Pet scan

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Hi, I'm new here. I'm a youthful ( well I think so !), fit and healthy 69 year old. A few months ago, I noticed a swollen lymph node in my neck. (Turned out there were 2) I've had needle biopsy, punch biopsy, head and neck mri scan and ct scan. My nodes are HPV positive. My first meeting with the cancer specialist was very positive, she said I wasn't going to die and that they could treat me, but they had to find the primary. That was before the MRI thorax CT scan, which showed a bulky part where my tonsil used to be. However, the specialist isn't convinced that this is where the primary is, so I have to have a full body Pet scan.  Despite not being too worried about head and neck cancer, as I know HPV+ responds well to treatment, I'm now concerned it could actually be lung cancer. Has anyone else had to have a full body PET scan and it turned out to be head and neck cancer, please ?

  • FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Hi

    T2N1M0 HPV16+ tonsil cancer

    I was misdiagnosed twice....took nearly 2 years to be referred to ENT....the worry was that the cancer had migrated elsewhere....did not have PET/CT scan until treatment had finished....all clear.

    Peter

  • I had pet ct scan  prior to treatment starting it’s not unusual mine was  from head down to hip. Unknown primary’s aren’t that uncommon often if can mean the primary burnt itself away they will do radiotherapy to both sides of neck. 
    I was a fit 61 when diagnosed  neatly 7 years dig still pretty fit spent 8 hours at allotment yesterday. 
    Stick with us all happy to help. Hpv driven tumours do respond well to treatment. 
    Hazel 

    Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz 

    My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com  HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now  6 years  post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help

    2 videos I’ve been involved with raising awareness of HNC and HPV cancers 

    https://www.instagram.com/merckhealthcare/reel/DBs8Y0niJ8N/

  • Hi.

    Yes. Like you I had a biopsy on a neck lump which showed HPV SCC but they couldn’t identify the primary in any MRI/CT scans or a full body PET scan.

    The primary was only identified post surgery and was in my tonsil - too small to be picked up in the scans. Even though it has spread to my lymph nodes surgery removed it with enough margins that I didn’t need follow up radiotherapy. 

    I know it’s easy to say but try not to worry about what it might be and wait until your team have all the information they need. 

  • Hi sorry to jump on this thread but did you have robotic surgery. its been offered to me or radiotherapy. Been trying to find someone who's had it done.

  • but did you have robotic surgery

    Have look at some of the posts HERE

    There are people on the PATHOS trial who have TORS

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I BLOGGED MY TREATMENT 

    Macmillan Support Line -  0808 808 00 00 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Thank you all so much for your replies ! I feel so much more reassured. I've read your blogs, etc., and know I'm in for a rough ride, but thankfully, I'm a tough old bird and tend not to worry about myself. If it was my husband or another family member, I'd be out of my mind. I'd much rather be the one it's happening to, if that makes sense. Thanks again, will keep you all updated. Pet scan is a week today.

  • Yes. I was offered the option of surgery or radiotherapy. The surgery was bilateral tonsillectomy and tongue base by TORS. I chose surgery.

    I was in hospital 3 days and swallowing was very hard for about 2 weeks. I felt well enough to go back to work after a month. 

    if you can, ask what the chances are of NOT needing radiotherapy after the surgery. I have been lucky and not needed further treatment. Under these circumstances it feels like I have got off lightly compared to many on here. 

    Ask anything you like - they gave me the option via phone a couple of days before I was booked in for surgery. It was a lot to think about. 

  • Yes I had a PET scan, which revealed that mine was on the tonsil. Like you I was really worried that they would tell me it was in my lung but that was all clear. I’m in week 3 of treatment.

    Good luck and welcome to the community! 
    Bridget

    HPV Tonsil & neck

    bridgetsblog.uk/.../

    Bridget

    P16+ HPV related SCC left tonsil & neck nodes. Diagnosed 23/10/14 Radiotherapy 65gy over 6 weeks commenced 3/2/25

    You can follow my journey in my blog here:-

    https://bridgetsblog.uk/2025/02/02/welcome-to-my-blog/

  • Thank you, Scorpio ! I hope your treatment goes well.

  • Hi all, hope you're all doing well. Just a little update. At the moment I'm at Aintree hospital, waiting to go down to theatre for neck dissection and laser surgery on base of tongue (tonsil area was OK after all). Surgeon, anesthetist and staff are lovely and I'm feeling extremely chilled about it all. Hope I still will when they wake me up later lol.  I feel so fit and well, though, perhaps I've just forgotten what it feels like to feel lousy. I came in and had biopsies under GA two weeks ago and felt fine. Fingers crossed, here we go......

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