PET Scan Results

Today we met with the doctor and heard the results of the PET scan that I had on Monday. PET scans look for metabolic activity in the body, usually cancer activity. The good news is that my tongue, head, and neck are clear – NO cancer activity in the original site of the tumor or lymph nodes!

However, they did find a nodule on my thyroid. In June I will have a needle biopsy done to determine whether the nodule is cancerous. If it is cancerous, it would be thyroid cancer (so a second cancer), completely unrelated to my original tongue cancer. This is still good news as thyroid cancer is much less dangerous than the tongue cancer. The treatment would involve surgery and radioactive iodine therapy, NO radiation and NO chemotherapy. He said the treatment would be a “walk in the park” compared to what I’ve already been through. The doctor says he hopes that the biopsy reveals that the nodule is nothing; if so they will just watch it closely. But he did remind us that I am at a higher risk for thyroid cancer since my thyroid was heavily radiated during my tongue cancer treatment.

Either way, we are encouraged because for now my tongue cancer appears to be gone, and this cancer is the aggressive type and more worrisome. We feel we have received a good report. Please continue to pray that the nodule on my thyroid is nothing and even that it disappears completely. You might remember that at one time, my lymph nodes appeared to have contained cancer, but when they removed them, the lymph nodes were clear. We believe that was healing from the Lord, and we know He can do it again! If we do have to face cancer again, we KNOW that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. Such an amazing promise!!

Brady and I leave for Iowa tomorrow so I will be MIA for over two weeks. I'll miss you! I'll be better about the blog when I get back...I really promise!