SSC

Priyawins

Hi All,

I was diagnosed with SSC - Base of the tongue by july 2017.. successfully completed 33 rads & 6 chemos... After one month of treatments took PET Scan & the results say the tumor is not shrunken as expected, also never spread to any other organs. Tumor size is 20×50 mm ... Only 3 lymph nodes affected.. 

What can i expect next? Surgery or only chemos?

My oncologist has gone abroad & coming down by November 2nd week..

Keenly expecting your suggestions & comments..

 

Thanks 

Priyawins

 

Klingels

possible surgery

We were told if radiation and chemo doesn't work, then surgery would be the next option.

SuzJ

Timing

Seems a bit soon for a PET as the treatment keeps working for a while. I was told 12 weeks before a PET, then re evaluate. I think you may be a bit premature?

Cancer isn't an overnight fix, its a lifetime of fixing.

Ladylacy

Pet Scan

My husband had a PET Scan a month after radiation and chemo was completed.  The PET scan said the large tumor was gone.  Guess what it wasn't and he ended up having trouble breathing within 2 months after radiation and chemo.  A second biopsy and trach and it was revealed that the tumor was back.  Once referred to a head and neck specialist we were told the tumor had never gone away and that the PET scan was done too soon after radiation and chemo.  That the swelling would be too bad to get a good reading that soon after radiation.  He ended up having surgery.  He was stage 3 due to the size of the tumor only and had no spread.  A year later a different story.

Get a second opinion with a head and neck specialist.

RobLee

PET scan is not senstive enough to identify small tumors

PET scan is used to locate growing tumors. It is not senstive enough to identify small tumors and does not differentiate various tissues adequately. A CT is more accurate for hard tumors but of course delivers a significant amout of radiation. MRI is most effective for soft tissues and without radiation but takes a long time and is very sensitive to small bodily movement and is contraindicated if metal implants are present.

Priyawins

Klingels said:

possible surgery

We were told if radiation and chemo doesn't work, then surgery would be the next option.

Oh... so the surgery done?

Oh... so the surgery done?

Priyawins

SuzJ said:

Timing

Seems a bit soon for a PET as the treatment keeps working for a while. I was told 12 weeks before a PET, then re evaluate. I think you may be a bit premature?

Cancer isn't an overnight fix, its a lifetime of fixing.

Hi

Hi

But our oncologist asked us to take PET after 30 days of treatment. . 

Tats y we were hurried...

Am worrying abt the surgery. .. 

What may be the after effects?

armana

My Journey

1st pet scan 3 1/2 months post 6 1/2 weeks of radiation showed small residual tumoy may be present and recommended a follow up pet scan in 6 months.

The follow up scan showed everything to be clear. Radiataion works for a long time after the treatment s completed and a month may be premature.

 

Klingels

Priyawins said:

Oh... so the surgery done?

Oh... so the surgery done?

Not yet

We find out Thursday if he still has cancer or not.

Priyawins

Ear pain

Also im experiencing a pain from jaw to ear,did anybody has the same??

OKCnative

My oncologist at my cancer

My oncologist at my cancer center says they will not perform a PET until at least 3 months out. She said the chemo and radiation are still working until then. I was trying to get mine done before the end of the year - due to insurance rolling over. Luckily, the end of December is exactly 3 months, so they got me in then.

I can't imagine a 30 day PET being the way to go if the radiation and chemo are still actively working.

Andy13460

Scans

I had a CT scan Head & Neck and chest at dead on 11 weeks my ENT wanted it as a base line. I see her every 8 weeks for the first year next appointment is this Thursday. I assume she will call for more scans again this time. Not heard anything from the first scan so I assume she is happy.

Priyawins

SuzJ said:

Timing

Seems a bit soon for a PET as the treatment keeps working for a while. I was told 12 weeks before a PET, then re evaluate. I think you may be a bit premature?

Cancer isn't an overnight fix, its a lifetime of fixing.

Hi

Hi

But our oncologist asked us to take PET after 30 days of treatment. . 

Tats y we were hurried...

Am worrying abt the surgery. .. 

What may be the after effects?

CivilMatt

I expect some good answers, but November 2nd sucks

Priyawns,

I say, you have to wait and see. Your doctor should know all about PET scans and timelines.  I assume there is something he wants to know or see at 1 month, hence the scan.  If your doctor is out, who told you the tumor has not shrunken as expected?

You have been treated, treatments usually help the situation and you may be fine.

Matt

Priyawins

Ladylacy said:

Pet Scan

My husband had a PET Scan a month after radiation and chemo was completed.  The PET scan said the large tumor was gone.  Guess what it wasn't and he ended up having trouble breathing within 2 months after radiation and chemo.  A second biopsy and trach and it was revealed that the tumor was back.  Once referred to a head and neck specialist we were told the tumor had never gone away and that the PET scan was done too soon after radiation and chemo.  That the swelling would be too bad to get a good reading that soon after radiation.  He ended up having surgery.  He was stage 3 due to the size of the tumor only and had no spread.  A year later a different story.

Get a second opinion with a head and neck specialist.

Hi

Hi

So how about after surgery effects,?

How's swallowing, speech?

Priyawins

RobLee said:

PET scan is not senstive enough to identify small tumors

PET scan is used to locate growing tumors. It is not senstive enough to identify small tumors and does not differentiate various tissues adequately. A CT is more accurate for hard tumors but of course delivers a significant amout of radiation. MRI is most effective for soft tissues and without radiation but takes a long time and is very sensitive to small bodily movement and is contraindicated if metal implants are present.

Hi

Hi

If so why all Oncologists suggest to take PET rather than MRI or CT after treatments?

 

Priyawins

armana said:

My Journey

1st pet scan 3 1/2 months post 6 1/2 weeks of radiation showed small residual tumoy may be present and recommended a follow up pet scan in 6 months.

The follow up scan showed everything to be clear. Radiataion works for a long time after the treatment s completed and a month may be premature.

 

Hi

Hi

So now no more cancer ah

Congrats:))

Pls let me know how many chemos & radios u undergone & wat was the size of tumor,?

Priyawins

Andy13460 said:

Scans

I had a CT scan Head & Neck and chest at dead on 11 weeks my ENT wanted it as a base line. I see her every 8 weeks for the first year next appointment is this Thursday. I assume she will call for more scans again this time. Not heard anything from the first scan so I assume she is happy.

Good..
Congrats

Good..

Congrats

Priyawins

CivilMatt said:

I expect some good answers, but November 2nd sucks

Priyawns,

I say, you have to wait and see. Your doctor should know all about PET scans and timelines.  I assume there is something he wants to know or see at 1 month, hence the scan.  If your doctor is out, who told you the tumor has not shrunken as expected?

You have been treated, treatments usually help the situation and you may be fine.

Matt

Hi

Hi

In the impression they have quoted there is not much significant difference compared to previous MRI.. That's how we be decided 

Still waiting for my Oncologist. 

Tnx

Klingels

Klingels said:

Not yet

We find out Thursday if he still has cancer or not.

CT scan

My husband‘s CT scan was clear, so he won’t need surgery.