Posterior Pharynx - 1256013

aberger102007
Posts:2

My father was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and it is going to be really hard for him to get through due to the fact he only has 17% lung function from COPD. We saw the surgical oncologist and he said he was not able to have surgery but also said that he found activity level of 4.8 in the posterior pharynx which dad had cancer there 4 years ago and beat it, does the activity level mean that the cancer there is back or what could it mean? Thanks for your help

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Reply # - April 29, 2013, 10:27 AM

catdander
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Hello aberger, Welcome to Grace. I'm sincerely sorry your father is going through this. PET scans alone can't determine if something is cancer or not, only a biopsy under a microscope can prove that for sure. It's possible it's inflammation or infection. Here is a primer on PET scans that describe this in detail. http://cancergrace.org/cancer-101/2010/09/14/cancer-101-faq-primer-on-p…

Here is a list of blog posts written on the subject about managing frail patients with lung cancer, http://cancergrace.org/lung/category/lung-cancer/special-populations-in… found in "focused cancer info" in the drop down "archive" menu

Please let us know of other questions you have.
Janine
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Reply # - April 29, 2013, 07:24 PM

Dr West
Posts: 4735

It's very common to have non-specific inflammation show uptake on a PET scan that could possibly be cancer but could also be inflammation or infection. I think there's an exceptionally good chance he just had a sore throat from some viral illness that could make the scan appear this way. It's not cancer unless a biopsy shows it's cancer.

-Dr. West

Reply # - May 2, 2013, 06:22 PM

aberger102007
Posts: 2

Exactly what you said was right. Now all he is facing is the small 1.9x1.4 spot onhis right lung, my next question is with his lung function will he be able to have radiation and chemo treatment or will they not be able to? Any thoughts again would be great, thanks

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