FUP ?

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Cora11
Cora11 Member Posts: 173
in Esophageal Cancer #1
Question for post-op people. Do your doctors recommend post op CT scans or post op PET scans? Also, at what intervals, i.e. every 3-4 months? Our onc. recommended a 3 month CT and I think other people here have had PET.
Cora

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  • sandy1943
    sandy1943 Member Posts: 824
    #2
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    At first my doctor did ct's
    At first my doctor did ct's every 3 months, now every 6 months. It has been 4 years since I was diagnosed and surgery was in May 2008. He only does pet scans if he is concerned about something. This only happened once and everything was ok. I'll have another ct in Feb. and I beleive then it will go to a year, but I'm not really sure about that.
    Sandra
  • Ericalynn
    Ericalynn Member Posts: 200
    #3
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    John's Schedule
    Cora,
    Dr. Meredith wanted to see John at 3 months a CT of the Chest, Abdomen & Pelvis at 6 months, at 1 year a CT Chest, Abd & Pelvis and a scope. He said he would follow that (if John stayed NED) for 2 years and then re- assess on how often for scans but he said yearly scopes for life (I presume).
    PS
    How is Keith doing?
    Love to you both
    Erica
  • bingbing2009
    bingbing2009 Member Posts: 177
    #4
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    CT scans for me
    Cora,

    I had my surgery in February 2010, and I've had CT scans every 6 months since then. My oncologist doesn't do PET scans unless the CT scan shows something. Also, I had full body ultrasounds and a chest xray every 6 months, in between the CT scans. In other words, I would have a CT scan in Oct., then follow up with the ultrasound and chest xray in Jan., then another CT scan in April, and so on.
    Hope this helps.

    Melinda
  • paul61
    paul61 Member Posts: 1,391 Member
    #5
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    CT's, Chest XRay, and Endoscopy
    Cora,

    My oncologist did a CT scan (chest, abdomen, and pelvis with contrast) and chest XRay at three months and six months post op. He did an endoscopy at six months. Now that I am at two years post op, the CT, chest Xray, and endoscopy are done annually. I assume I will follow the annual cycle until I reach 5 years (if I am so lucky). He does not do a PET scan unless the CT shows something of concern.

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina
  • Cora11
    Cora11 Member Posts: 173
    #6
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    paul61 said:

    CT's, Chest XRay, and Endoscopy
    Cora,

    My oncologist did a CT scan (chest, abdomen, and pelvis with contrast) and chest XRay at three months and six months post op. He did an endoscopy at six months. Now that I am at two years post op, the CT, chest Xray, and endoscopy are done annually. I assume I will follow the annual cycle until I reach 5 years (if I am so lucky). He does not do a PET scan unless the CT shows something of concern.

    Paul Adams
    McCormick, South Carolina

    thanks again
    Thanks for these comments as apparently there are no NCI guidelines for FUP

    And Erica.. Keith is doing pretty well...Chest tube hopefully out tomorrow when we go back to see the surgeon. He is hiccuping a lot though after meals. Any thoughts anyone ? It hurts!

    Ok.. gotta do my daily thanks for this site!
    Cora
  • Bobs1wife
    Bobs1wife Member Posts: 150
    #7
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    Cora11 said:

    thanks again
    Thanks for these comments as apparently there are no NCI guidelines for FUP

    And Erica.. Keith is doing pretty well...Chest tube hopefully out tomorrow when we go back to see the surgeon. He is hiccuping a lot though after meals. Any thoughts anyone ? It hurts!

    Ok.. gotta do my daily thanks for this site!
    Cora

    PET or CT scans?
    Your question is timely as I had the same question at our visit to Mayo Clinic this week. They said CT is what they prefer. It shows what they need to know after surgery and will pick up smaller things, where the PET is about metabolic uptake. I think the PET may be preferred for initial staging, or the ultimate combined PET/CT. Our BCBS will only pay for 1 PET scan per year. I'm not sure what other health insurance, or Medicare, covers.

    I agree, there seems to be no protocol for scans. My husband had 3-4 month scans the first year, and is now on a 6 month scan schedule. I'm not sure if that will change after year 2.

    Glad the chest tube is coming out. That will be such a relief. My husband had hiccup problems before surgery and was given a medication that worked wonders. I don't have access to my records right now and can't look it up, but think it was something like Baclofen. If you are seeing Keith's surgeon tomorrow it is the perfect time to ask about the hiccups. Linda
  • AlexisW
    AlexisW Member Posts: 11
    #8
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    Based on my own research
    CT every 3 months is more widely used, then follow up with PET or MRI if anything suspicious appears. PET is expensive and insurance may not cover it. I also found CT is not good with bone studies as PET or MRI. Hope this helps. :)

    -Alex

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