatment. My husband's first PET is scheduled for 5 months post treatment, and even then I have read that there can be false positives.
I will be thinking about you and hoping for the best.
Last edited by mhupe; 01-12-2008 07:06 PM.
Margaret
----------
C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx)
Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3)
Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 510 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 510 | I, too, am concerned that a PET was done mid-treatment...I'm sure one of our resident 'experts' will jump in and maybe ease your mind a bit....
We're here for you, Oscar, no matter what the prognosis, but we're praying for a 'false positive' for you.
Keep us posted!
CG to 77 y/o hubby;SCC Alveolar Ridge; Wake Forest Baptist Hosp surgery: 07/19/07; bi mod radical resection/jaw replacement;
T2 N2-B M0 Stage IV-A
28 IMRT +
6 Paclitaxel/Carboplatin
Getting stronger every day!
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,940 | I get cross when i read such statistics.Robins secondary was on the opposite side to his primary from word one.
Liz in the UK
Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.
Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I have no idea what to say oscar except I feel your pain and worry and have you in my prayers. I haven't had any chemo or rad yet , Soon tho,, I've had 3 pets scans in 3 months and one 2 months after surgery. Hoping they are false positives for you.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 18 Member | | Member
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 18 | Hi Oscar,
I too along with the others hope it's a false positive. I'll certainly be thinking positive thoughts for you. We're all here for you.
Jenna,46,non-smoker,non-drinker
diagnosed SCC tongue 9/18/07
patial glossectomy 10/22/07
IMRT ends 1/24/08
PET scan 4/16/08-all clear!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 735 | Oscar,
I can only say I hope it is a false positive !!
Shar
Sharlee
35 year old Female Non smoker, very occasional alcohol ..Scc T1N0M0,partial glossectomy and left neck disection ,2/9/07 No rad deemed ness. 4/16 tonsillectomy ..Trimengenial Neuralga due to surgery
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 82 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 82 | Oscar,
Godspeed my friend. I can't say what I would do if faced with the possibility of Re-radiating.
JB
John - Proud to be here...
Hemiglossectomy 08/02/07, 4 lower molars extracted prior to 6 weeks IMRT 09/10/07-10/19/07, SCC w/met to L neck lymph nodes, rad only, no ND. PEG 10/26/07-02/05/08.
"We're all in the same boat in a stormy sea, therefore we owe one another a terrible loyalty."
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,170 Posts196,935 Members13,107 | | Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020 | | |
|
