So after the months of radiation end, the waiting game begins. In my case, the first wait was for six or eight weeks after radiation...then another PET scan to see if the tumor was gone, or at least shrinking. The first waiting period was the longest; not knowing if all this fun had been productive or if, God forbid, we'd have to start all over again at the beginning. Do not pass GO, do not collect the $200. I got really lucky in this game, and got a fairly good report the first scan after treatment. They called it "clear, but with inflammation present"; probably a remnant of the brachytherapy.
After the first time, they went to six months between scans, with PAP smears every 3 months. Eventually the scans will go to annually, but the PAPs remain at every 3 months. For the rest of my life. The good Lord is repaying me for all those years I could never seem to find the time to have one...
Anyway, key thing to learn here is that PET scan results typically include an "SUV" value. Stands for 'standard uptake value' and I think it has to do with the amount of the glucose mixture absorbed in the area of cancerous cells going crazy gobbling up sugar....abnormally active cellular activity. Mental image of many ants on a hill. SUVs go from 0 to 15, with 15 being the max/highest indication of cancer cell activity.
So ask for copies of the radiologist reports from your PET scans. Look for the SUV values. Compare them to the last scan you had, and say a prayer of thanks when they're going down.
No one then or even up to now, has ever really come out and said "You're cured. You're good to go. Go home, forget this ever happened, and get on with your life." Nope. You don't get any assurances; no promises. Just a lot of open ended statements that trail off into ambiguity. And an expectation that you will continue to show up for the check up appointments. Ad nauseum. But hey, still alive and kicking so can't complain.
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