Thanks Pauline. By the way I found your website last year just after I was diagnosed and I found it really useful to see what was likely to happen to me, especially the pictures. I also sent the adress to my family so that they would know what was going to happen.

I have just been to the hospital about the swelling on my neck, and the consultant wanted me to have an urgent CT scan next week, and to see me again next Friday. Unfortunately the earliest theat they could do the scan was the 15th November, and then I would see the consultant on the following Friday. I spotted the problem 11 days ago, so that would mean over a month of waiting. I went back in to see the consultant, and he suggested an ultasound scan on Friday, but they couldn't make me an appointment to see the consultant after that appointment, so I wouldn't be able to see him till the following Friday. Since I've got home from the hospital my husband has phoned the BUPA hospital, and I'm going to have the scan on Monday, and see the consultanat again next Friday. I don't know how much it will cost yet, but I just can't take the stress, and as my husband says 'that's what you've got money in the bank for'.
I know that once the diagnosis is made, the NHS kicks into really fast treatment, but I saw a consultant privately at the beginning of all this, and I'm sure that having shaved a few weeks of off the waiting time has had a huge impact.

Go private - I wish I had done - I had a swelling on my neck for 5 and a half months before I was diagnosed SCC.The NHS moved very quickly then.
My surgery was oct 2nd 2004 then 33 sessions of RT. Leicester RI
I have just recently had a CT PET scan at Mount Vernon Hospital (off the M25 before Heathrow) I had a radioactive sugar soln. - waited for an hour and then was scanned.
Cancer cells metabolise sugar in greater quantities than normal cells. The scan is more accurate than other types for showing cancer and being able to grade it.
Mine was clear - HUGE RELIEF - I wish I had had one 2 and a half years ago when I had a severe bout of tonsilitis followed by a very swollen lymph gland. That was when my cancer journey began.

Good luck you - Tony K

Thanks Tony, thats what I'm going to do although the BUPA hospital have given me a price for thbne scan - £841 - and my HSA insurance doesn't cover it - ouch! But then what price is life? I can't help thinking that every week counts.
The hospital says I should be 'nil by mouth' for four hours before the scan. I don't think this is the case for the previous scans I have had. Was this the same for your scan?

Jenni,
I agree with you get it done asap. It is such a stressful time. I said before that I had a swelling in my neck and all was revealed after a ct scan. My scans were done very quickly thru nhs but I think they alraedy knew what results would be which is why I was rushed through.
Good luck
Anne

Thanks everybody for your support. It really helps to have people to talk to who really know what I'm feeling.

Let's be honest Jenni - money doesn't have value in situations like this.
I have not been able to go back to my original full time job. I have lost far more than a 1000 pounds in terms of money lost through not working.
Life is much more important - it takes all this to find that out and that's a fact!
Thank goodness my prognosis now seems so much better given the extent of my neck tumours.

I was definitely nil by mouth for 4 hrs plus for my recent CT/PET scan I have had 3 MRIs over the last 2 years or so. I was allowed fluid before them but I can't remember if I could eat or not.
The MRIs were head/neck to the base of the skull only. The CT/PET was a whole body thing.

What type of scan is yours and where are you having it (which hospital)?

Hope it all helps - be good.
Tony K

BTW Jenni

At the end of August this year I developed some terrible aches in the Lymph glands down the left hand side of my neck to the top of my collar bone. I had aches and pain under my jaw and tongue. To be honest I broke down again - sleepless nights - weepy nights. I felt 100% that my cancer was back. I saw my consultant a few days later. These were some of the symptoms I had had 2 and a half years ago - not the same again!!
The consultant swiftly arranged the CT/PET scan.
- Totally Clear -

I think yours will be too. - Tony K

Hi Jenni
The £841 sounds about the correct price as time moves on. I recall 4 years ago an MRI scan was about £700 and a pet scan about £600. I think you are doing the right thing if you are fretting. Some of these things are scares, but we all know that sometimes they are not. I do believe in a little watchful waiting. By that I mean a week or 10 days. Do not think of the cost of it it, if you can pay for it and it pushes you forward then it's right for you. Everyone of us wishes we had moved sooner or made more fuss at some point, especially at the GP visit early stages.

Sorry to hear you have been depressed Tony.

I had the scan today, and now I'm waiting to see the consultant on Friday. I first noticed the swelling on 16th October, 14 days ago, and so the elapsed time until I find out if its a real problem will be 2 weeks and 5 days. Quite long enogh I feel, and yes you are right Tony, thats exactly how you feel when you spot something that you think is 'wrong'.

Jenni I agree I would be concerned if I had a new swelling some 19 days too. You have moved quickly and that means whatever the outcome you are giving yourself the best chance. Good luck on Friday.

Thanks Pauline.
I had the scan on Monday. For some unknown reason BUPA only charged me £600, not the 841 estimated.
I notice that your posting was at 2:21 a.m. - did you have a late night, or a sleepless one?

Glad to hear you have had the scan and cost was reduced. Any news yet?

Insomnia has always been a skill of mine! According to mum I always wanted to play at night. Didn't cry just wanted to be awake and play. I think I'm still the same. I would be doing things like cleaning if husband wasn't disturbed by it!
Once went to the doc about it and he said 'how long have you been having trouble sleeping?' 'About 30 years' I told him. Hope that gives you a laugh. But I am sure it is not good for the immune system not sleeping soundly. I get about 5 hours and am wide awake.

When I was diagnosed my main symptom was sleeping! I should have guessed something was up.

I had the results of the scan on Friday, and there was nothing abnormal, only the normal effects of radiation. I should feel over the moon, but somehow it's a bit of an anticlimax, as I had braced myself for the worst. Also the consultant explained about the careful monitoring they carry out for the first couple of years, followed by less intense monitoring up until year 5, when they consider you to be cured. Although I knew this, I guess he was saying that I'm not completely out of the woods yet.

Jenni, great news! I've been thinking of you. I think that our worries are something we live with and as you say we are closely monitored for a long time. But I think we all will have our scares over the next few years.
Sleep well
Anne