bad patient- what is success of treatment

tim koss
tim koss Member Posts: 1
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Tonsil Cancer - III/IV  -my family member is a horrible patient, he didn't show to appts or kept everyone in dark about appointemtns or diagnoiss or treatments. he may have Traumatic Brain Injury (unrelated)

 

he had regimee of chemo and radiation. tumor seems to have gone away.other probs exist, especially weight won't go back on and he has the occaisonal swelling at jaw. he told me that doc woudl do a PET scan to determine if tumor is gone at 1 month after last radiation session. well that was 3 months ago, now he says its November for PET scan.

 

my question: what happens after treatment. Is cancer cured or does a tumor flair up , soon or months or years laters, how do you tell if your cured or in remission,etc etc etc.

 

in other words how can i tell how he is doing and if necessary push him into follow up treatment?

Comments

  • momall25ofu
    momall25ofu Member Posts: 81 Member
    #2
    Tim, I have no idea what the

    Tim, I have no idea what the answer to that is.  Try to go with him to appointments?  Good luck on trying to help your loved one.

     

  • Pclark21st
    Pclark21st Member Posts: 126
    #3
    They wont do a PET for at

    They wont do a PET for at least 3 months after last radiation because the radiation is still working and will show as hot spots.  Then they usually do sone imaging and scope every 2 to 3 months.  Do you have HIPPA release to have docs speak with you about family member medical status?

  • Pclark21st
    Pclark21st Member Posts: 126
    #4
    We were just told that the

    We were just told that the possibility of recurrence is the highest wirhin the 1st year after treatment

  • OKCnative
    OKCnative Member Posts: 326 Member
    #5
    If he actually completed his

    If he actually completed his initial treatment, then odds are high they got it. The issue going forward would be catching a reoccurrence quickly and addressing it. 

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