Anticipating 4month PET scan results Thursday

sonyk728
sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi Friends. I have to be honest, I haven't been active on this board since I got my first clean scan back on 3/15. I think I have dealt with all this BS by pretending it wasn't happening. So dysfunctional, I know but I guess it worked!

Now I just had another PET scan last Friday 7/06 and will get the results Thursday 7/12. I feel like my whole world will rock (another clean one, PLEEEEEASE!) or it could come crashing down. I never even asked if I was officially in remission from the last scan (doc says I'm not out of danger 'til 2.5 years), or what would happen if my next scan turned out not so good. It has been two chemos, 30 rads and 3 surgeries since January 2011.

I have put on weight, my hair is growing back, resumed working FT so life seems normal. Yet I know there could be some stupid microscopic crap going on. How have you handled your cancer setback? Or when can you really say I'm done with this sh*t?

Love,
Sonja

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    First...
    Don't go there yet as for a cancer setback...stay positive.

    Second...I don't think you really ever get to a point that you can say I'm done with this s.h.i.t....

    But that's just me, LOL....

    First year is a milestone, second year even better.

    I'm past the 3 year mark post Tx, doesn't mean I don't get nervous or as anxiety prone as you are going through.

    Hoping for you a very non-eventful report,
    John
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #3
    4 month clean PET
    Hi Sonja,

    Your first clean PET is a good indicator of a second clean PET. Each of us have dealt with this BS by hoping we would just wakeup from this nightmare, I don’t think it is dysfunctional to want things to be like before. I think it is just part of the coping and realization process. I can’t let my mind dwell on the negative to long, it drives me crazy.

    Hears wishing you a clean PET this week.

    Best,

    Matt
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #4
    Good, positive thoughts !
    Sonja,
    This cancer thing rocks us all believe me. But one clean scan...can lead to another ! I agree we all Worry, and wonder....but I'm learning to NOT let it rule my life. Yeah I know easier said than done. I haven't received a clean pet yet, only in this thing 6 months though. Please keep us posted, we're all pulling for you girl ! Warmest regards! Katie
  • NeoTheron91
    NeoTheron91 Member Posts: 75
    #5
    Clean PET
    for sure you will get it. Anxiety is always in our mind pre and post treatment but for you first PET is good so as your next one.

    Cheers,
    Neo
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #6
    Skiffin16 said:

    First...
    Don't go there yet as for a cancer setback...stay positive.

    Second...I don't think you really ever get to a point that you can say I'm done with this s.h.i.t....

    But that's just me, LOL....

    First year is a milestone, second year even better.

    I'm past the 3 year mark post Tx, doesn't mean I don't get nervous or as anxiety prone as you are going through.

    Hoping for you a very non-eventful report,
    John

    Thanks Skiffin, you are a rock star
    'nuff said
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #7
    CivilMatt said:

    4 month clean PET
    Hi Sonja,

    Your first clean PET is a good indicator of a second clean PET. Each of us have dealt with this BS by hoping we would just wakeup from this nightmare, I don’t think it is dysfunctional to want things to be like before. I think it is just part of the coping and realization process. I can’t let my mind dwell on the negative to long, it drives me crazy.

    Hears wishing you a clean PET this week.

    Best,

    Matt

    Thanks Matt!
    Was just chatting with a co-worker and his dad is back in trouble as a 7 year lung cancer survivor. I'm hoping for the best at 4 months, but 7 years? This crap will always haunt me, for how many years? I'm trying to think that oh well, I could get killed in a car accident tomorrow too, so WTH. Super appreciate your thoughts, Love, Sonja
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #8
    katenorwood said:

    Good, positive thoughts !
    Sonja,
    This cancer thing rocks us all believe me. But one clean scan...can lead to another ! I agree we all Worry, and wonder....but I'm learning to NOT let it rule my life. Yeah I know easier said than done. I haven't received a clean pet yet, only in this thing 6 months though. Please keep us posted, we're all pulling for you girl ! Warmest regards! Katie

    Thanks Katie!
    I can't wait for the day you get a clean one, like I finally did. Nothing like your onc doc coming and saying "Time to celebrate" or "as good as it can be". I actually wrote that down from my last scan 3/15. I remember the 1st one it didn't turn out so good (mass on lung) and I saw my surgeon and radiologist scurry in the hallway when they saw me. Talk about body language! I wish the best for you too Katie!
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #9
    NeoTheron91 said:

    Clean PET
    for sure you will get it. Anxiety is always in our mind pre and post treatment but for you first PET is good so as your next one.

    Cheers,
    Neo

    Thanks Neo!
    I have put on quite a bit of weight since my first treatment and PET scan, so that is encouraging. I've never been so happy to be back to a size 12 and almost 40 :-)
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #10
    Sending positive vibes for tomorrow, Sonja....
    I know it's hard to keep the negative thoughts at bay 100%...far as I can tell they are part and parcel of this whole thing. Somebody on here (I think it was on here) said they give the negative a 15 minute free for all each day...then those thoughts have to go back in the cage until the next day. This has worked for me.

    You've been through so much in the last year and a half...I'm sending a ton of postive thoughts, and special prayers for another CLEAN scan...

    p
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #11
    phrannie51 said:

    Sending positive vibes for tomorrow, Sonja....
    I know it's hard to keep the negative thoughts at bay 100%...far as I can tell they are part and parcel of this whole thing. Somebody on here (I think it was on here) said they give the negative a 15 minute free for all each day...then those thoughts have to go back in the cage until the next day. This has worked for me.

    You've been through so much in the last year and a half...I'm sending a ton of postive thoughts, and special prayers for another CLEAN scan...

    p

    Right with you Sonja ...
    You sound perfectly normal as a survivor to me :) So your scan will be perfectly normal too : ) : )

    I finished my tx in January 2012 ....have had 1 clean / clear PET / and I get a monthly scope ..all looking good so far ..and I'm looking forward to being as far along as you!!

    So I whispered a prayer for you that your scan will be GREAT and you can rock the house down ....

    Best,

    Tim
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #12
    Thanks for your thoughts- scan turned out ok (?)
    Scan turned out "Ok" BUT doc wants to take a closer look at some stuff on my left lung. I know, that sounds very alarming, but he said that they recently switched software so comparing my old scan with this new one was kind of like comparing apples to oranges. So to be on the safe side I'll go in for a CAT scan next week. My intuition says everything will be ok. Thanks for your encouragement!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
    sonyk728 said:

    Thanks for your thoughts- scan turned out ok (?)
    Scan turned out "Ok" BUT doc wants to take a closer look at some stuff on my left lung. I know, that sounds very alarming, but he said that they recently switched software so comparing my old scan with this new one was kind of like comparing apples to oranges. So to be on the safe side I'll go in for a CAT scan next week. My intuition says everything will be ok. Thanks for your encouragement!

    Fruit Sniffer...
    Have you been sniffing fruit again at the grocery store girl...LOL.

    I'm sure it will be good.

    Try not worry and enjoy the week-end, and make sure to give us some even better news nesxt week.

    Best,
    John
  • tommyodavey
    tommyodavey Member Posts: 728 Member
    #14
    Skiffin16 said:

    Fruit Sniffer...
    Have you been sniffing fruit again at the grocery store girl...LOL.

    I'm sure it will be good.

    Try not worry and enjoy the week-end, and make sure to give us some even better news nesxt week.

    Best,
    John

    Attitude
    Anyone with that bright pink hair has a positive attitude! May the good scans keep on coming for ya. BTW, love that hair.

    TD
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #15
    sonyk728 said:

    Thanks Skiffin, you are a rock star
    'nuff said

    Awwww...
    Hey, just read your profile, man you have been through the ringer.

    Hopes an prayers this last round of chemo does the trick for you. I had the exact protocul, nine weeks (three cycles) of cisplatin, taxotere and 5FU in the fanyy pack. Plus an additional seven weeks of concurrent carboplatin and the 35 daily rads sessions.

    Thoughts and Prayers,
    John
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #16
    tommyodavey said:

    Attitude
    Anyone with that bright pink hair has a positive attitude! May the good scans keep on coming for ya. BTW, love that hair.

    TD

    Wig inspiration
    Well I wish that was my real hair. It's growing back since about 6 weeks after treatment. I chose that wig because I wanted to find some sort of darn fun in all this mess. I say I based it on Britney Spears breakdown when she wore the same thing. Ha ha!
  • sonyk728
    sonyk728 Member Posts: 124
    #17
    tommyodavey said:

    Attitude
    Anyone with that bright pink hair has a positive attitude! May the good scans keep on coming for ya. BTW, love that hair.

    TD

    Wig inspiration
    Well I wish that was my real hair. It's growing back since about 6 weeks after treatment. I chose that wig because I wanted to find some sort of darn fun in all this mess. I say I based it on Britney Spears breakdown when she wore the same thing. Ha ha!
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #18
    Thinking about you tomorrow Sonja
    Sending a ton of positive thoughts your way!!

    p
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #19
    sonyk728 said:

    Wig inspiration
    Well I wish that was my real hair. It's growing back since about 6 weeks after treatment. I chose that wig because I wanted to find some sort of darn fun in all this mess. I say I based it on Britney Spears breakdown when she wore the same thing. Ha ha!

    Hoping results were good
    and glad you grab for fun when you can
  • Irishgypsie
    Irishgypsie Member Posts: 333
    #20
    sonyk728 said:

    Wig inspiration
    Well I wish that was my real hair. It's growing back since about 6 weeks after treatment. I chose that wig because I wanted to find some sort of darn fun in all this mess. I say I based it on Britney Spears breakdown when she wore the same thing. Ha ha!

    :)
    Hoping your scan results will be good!!

    Charles

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