Scope and cat scan results

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michdjp
michdjp Member Posts: 220
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hello to everyone
On Wednesday January 4, my dad had his first scope since tmt ended and it looked good. On Friday we had a cats can. On Wednesday January 11, (my sons 4th birthday) the dr. Called and said there was NED. The tonsil mass was gone and the lymph nodes were all normal measuring less than
1 cm. I am still numb but probably just as happy as the day my son was born (we have 2 girls 10 and 6 so my husband was overjoyed to try to even the scales!) what great news celebrated on a great day!
Now we are in the process of finding an ENT as the last one dismissed all the nosebleeds as part of being on plavix.
Going forward besides the ENT we r to see the radiologist in 4 months, the oncologist in 1 week checking the blood counts and r currently in therapy to swallow. This is going ok just slowly.
What is the usual plan going forward? Does this sound ok or am I leaving something out?
Many many thanks for all your support and information.
Michelle

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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
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    Sounds Great....
    I think you pretty much have it covered....

    It took nearly a year for my blood work to all fall back into normal ranges.

    The first year I had scopes with my ENT (he's my main man), every 6 - 8 weeks... Follow-up blood work and checks with my chemo MD every 3 months. Follow-up with mt rads MD every 6 months.

    The CT's every 3 - 4 months the first year, and one PET about 2 months posts rads, then at a year, there after.

    Right now at almost 3 years post, I see my ENT every 4- 6 months, my chemo md every 6 months, rads MD was only the first year.

    A CT at 6 months and a PET after the next 6 months.

    Best,
    John
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
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    Very good
    The ENT will be a vital part of long term follow up. As John said it sounds like you're on the right track.

    Pat
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #4
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    longtermsurvivor said:

    Very good
    The ENT will be a vital part of long term follow up. As John said it sounds like you're on the right track.

    Pat

    One, two, and ENT makes three
    The after treatment phase is a watching and waiting game. Since you already have a partial team in place do yourself a favor and choose someone in the same facility if that is an option. Just makes the whole sharing of information more seemless and that is key in communication. Congrats on the NED!
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    #5
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    There is no usual plan
    First, congratulations on your dad's NED! That is a critical first step, and lets you and him breathe easier. Despite your euphoria (in the form of numbness!), know that while the fight against cancer is over for now and hopefully forever, he's far from out of the woods with the side effects from treatments. Everybody responds differently to the treatments, and some side effects take months or years to show, so the key is to stay on top of things with his docs, and be alert for anything that just doesn't look for feel right--and then take those concerns to the right doctor. My "key doc" shifted from my oncologist to my ENT post-treatment, and I am glad to say I have a great one.

    Mike

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