Today's Visit With Surgeon

Well we got more good news today. We went to see the Head and Neck Surgeon. After he looked at the PET scan, he told my husband that he didn't need the neck dissection. We were thrilled because on our last visit with him before the treatments started he said he would do the surgery regardless what the scan showed. When I asked him why he changed his mind, he said he didn't expect to get such a clean scan. He said there was nothing to remove because both the tumor on the tonsil and the lymph node were gone. I also asked him what the chances of a reoccurrence would be if he didn't have the surgery, as opposed to having it, and he said the same. He will have another PET scan in 3 months (it's every 3 to 4 months for the 1st year and then 6 months for the next year - after the first 2 years he will have the PET scan once a year for the rest of his life)

My husband is telling people that he hit the lottery today because that's how he feels. I guess we'll enjoy this feeling until the next scan (hopefully they'll all turn out good)


Also, my older daughter got engaged last week, so we will be planning a wedding. The news couldn't have come at a better time.


Sorry for rambling on, but this is the first time since January that we feel truly good about things.

Thank you everyone and God Bless,
Carol

Congratulations on ALL your good news! 

 ~meesh

Carol,

We are nearing the end of treatment and any good news is hopeful news. I am so happy for you and your family - thank you for sharing with us.

Cathie 

 

Carol,

 That really rocks!!  Awesome news indeed.

Donald, author

This Time's a Charm; Lessons of a Four-Time Cancer Survivor

That's great news Carol - my best to your husband. I got my CT scan results yesterday (my 3rd CT since treatment ended in Feb.) and was told everything looked so good I wouldn't need neck dissection either. I almost opened cracked a cold one last night to celebrate. Next scan is 4 mos. out.

My question is - why did they do the PET scans vs CT scan? Did they say what their reasoning was?

Enjoy your next 40 years of good health. Oh, did they require your husband schedule a Colonoscopy? It seemed important to my Doctors.

I'll toast your husband when/if I ever have that beer. Steve

Rod had ct's and a pet. A pet shows everything from your head to your knees.It lights up where you have cancer. My husband had to have it because he had to be checked all over to try and find the primary. Sometimes cancer has a way of being in more than one place. It is not even 100% accurate. They still had to do biopsies and there are places where things might not show. He still was reccommended to also have a pandoscopy in his upper abdomin by the Dr. we saw at Memorial Sloane Kettering. I have been told a pet is about 80%.

 

On 7/18/2008 surferboy wrote:

That's great news Carol - my best to your husband. I got my CT scan results yesterday (my 3rd CT since treatment ended in Feb.) and was told everything looked so good I wouldn't need neck dissection either. I almost opened cracked a cold one last night to celebrate. Next scan is 4 mos. out.

My question is - why did they do the PET scans vs CT scan? Did they saywhat their reasoning was?

Enjoy your next 40 years of good health. Oh, did they require your husband schedule a Colonoscopy? It seemed important to my Doctors.

I'll toast your husband when/if I ever have that beer. Steve

 PET scans examine the body's chemistry . CT and MR scans show details about the structure of the body while a PET scan provides information about function.  A single PET scan procedure can collect images of function throughout the entire body, uncovering abnormalities that might otherwise go undetected.  I think of function as activity and a tumor/mass as a structure of the body.  Where it is possible for a structure (tumor, mass, etc) to go undetected on CT and MR scans, cancer cells are highly active and light up in a PET scan.  My first scan after tx ended was a CT scan because the effects of radiation would have lit up a PET Scan but two months later they did a PET Scan to ensure no cancer. 

They didn't require me to have a colonoscopy but I had just had one the month before diagnosis.  I know it is required after a certain age and I was 60 yrs old. 

Great News everyone - I go back for my check-up July 31 and Aug 1.  My first scan after tx ended was clean so I have high hopes this time also.

Diana

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for all your good wishes.  To answer to your question Steve, my husband had a PET/CT scan.  Like the others said, the PET shows cancer activity and that is why they don't do it before 8 to 12 weeks after treatment.   He also had one before treatment to make sure the cancer did not spead to other parts of the body.  The CT scan showed a mass, which was the tumor on the tonsil and the lymph node.  The last PET/CT showed no masses and  no cancer activity. The surgeon did not suggest a colonoscopy. We are seeing the med oncologist on Wednesday, so we'll see what she says.  My husband is 55 and he had a colonoscopy about two years ago.  I am glad to hear your good news.  I think when we post the good news and the positive outcomes, it not only makes us feel good but also helps the ones who are still in treatment.  I know I liked to hear when someone's test results were good.  It encourages you to keep going when it seems like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. 

 Also, my husband drinks the O'Douls non-alcoholic beer when he feels like drinking something different.  Maybe you can try that. 

 Take care,

Carol

Congratulations! I am happy for you big time!!

Congratulations! I know just how you feel. My docs waved off surgery for me, too, after a clean pet and ct. I was not looking forward to a neck dissection at all, and was greatly relieved when they were pleased enough with my progress to call it off.

 Besides, with your daughter being engaged, you have better things to look forward to. ( congrats to her as well!)

Best wishes,

Mike