My Mom's PET Scan Results Came in Today

EricaA
EricaA Member Posts: 33
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
So my mom had her PET Scan today and thankfully was able to get the results today too. This was her first scan post-treatment. The good news: The mass that was in her neck is completely gone! She does still have a lot of mucus in her system as a result of the radition treatment she had. Then I don't know what to think kind of news: They found a spot on her liver. The doctors said they were gonna look more into that and get back to my mom soon. I'm really hoping it's from all the medications that she's been taking and nothing more serious. When they did a scan while she was receiving treatment, nothing was on her liver. So while I'm elated that the mass in her neck is gone, I won't feel completely better until that spot on her liver is gone too.

Comments

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #2
    Erica
    Great news that the mass in your Mom's neck is gone! Sorry to hear a spot on the scan is keeping you from all the celebration your family is so deserving of. Normally, they wait awhile to do a PET scan following tx because you can get some false postives pop up from the radiation itself. Will keep your Mother in my prayers. Hope you are soon celebrating.
  • EricaA
    EricaA Member Posts: 33
    #3
    hwt said:

    Erica
    Great news that the mass in your Mom's neck is gone! Sorry to hear a spot on the scan is keeping you from all the celebration your family is so deserving of. Normally, they wait awhile to do a PET scan following tx because you can get some false postives pop up from the radiation itself. Will keep your Mother in my prayers. Hope you are soon celebrating.

    Thanks you
    Thank you
  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
    hwt is right.....false positives happen in the first PET scans
    after treatment. It ain't cancer till somebody in the know says so. I'm delighted to hear that her tumor is gone....phew!! Sorry you have to do the old "wait and see" thing on her liver, tho...that does put a damper on what would be a BIG celebration...

    Sending positive thoughts and prayers mama's way....

    p
  • ToBeGolden
    ToBeGolden Member Posts: 695
    #5
    Mostly Positive News
    Let's focus on the good points in the report. There may really be no bad news; but if there is bad news, there will be a way to approach the challenges.
  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #6
    hoping for the best
    Hi Erica,

    I think your (if I remember correctly) your Mom finished treatments around the start of September. A scan this soon could pick up hot spots throughout the body. I am hoping for the best and good results are ahead of you and your Mom.

    Best always,

    Matt
  • EricaA
    EricaA Member Posts: 33
    #7
    CivilMatt said:

    hoping for the best
    Hi Erica,

    I think your (if I remember correctly) your Mom finished treatments around the start of September. A scan this soon could pick up hot spots throughout the body. I am hoping for the best and good results are ahead of you and your Mom.

    Best always,

    Matt

    Thanks everyone. She
    Thanks everyone. She finished treatment right at the end of July. The doctor mentioned that it could be a hot spot as well. They're gonna call next week to let her know whether or not they're gonna do anything.
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #8
    EricaA said:

    Thanks everyone. She
    Thanks everyone. She finished treatment right at the end of July. The doctor mentioned that it could be a hot spot as well. They're gonna call next week to let her know whether or not they're gonna do anything.

    Erica
    Very happy for you and your Mom/entire family. And, yes, July being recent, the false positive is always in play so soon. Advise to keep aggressive with the Drs about the liver thing- think there's tests they can run to test liver function, and possible scans can be done. Liver biopsies used to be nightmares, but nowadays they are not too bad, if done right. Tell your Mom the collective lot of us are on cloud-nine in happiness for her and the mass vanishing.

    kcass
  • katenorwood
    katenorwood Member Posts: 1,912
    #9
    Great news !
    Erica,
    Did I hear right the primary dx is ned ! Tell your Mom job well done ! I'm sure they will keep a close eye on that liver spot. And yes coulda been a false lite up....happens alot ! They will do follow up tests on these issues if necessary. Enjoy the wonderful feeling, will be thinking of your Mom, and family ! Katie
  • luvofmylif
    luvofmylif Member Posts: 344
    #10
    katenorwood said:

    Great news !
    Erica,
    Did I hear right the primary dx is ned ! Tell your Mom job well done ! I'm sure they will keep a close eye on that liver spot. And yes coulda been a false lite up....happens alot ! They will do follow up tests on these issues if necessary. Enjoy the wonderful feeling, will be thinking of your Mom, and family ! Katie

    Erica,
    Happy you and your
    Erica,

    Happy you and your mom received good news. Try not too worry too much about the liver spot...hopefully it's just a reactive area , not anything bad. Glad your mom is finished with treatment. As my husband always tells me, "one day at a time". I have to remind myself that everyday.

    Joan

    Hope your mom has a good day today
  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #11
    luvofmylif said:

    Erica,
    Happy you and your
    Erica,

    Happy you and your mom received good news. Try not too worry too much about the liver spot...hopefully it's just a reactive area , not anything bad. Glad your mom is finished with treatment. As my husband always tells me, "one day at a time". I have to remind myself that everyday.

    Joan

    Hope your mom has a good day today

    Hi Erica
    So glad your mother is NED and I will stay with that for now, because she received NED for the neck and thoart and as P51 and others have said it aint cancer unless someone says it is. You and your mom will be in our prayers.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    Congrats...
    See what they say about the spot on her liver..., but for right now, celebrate and don't waste the moment on doubts.

    Best,
    John
  • EricaA
    EricaA Member Posts: 33
    #13
    Skiffin16 said:

    Congrats...
    See what they say about the spot on her liver..., but for right now, celebrate and don't waste the moment on doubts.

    Best,
    John

    Thanks for all the well
    Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! Now if we can just get rid of the lymphedema she has.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #14
    EricaA said:

    Thanks for all the well
    Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! Now if we can just get rid of the lymphedema she has.

    Massage
    Erica,

    Here are some posts about massage technigues to possibly help with lymphedema'

    Stretching and Neck Massage

    Best,
    John
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #15
    EricaA said:

    Thanks for all the well
    Thanks for all the well wishes everyone! Now if we can just get rid of the lymphedema she has.

    Tell "Ole Turkey Neck" We Said "Hi"
    Sad, but true. I was so happy to be healing - so creeped out by the flappy bulge under my chin.

    Great that her primary is gone. Thanks for letting us share in your family's celebration. Hoping the "spot" turns out to be nothing to be concerned about. For me, after my doc told me I was finally NED, he said "but I am obligated to tell you about something that showed up on your scan - you have a gallstone". My reply? "I don't care." Hope your mom is soon dismissing her "spot".
  • Tim6003
    Tim6003 Member Posts: 1,514 Member
    #16
    Pam M said:

    Tell "Ole Turkey Neck" We Said "Hi"
    Sad, but true. I was so happy to be healing - so creeped out by the flappy bulge under my chin.

    Great that her primary is gone. Thanks for letting us share in your family's celebration. Hoping the "spot" turns out to be nothing to be concerned about. For me, after my doc told me I was finally NED, he said "but I am obligated to tell you about something that showed up on your scan - you have a gallstone". My reply? "I don't care." Hope your mom is soon dismissing her "spot".

    Yeah MOM!!!!
    Great to hear she is on the mend Erica....I just hate that dag-gum news about the spot on the liver just because you won't have the peace of mind yet no matter what we say ....wev'e all kind of been there done that so no sense kdding about that...the good news is it aint' bad until someone tells you it's bad ...and "if" for some reason it were bad...we just beat the crud out of it like we did the spot in the neck and keep on going :)

    Best to you and mom...keep us posted! Us H&N survivors are one tough bunch ...as well as the caregivers ....I'd hate to be on the other end of your and your mom's tag team ;) :)O

    Best,

    Tim

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