squamous cell ca of tonsil

caroljean11
caroljean11 Member Posts: 12
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I am wondering if anyone has had or heard of someone having been treated for squamous cell ca of the tonsil, being "cured" and then 6 months later on a PET scan showing lymph nodes lit up? This is what happened to someone very close to me and I can not understand it. Could it be just an infection? What happens if it is METS? Thank you for your time..Carol

Comments

  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #2
    Well, yes, I have heard of
    Well, yes, I have heard of people being treated and then having lymph nodes pop up and it being mets or recurrence. You hardly ever get them actually saying you are 'cured' though after just 6 months.

    What treatment did this person have? Surgery, chemo and rads? I have seen some people just have surgery, and then some months later, there are issues and further treatment is necessary. Others have had rads and chemo only. Then they end up needing surgery later to mop up.

    I'm still wondering why they would say 'cured' after only 6 months.

    If it is mets, treatment will depend on what they have had done so far. I am hoping your friend will be ok, and it isn't mets or more cancer. They usually do not radiate an area twice. So they may recommend chemo. It will depend on what they have done previously.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    sweetblood22 said:

    Well, yes, I have heard of
    Well, yes, I have heard of people being treated and then having lymph nodes pop up and it being mets or recurrence. You hardly ever get them actually saying you are 'cured' though after just 6 months.

    What treatment did this person have? Surgery, chemo and rads? I have seen some people just have surgery, and then some months later, there are issues and further treatment is necessary. Others have had rads and chemo only. Then they end up needing surgery later to mop up.

    I'm still wondering why they would say 'cured' after only 6 months.

    If it is mets, treatment will depend on what they have had done so far. I am hoping your friend will be ok, and it isn't mets or more cancer. They usually do not radiate an area twice. So they may recommend chemo. It will depend on what they have done previously.

    Hi Carol

    The thing to remember is the PET scan is only a tool that the doctors use to help them, it is not always correct in its information but it is the best they have. PET scans do show what is called a false positive & false negative. Also I have had cancer for over 8 years and never got a cured report so like Sweet I wonder why a doctor would tell your friend they are cured of cancer so soon.

    Wishing you both the best
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    Tonsil SCC, PET Lymphnodes
    Like mentioned, I wouldn't think any MD would use the term cured, especially after only six months.

    As for the PET and having lymphnodes light up... It;s the parts in your posting that are missing that would help to understand your question a little better.

    If it's the first post treatment PET then it's quite possible to still have residual from radiation that's lighting up (and not uncommon to do that).

    If he's had a clean PET since treatment and this is another and the nodes are lighting up now, then it would be of concern.

    My guess is that this sn't his second post treatment PET. My reasoning is cost, the PET is expensive. Usually an insurance company isn't going to pay for two PET's within such a short period...usually they are a year apart for monitoring.

    Hopefully it's just residual and nothing to worry about for now.

    Best,
    John
  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #5
    TONSIL CANCER
    Hi and welcome.

    I was diagnosed one year ago this week with Stage 4B cancer of my Right Tonsil with Mets to my Nodes in my neck. I have not had any type of reocurrence and or any swelling of any of my nodes since my surgery, rads and chemo.

    I suppose it is possible to have nodes swell after the fact. Most definitely get this checked out ASAP.

    Best!!

    Mike
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    luv4lacrosse said:

    TONSIL CANCER
    Hi and welcome.

    I was diagnosed one year ago this week with Stage 4B cancer of my Right Tonsil with Mets to my Nodes in my neck. I have not had any type of reocurrence and or any swelling of any of my nodes since my surgery, rads and chemo.

    I suppose it is possible to have nodes swell after the fact. Most definitely get this checked out ASAP.

    Best!!

    Mike

    Swelling....?
    I believe she meant lit up as glowing on the PET scan....

    JG
  • caroljean11
    caroljean11 Member Posts: 12
    #7
    Skiffin16 said:

    Swelling....?
    I believe she meant lit up as glowing on the PET scan....

    JG

    Thank you all for your
    Thank you all for your comments. The doc didn't actually use the word "cured" but my friend did. I should of clarified that. I am so confused and haven't slept much :(
    His dx was right tonsil scc and he did not have surgery but had 35 rad treatments and chemo too.
    He actually did have a PET scan 3 months later with nothing to show. He had another one 3 months after that which showed the 3 lymph nodes lit up. The biggest is 1.2 cm. Yesterday he had a bronchoscopy and because of the weekend, we won't know a thing until probably Tuesday.
    It is really tough and cancer is a familar teritory of mine. I have not had it but had loved ones who have and I have worked for an Oncologist in the passed.
    I am a nurse and when something is wrong, well we fix it. With cancer, docs (in my opinon) don't move fast enough. I am just hoping that if it IS mets that it can be treated and that he may live a long life. I was told, if it is mets, it is not good.

    Anyway, I will keep in touch. Thank you for welcoming me...take care all and skiffin16: awsome fishing pic!!
  • caroljean11
    caroljean11 Member Posts: 12
    #8
    Skiffin16 said:

    Swelling....?
    I believe she meant lit up as glowing on the PET scan....

    JG

    Thank you all for your
    l
  • caroljean11
    caroljean11 Member Posts: 12
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Swelling....?
    I believe she meant lit up as glowing on the PET scan....

    JG

    Thank you all for your
    oops
  • caroljean11
    caroljean11 Member Posts: 12
    #10
    luv4lacrosse said:

    TONSIL CANCER
    Hi and welcome.

    I was diagnosed one year ago this week with Stage 4B cancer of my Right Tonsil with Mets to my Nodes in my neck. I have not had any type of reocurrence and or any swelling of any of my nodes since my surgery, rads and chemo.

    I suppose it is possible to have nodes swell after the fact. Most definitely get this checked out ASAP.

    Best!!

    Mike

    Mike,
    Im happy for you and I
    Mike,
    Im happy for you and I hope that for John, it is the same story :)
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #11
    Ca tonsil
    A positive scan so early in the "game" can be misleading. Buzz has had two scans post treatment and both have been abnormal. The Radiation Oncologist told us this is not uncommon and does not necessarily mean cancer. The scans which are more concerning are the ones which light up when the previous ones have been negative. Buzz is also 6 months out from treatments. Hope this helps. Karen
  • caroljean11
    caroljean11 Member Posts: 12
    #12
    buzz99 said:

    Ca tonsil
    A positive scan so early in the "game" can be misleading. Buzz has had two scans post treatment and both have been abnormal. The Radiation Oncologist told us this is not uncommon and does not necessarily mean cancer. The scans which are more concerning are the ones which light up when the previous ones have been negative. Buzz is also 6 months out from treatments. Hope this helps. Karen

    Hi,,,Just to let you know,
    Hi,,,Just to let you know, John's bx came back with no cancer cells! :) Have a great day everyone. :)
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    caroljean11 said:

    Hi,,,Just to let you know,
    Hi,,,Just to let you know, John's bx came back with no cancer cells! :) Have a great day everyone. :)

    Awesome....
    Great News...thanks for sharing.

    Best,
    John
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #14
    Skiffin16 said:

    Awesome....
    Great News...thanks for sharing.

    Best,
    John

    Caroljean, that's great.
    Caroljean, that's great. Thank you for the update. I have an aunt named Carol Jean. :)

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