Doc says you're "cured" before scan or official "NED" finding?

BrianKrashpad
BrianKrashpad Member Posts: 188
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hey Kids.

I'm all done my chemo and radiation, trying to get my throat all healed up, have a CT scan in a couple weeks in hopes of meeting good ol' NED.

Here's the thing.

Have had 2 follow-up, post-treatment doc meetings w/chemo doc, and BOTH times he has said that I'm "cured." He actually said the word "cured," both times, and the most recent one, his nurse practitioner was in the room, so there's even a witness.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love hearing that opinion, and pray he's right, but isn't it a bit out of the ordinary for a physician to tell a c patient that he or she is "cured" before they've had the scans meant to confirm that? (And I mean to the extent that anyone is considered "cured," I know there are problems inherent in considering anyone "cured.")

Has anyone else run into this sort of thing?

Thanks peeps.

Be well!

Comments

  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #2
    The Sun will come up tomorow
    Hi Brian,

    A little unorthodox but these guys talk life and death all day long, I could never do their job! Obviously your guy is experienced enough and has seen people within your paramaters have a positive outcome. Optimism goes a long way. Gotta like a doctor with 'balls'!
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #3
    ratface said:

    The Sun will come up tomorow
    Hi Brian,

    A little unorthodox but these guys talk life and death all day long, I could never do their job! Obviously your guy is experienced enough and has seen people within your paramaters have a positive outcome. Optimism goes a long way. Gotta like a doctor with 'balls'!

    I am sort of dealing with
    I am sort of dealing with the opposite. I have never really gotten an all clear or NED or anything like that. My RO does not want me to have another PET or scan because he doesn't want me exposed to more of that. Nhe doesn't feel that the risk outweighs the benefit for me. I did have a chest X-ray once but that is it. I think also as destroyed as my mouth was there may have been a lot of false positives?? I dunno tho. I am coming up on 22 months out and I am still here, so that's good. I try to think positive and take one day at a time.

    I have not heard them talk of 'cured' until the five year mark. It is a good thing to hear, Brian, but I do understand what you are saying.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    Time Frames
    I can only relate to you what my ENT has told me, and I have complete trust in this guy....

    The first year is a milestone...two years (Dawn) is even better....

    At those time frames he gave me a 90+% that more than likely it won't return....

    So I can only go on the hopes that his education and experience as well as historical procedures are right.

    Thoughts & Prayers,
    John
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    #5
    Congratulations!
    Good job finishing up everything. I haven't heard of a doc saying that; at least not so soon but it sure sounds good. I'd say take it to the bank.

    Bob
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #6
    adventurebob said:

    Congratulations!
    Good job finishing up everything. I haven't heard of a doc saying that; at least not so soon but it sure sounds good. I'd say take it to the bank.

    Bob

    Sounds good to me
    Brian,

    Haven't ever heard anyone saying "cured" that early either, but hey - I'd take that news and run with it. Sounds good to me anyway!

    Shoot, you'll be crooning some Barry Manilo tunes before you know it.

    Congrats!

    Greg
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
    #7
    Greg53 said:

    Sounds good to me
    Brian,

    Haven't ever heard anyone saying "cured" that early either, but hey - I'd take that news and run with it. Sounds good to me anyway!

    Shoot, you'll be crooning some Barry Manilo tunes before you know it.

    Congrats!

    Greg

    Brian
    I love Ratface's comment about your Dr have big ones.!! All my Dr's are to conservative to say in remission, much less cured and I am 3 months out of being NED. I am 11 months post treatment and feel great, just the usual side effects. I think Dr's need to be encouraging and to say cured is a word not used enough. I think I am cured today and I hope I am cured tomorrow and the next day, but nothing is guaranteed. Keep thinking positive, but continue to ask great questions....
    my thoughts are with you and all the H & N good people on this site.
    Steve
  • BrianKrashpad
    BrianKrashpad Member Posts: 188
    #8
    thanks
    Glad everyone understands where I'm coming from.

    I'm taking it with the proverbial "huge grain of salt" for the time being, but fortunately I do know that I went into this with a lot of factors in my favor, so I've always approached it as something I would just do and get done with. Which is probably more than a little bit naiv, and overly optimistic, but on the other hand I know I am very blessed with how relatively smoothly things have gone compared to what many people, including I'm sure some in this thread, have gone or are going through.

    Be well!
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
    Skiffin16 said:

    Time Frames
    I can only relate to you what my ENT has told me, and I have complete trust in this guy....

    The first year is a milestone...two years (Dawn) is even better....

    At those time frames he gave me a 90+% that more than likely it won't return....

    So I can only go on the hopes that his education and experience as well as historical procedures are right.

    Thoughts & Prayers,
    John

    Time is the healer
    I agree John, the longer we go the better the chance of getting a full cured, I just finished my 6th year PET and MRI today at MD Anderson and waiting to hear what Dr Hanna will say tomorrow.

    All the best to you Brian
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #10
    Hondo said:

    Time is the healer
    I agree John, the longer we go the better the chance of getting a full cured, I just finished my 6th year PET and MRI today at MD Anderson and waiting to hear what Dr Hanna will say tomorrow.

    All the best to you Brian
    Hondo

    Thoughts with You Brother
    Hoping for the very best, and all clear bro....

    JG
  • pascotty
    pascotty Member Posts: 174 Member
    #11
    Same for me
    Hi Brian. My doc said the same thing. I finished treatment April 2010 had first scan in July. All good. Asked last month when my next one was and he said not necessary you are cured. I'm banking on that and did not argue with him. Checkup still every three months for now. So I'm moving on with life. Happy days I say. Best of luck. Jen xxxx
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849
    #12
    pascotty said:

    Same for me
    Hi Brian. My doc said the same thing. I finished treatment April 2010 had first scan in July. All good. Asked last month when my next one was and he said not necessary you are cured. I'm banking on that and did not argue with him. Checkup still every three months for now. So I'm moving on with life. Happy days I say. Best of luck. Jen xxxx

    Pascotty
    Jen,
    Congrats! Awesome news.
    Greg
  • BrianKrashpad
    BrianKrashpad Member Posts: 188
    #13
    pascotty said:

    Same for me
    Hi Brian. My doc said the same thing. I finished treatment April 2010 had first scan in July. All good. Asked last month when my next one was and he said not necessary you are cured. I'm banking on that and did not argue with him. Checkup still every three months for now. So I'm moving on with life. Happy days I say. Best of luck. Jen xxxx

    Bosstastic!
    That's outstanding Jen! Congrats!

    Be well.
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #14
    BrianKrashpad said:

    Bosstastic!
    That's outstanding Jen! Congrats!

    Be well.

    Wonderfull
    Great new's ! I am happy for you both! Get out there & dance your sock's off!

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