Worried about spread.

Hi hazel 

that anxious terrible feeling when faced with pet scan and the results will resonate with many here . I go Friday to see if my treatment has done anything to shrink my lymphoma. I will be thinking of you and hoping for a good outcome . Chris x 

Thank you Chris, yes, I know the majority of people on here has had the same feelings.  That is the great thing about this forum, you can come on here and express your worries without anyone thinking you are .making mountains out of molehills'  . . . which I know I can actually do at times

I will be thinking o you on Friday, good luck, let us know how it goes.

Hazel x

Hazel7797 said:

Today I have my PET scan and I am terrified they will find that I have cancer in other areas of my body.  I was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, but it is actually in my lymph gland on the left side of my neck and I can't shake the awful thoughts that usually you hear that it spreads to the lymph glands from somewhere else. 

Hi again Hazel. 
SCC in a lymph node has indeed spread from somewhere else, likely your tonsils in the throat or at the back of your tongue. The primary cancer may well be absolutely tiny. This is classic presentation of HPV driven throat cancer which responds hugely to radiation. Your lymph node is doing its job in keeping the cancer localised. It’s what it’s good at 
You are being given a PET to see if any other nodes are involved and also whether there is anything in your chest. In which case treatment is quite different. BUT distant spread is really rare. They do have to check though 

Treatment will be a challenge, it has a 90% chance of being successful and we are all here to help you along. 

Also. Thanks very much for putting a history in your profile 

Its very helpful

Hi Hazel, I only had a lymph node that made me aware that something was wrong. My Cancer was in my tonsil and the lymph node is where heada neck cancer is where they do go to So please to so don’t read anything into that. It’s quite often a lot of us only know we have cancer when the lymph node flares up.head and neck cancers don’t progress like other cancers is easiest way to explain   The majority of hpv driven tumours are firstly diagnosed with the lump in lymph node. In my case I had 7 affected lymph nodes. So don’t get down about spread in hnc it’s classed as local spread not metastasis. 

Hazel 

Thank You so much Hazel.  That has put mind at ease a bit.  I see my consultant to discuss results and treatments.

Hope you are still doing great.

Hazel xx

Thank You Dani, that has put my mind at ease a bit now (your reply and Hazel's) has been very helpful.

Hoppe you are still doing great.

Hazel xx

Hi Hazel we will be with you in spirit tomorrow when you see consultant. Remember they do this every day   I remember like it was yesterday when I first met my lovely oncologist he was so calming and put me at ease I really hope yours  is the same. I was treated at bleeds cancer centre my local hospital was Wakefield but I had to travel  to Leeds every day. Where about are you if you want to tell us no pressure it’s fine if you don’t. 
hugs Hazel 

Hi I am happily living a great life. I also enjoy helping others on here. Head and neck cancers aren’t well known were a small friendly bunch who help each other. 

hugs Hazel x

Hi Hazel

I had one swollen lymph node that showed up by my collar bone and it turned out was as a result of cancer in my right upper jaw in 2022. I had all the PET scans etc that showed no spread. I had successful treatment and am still going strong.

It is a worrying time for you but once you get the results of the PET scan things should settle down for you. In the meantime try and keep your mind busy with other things so it doesn't have too much time to dwell although that is not easy.

Thinking of you

Lyn

Thanks Lyn, hopefully the news tomorrow will be 'good' (well, as good as it can be) and I can then just concentrate on treatment.  Everyone on here has been very reassuring and I have felt so much better, since coming on here.

Thank you so much and I hope you are still doing well today!

Hazel xx