Pet Scan info

miss maggie
miss maggie Member Posts: 929
in Breast Cancer #1
Hello All,

I need some information please. I have a friend that was DX with breast cancer,
stage 2 aggressive.She had a lumpectomy She finished treatment with chemo and radiation. She is doing very well, just a bit tired at times. Otherwise she is very active.


My question to all?? After you had surgery, chemo, and possibly radiation, Did your
oncologist follow up with tests to see if there was any cancer activity in the original
site, and possibly other sites of the body.

Such as colonscopy, especially a Pet Scan to see for active cancer cells??? Is there
any other tests she should have????

Let me say, I am a cancer survivor, DX in Sept 2009, remission Jan 2011. Non-Hodgkin's
Lymphoma.

Let the angels and my prayers guide you on a path to recovery. Thank you for any
information you can give me. Maggie

Comments

  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #2
    Interesting topic. I was
    Interesting topic. I was wondering about this too. I am having the same treatments as your friend. Yet, I haven't heard the word PET. I wonder too why they don't always do these tests. I posted about this a while ago, and I guess every patient is different. There may be some information on the pahtology report that doesn't sugest this test. Did she have positive nodes? I am no expert, and would like to read what other people say too.

    Good luck to your friend!
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #3
    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Interesting topic. I was
    Interesting topic. I was wondering about this too. I am having the same treatments as your friend. Yet, I haven't heard the word PET. I wonder too why they don't always do these tests. I posted about this a while ago, and I guess every patient is different. There may be some information on the pahtology report that doesn't sugest this test. Did she have positive nodes? I am no expert, and would like to read what other people say too.

    Good luck to your friend!

    PET
    A PET scan is used to look for "hot spots", spots with extra uptake. This could be normal psychological function, arthritis, cancer or other stuff. PET is very non-specific, if something is found more imaging is done to get a better look. Traci mentioned on a previous post that breast masses do not show up on PET. My oncologist did not order a PET for me. She did order a CT prior to treatment to look for mets. (it was clear)
    Some doctors order a PET/CT so if something shows up they have a clearer picture of it right away.
    Some things are better imaged with MRI, some with Ultra-sound. Mammogram is still the best screening tool for Breasts for most people. If your breasts are really dense, MRI is good along with Mammo. Breast calcification's are best found with Mammo. X-ray is a good way to screen for bone mets. (much lower radiation dose than a full body CT)

    Oncologist all use different modalities for different reasons. My sister used to get a PET, MRI and a CT every 3-6 months after the cancer came back. Prior to that I don't think she went even once a year.

    All docs are different, I always ask why.

    Cindy
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #4
    I have been done with active
    I have been done with active treatment since the end of March. When I asked my onc about this he said there would be no tests ordered for me unless I'm symptomatic. His reasoning for this is that mets (my worry) are rarely found on tests early enough to make a difference in treatment or in results of treatment. Add to that the additional stress of testing, waiting and worrying, additional radiation exposure...this all means that the bottom line is there is more on the bad/risk side of the scale and less on the good/benefit side.

    I will also say that when I'm symptomatic he is quick to jump to a test, he's not likely to 'wait and see'. I recently had pain in my ribs and he quickly ordered a bone scan. Thankfully it was all clear.

    I hope this helps.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • miss maggie
    miss maggie Member Posts: 929
    #5
    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Interesting topic. I was
    Interesting topic. I was wondering about this too. I am having the same treatments as your friend. Yet, I haven't heard the word PET. I wonder too why they don't always do these tests. I posted about this a while ago, and I guess every patient is different. There may be some information on the pahtology report that doesn't sugest this test. Did she have positive nodes? I am no expert, and would like to read what other people say too.

    Good luck to your friend!

    Pet Scan and other?????
    If ou don't mind, I will call you Faith,

    I have no idea if my friend had positive nodes, I'm sorry.

    By now, you will have seen the other replies to my post.

    Me too, I'm no expert. I suppose each different DX is handled differently.

    God Bless you, and try and keep a positive outlook. Love Maggie
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #6
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I have been done with active
    I have been done with active treatment since the end of March. When I asked my onc about this he said there would be no tests ordered for me unless I'm symptomatic. His reasoning for this is that mets (my worry) are rarely found on tests early enough to make a difference in treatment or in results of treatment. Add to that the additional stress of testing, waiting and worrying, additional radiation exposure...this all means that the bottom line is there is more on the bad/risk side of the scale and less on the good/benefit side.

    I will also say that when I'm symptomatic he is quick to jump to a test, he's not likely to 'wait and see'. I recently had pain in my ribs and he quickly ordered a bone scan. Thankfully it was all clear.

    I hope this helps.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Hi! I just had my 2 year
    Hi! I just had my 2 year mammo and the Onc. followed it up with an MRI to do a double check that all was well.I will have another bone scan in the Fall just to see how the Zometa and Tamoxifen are working.Seems like the 2 year mark is when things start showing up
    at least according to what I read from the sisters.So maybe that's why they wait til then to do more tests.
    Dee
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #7
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I have been done with active
    I have been done with active treatment since the end of March. When I asked my onc about this he said there would be no tests ordered for me unless I'm symptomatic. His reasoning for this is that mets (my worry) are rarely found on tests early enough to make a difference in treatment or in results of treatment. Add to that the additional stress of testing, waiting and worrying, additional radiation exposure...this all means that the bottom line is there is more on the bad/risk side of the scale and less on the good/benefit side.

    I will also say that when I'm symptomatic he is quick to jump to a test, he's not likely to 'wait and see'. I recently had pain in my ribs and he quickly ordered a bone scan. Thankfully it was all clear.

    I hope this helps.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Hi! I just had my 2 year
    oops sorry triple post
  • dyaneb123
    dyaneb123 Member Posts: 950
    #8
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I have been done with active
    I have been done with active treatment since the end of March. When I asked my onc about this he said there would be no tests ordered for me unless I'm symptomatic. His reasoning for this is that mets (my worry) are rarely found on tests early enough to make a difference in treatment or in results of treatment. Add to that the additional stress of testing, waiting and worrying, additional radiation exposure...this all means that the bottom line is there is more on the bad/risk side of the scale and less on the good/benefit side.

    I will also say that when I'm symptomatic he is quick to jump to a test, he's not likely to 'wait and see'. I recently had pain in my ribs and he quickly ordered a bone scan. Thankfully it was all clear.

    I hope this helps.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    Hi! I just had my 2 year
    oops
  • poplolly
    poplolly Member Posts: 346
    #9
    Right now I'm having
    Right now I'm having mammograms on the breast that's left every six months. I see my oncologist again in July and she had said we would do a lung x-ray. She seems to think that's where I might have a recurrence. Frankly, it wouldn't bother me to have tests a lot more often because of the worry.
  • mollyz
    mollyz Member Posts: 756 Member
    #10
    poplolly said:

    Right now I'm having
    Right now I'm having mammograms on the breast that's left every six months. I see my oncologist again in July and she had said we would do a lung x-ray. She seems to think that's where I might have a recurrence. Frankly, it wouldn't bother me to have tests a lot more often because of the worry.

    Pet/scan
    I finished chemo in January 2011 and started radiation the end of February and finished that in April and the Dr. waited until the end of May and gave me a pet/scan from the skull to my thighs everything was fine when i went for my results 4 days later he told me i was cancer free and i could have my port took out when i wanted and i did and today had the stiches took out.MOLLYZ
  • natly15
    natly15 Member Posts: 1,941
    #11
    mollyz said:

    Pet/scan
    I finished chemo in January 2011 and started radiation the end of February and finished that in April and the Dr. waited until the end of May and gave me a pet/scan from the skull to my thighs everything was fine when i went for my results 4 days later he told me i was cancer free and i could have my port took out when i wanted and i did and today had the stiches took out.MOLLYZ

    I had a Lumpectomy and
    I had a Lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes followed by a pet scan prior to chemo. 3 months after radiation had a mammo with ultra sound. Last week I had a cat and bone scan. It will be one year on June 15 that all my treatment was completed. I still have my port, and hopefully will have it removed after all the scan results are in. As you can see, each oncologist does things just a bit differently. Mine was ER+ Her2- and Stage 2 very aggressive.
  • miss maggie
    miss maggie Member Posts: 929
    #12
    natly15 said:

    I had a Lumpectomy and
    I had a Lumpectomy and removal of lymph nodes followed by a pet scan prior to chemo. 3 months after radiation had a mammo with ultra sound. Last week I had a cat and bone scan. It will be one year on June 15 that all my treatment was completed. I still have my port, and hopefully will have it removed after all the scan results are in. As you can see, each oncologist does things just a bit differently. Mine was ER+ Her2- and Stage 2 very aggressive.

    Thank you to all
    Dear Dee, Poplolly, Molly, and Nat

    All of you have been so kind responding to my post. I pray for each one
    of you.

    Dee, I see you are a 2 year survivor. I think I read from your post you
    are concerned, after 2 years, usually there is a relapse. I know from
    friends, that went from 2 years remission to over 10 years cancer totally
    gone.

    Poplolly, even though I do not have breast cancer, but DX with NHL, I too
    always feel more comfortable after each and every test, with the results
    being negative. If we have faith in our doctors, we have to trust them
    when they put off some of the tests. I do believe, there are times when we
    have to question our concerns, and not be intimidated by the doctors.

    Molly, I see you had a Pet Scan from head to toe. How wonderful everything
    turned out negative.. My last 2 Pet Scans were negative for further NHL.
    I take one day at a time. Take the time to enjoy the wonderful news.

    Nat, your DX sounds similiar to my friend. You mentioned one year from treatment,
    it sounds to me everything is good. I hope that's true. I also hope you are feeling
    less of the after effects of all the treatment you had. I have to mention, even though
    my friend is weeks from her radiation, her only side effect is being a bit tired.
    Aside from that, she is busy doing this and that.

    The angels will watch over all of us DX with cancer. Hugs and love. Maggie
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #13
    poplolly said:

    Right now I'm having
    Right now I'm having mammograms on the breast that's left every six months. I see my oncologist again in July and she had said we would do a lung x-ray. She seems to think that's where I might have a recurrence. Frankly, it wouldn't bother me to have tests a lot more often because of the worry.

    I have a mammo and
    I have a mammo and ultrasound every six months. I've never had a PET scan. I did have a bone scan done, simply because I was having some back pain, and, it turned out clean, no cancer.

    Hugs,

    Angie
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #14
    Maggie
    My MO sent me for a PET scan as soon as chemo was starting. I had bilateral mastectomy in June so the PET was around Aug - Sept. I see him on Thursday and he will send me for CT scan in September. I was ER+/PR+/HER2- but 5th in my immediate family with bc. My xray (last week) instead of mammo showed nothing out of the ordinary. Yes!
    Char
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #15
    poplolly said:

    Right now I'm having
    Right now I'm having mammograms on the breast that's left every six months. I see my oncologist again in July and she had said we would do a lung x-ray. She seems to think that's where I might have a recurrence. Frankly, it wouldn't bother me to have tests a lot more often because of the worry.

    I had a lumpectomy with rads
    I had a lumpectomy with rads and go every 6 months for an ultrasound and a mammo.

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