Pet Scan Results

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elwoodsinoakdale
elwoodsinoakdale Member Posts: 71 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Doctor just called said no sign of cancer in tonsil, node, or whole body area. But Steve did have a spot on his right face show up the first time he had a pet scan, so they rad it to. ENT & Chemo doc think this is a false reading, no this pet scan has lite up a small area again. Doctor said it could be inflamation, or cancer says since it is only 4 months out they don't know so they are going to do a cat scan. Has anyone ever had a false reading on a pet scan before. Keep us in your prayers.


Linda

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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
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    Very Common
    If you've kept up on the many posts concerning this...

    It's very common, especially with first PET scans and when perfomed in less than six months to have residual show up...

    As for the area you mention, I'd presume that it would not be related to the original cancer he is being treated for...

    This is usually looked at as a base PET, all others will be used in comparison to this one.

    So actually from what you describe, it sounds pretty good really. The original cancer they treated him for basically are now showing as no evidense of disease.

    Out of curiousity, why don't they do a biopsy to the area on his face.

    Best,
    John
  • elwoodsinoakdale
    elwoodsinoakdale Member Posts: 71 Member
    #3
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Very Common
    If you've kept up on the many posts concerning this...

    It's very common, especially with first PET scans and when perfomed in less than six months to have residual show up...

    As for the area you mention, I'd presume that it would not be related to the original cancer he is being treated for...

    This is usually looked at as a base PET, all others will be used in comparison to this one.

    So actually from what you describe, it sounds pretty good really. The original cancer they treated him for basically are now showing as no evidense of disease.

    Out of curiousity, why don't they do a biopsy to the area on his face.

    Best,
    John

    Dont Know
    We don't know why, like I said ENT and Chemo Doc, thinks this is a false reading, I did not know pets do that. We are holding on to the good news of the rest of the results. I know that they quit rads on his face early saying that they didn't need to do it anymore, so I am thinking its just residual like you said, will keep everyone posted, thanks for the support.


    Linda
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #4
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    elwoodsinoakdale said:

    Dont Know
    We don't know why, like I said ENT and Chemo Doc, thinks this is a false reading, I did not know pets do that. We are holding on to the good news of the rest of the results. I know that they quit rads on his face early saying that they didn't need to do it anymore, so I am thinking its just residual like you said, will keep everyone posted, thanks for the support.


    Linda

    I am surprised you weren't
    I am surprised you weren't aware of this, as my radiologist oncologist made that very clear to me. (actually he decided in my case that the risk of more pet scans constantly, was greater than any benefit, so I've not had a pet since rads). Also, we have members here constantly posting with false positives.

    Hope it's just a false positive in your case.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
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    Get them all the time

    For the last 6 years my PET scans always light up and area or two that makes the doctors a little concerned. So they go to scoping my nasal passageway looking but only finding little area of inflammation, so far no tumor or anything to really say that C is back.

    Take care
    Hondo
  • elwoodsinoakdale
    elwoodsinoakdale Member Posts: 71 Member
    #6
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    Hondo said:

    Get them all the time

    For the last 6 years my PET scans always light up and area or two that makes the doctors a little concerned. So they go to scoping my nasal passageway looking but only finding little area of inflammation, so far no tumor or anything to really say that C is back.

    Take care
    Hondo

    I agree
    I feel in my heart that the cancer they said was in his face, was never there. Ent & Chemo doc believe the same thing, but the rad doc treated it just to be safe. Now it shows up on pet scan, well it never showed up on cat scan before, so I wonder why they want to do a cat scan now..I am just holding on to the good news of no cancer in tonsil or node or body... this is my happiness.

    Thanks for the support, it makes life a little easier


    Linda
  • arndog64
    arndog64 Member Posts: 537
    #7
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    elwoodsinoakdale said:

    I agree
    I feel in my heart that the cancer they said was in his face, was never there. Ent & Chemo doc believe the same thing, but the rad doc treated it just to be safe. Now it shows up on pet scan, well it never showed up on cat scan before, so I wonder why they want to do a cat scan now..I am just holding on to the good news of no cancer in tonsil or node or body... this is my happiness.

    Thanks for the support, it makes life a little easier


    Linda

    Congrats!!! Great news..

    Congrats!!! Great news..
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #8
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    False reading
    Last month my lungs lit up like a Christmas Tree. It was a false reading...got my attention I must say.

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