When is the most common timeframe to have the first post-surgery scan???

HarleyMom117
HarleyMom117 Member Posts: 27 Member
in Kidney Cancer #1

My open radical was on Oct. 2, which got rid of my 4cm cubed tumor (named Edward) -- stage 1B, grade 3.   My first post-surgery urology and oncology appointments are coming up in January.   I just got the reminder in the mail -- and, apparently, I do NOT have a scan scheduled.   That really surprised me -- I fully expected to have a CT at 3 months post.

Can you guys let me know when you had yours -- and if this is the 'norm'??

THANK YOU!!!

Terri    Laughing

Comments

  • icemantoo
    icemantoo Member Posts: 3,361 Member
    #2
    timing for post surgery scan

    Terri,

     

    It seems like after reading these posts for a few years that 3 to 6 months is normal. Like you my culprit was 4.2 cm. My wait, just under 5 months.

     

    Icemantoo

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member
    #3
    First Scans!

    Hi Terri, 

    There are quite a few of us on here that have had our first scans at six months:)

     

    Djinnie

  • GSRon
    GSRon Member Posts: 1,303 Member
    #4
    Djinnie said:

    First Scans!

    Hi Terri, 

    There are quite a few of us on here that have had our first scans at six months:)

     

    Djinnie

    Well, my best guess is that

    Well, my best guess is that the more your Dr thinks there may be chance of recurrance the sooner the first (and subsequent) scans.   I am on the 90 day plan.. my Doctor knew what I did not... 

    Good Luck..!

    Ron

  • dhs1963
    dhs1963 Member Posts: 513
    #5
    I started at six months

    My first scan was six months....they found something nice and glowy in my lung.  That was removed.  Now it is every three months.

  • donna_lee
    donna_lee Member Posts: 1,042 Member
    #6
    dhs1963 said:

    I started at six months

    My first scan was six months....they found something nice and glowy in my lung.  That was removed.  Now it is every three months.

    Scan timing

    I think it is pretty much related to the stage of the cancer (I through IV); and I will add, the protocol the Dr. is following.

    Mine, at Dx, was Stage IV, having already mets to the liver and nodes. First surgery, then I had a CT every 3 months for the next year.  And luckily, between #3 and #4, a node was found to be enlarging, was biopsied and removed.

    My oncologist felt that they had caught any errant cell growths, so over the following year, I only had a CT at 6 months and a year.  That second scan at 1 year found another enlarging node; this time confirmed on P.E.T. and surgically removed.

    Here I am, 5 + years later, and I'm being weaned to a CT about every 6 months and will then probably go to yearly until at leat the 10 years free mark.

    I'm aware that a CT has much more radiation, and the Dr. has sometimes substituted a combination Chest X-ray and Ultrasound of the Ab/Pelvis.

    Next time you see the Dr. or oncology nurse, ask what his "standard" procedure and frequency will be for your case.

    Meanwhile---have a HO, HO, HO season.

    Donna

  • Joe C
    Joe C Member Posts: 37
    #7
    donna_lee said:

    Scan timing

    I think it is pretty much related to the stage of the cancer (I through IV); and I will add, the protocol the Dr. is following.

    Mine, at Dx, was Stage IV, having already mets to the liver and nodes. First surgery, then I had a CT every 3 months for the next year.  And luckily, between #3 and #4, a node was found to be enlarging, was biopsied and removed.

    My oncologist felt that they had caught any errant cell growths, so over the following year, I only had a CT at 6 months and a year.  That second scan at 1 year found another enlarging node; this time confirmed on P.E.T. and surgically removed.

    Here I am, 5 + years later, and I'm being weaned to a CT about every 6 months and will then probably go to yearly until at leat the 10 years free mark.

    I'm aware that a CT has much more radiation, and the Dr. has sometimes substituted a combination Chest X-ray and Ultrasound of the Ab/Pelvis.

    Next time you see the Dr. or oncology nurse, ask what his "standard" procedure and frequency will be for your case.

    Meanwhile---have a HO, HO, HO season.

    Donna

    next scan

    Hi Terri,

    Now I'm only a rookie having just had surgery on Dec 4, but my oncologist said something similar to Donna's team.  I'm on a 3 month plan at least until end of year and may progress to every 6 months after that. I'm stil waiting on final pathology, but my oncologist says it's looking like I should be at stage 3, grade 3, no mets and let me know the timing has a lot to do with the stage/grade.  Hope that helps!

    Joe

  • HarleyMom117
    HarleyMom117 Member Posts: 27 Member
    #8
    Feeling better.....

    THANKS, everyone!!   I feel much better about not having a scan scheduled for 3 months post.   And I'll talk to my oncologist at the January appointment about what he feels an appropriate schedule will be for me.  

    You guys ROCK!!  Laughing

  • Darron
    Darron Member Posts: 310 Member
    #9
    HarleyMom117 said:

    Feeling better.....

    THANKS, everyone!!   I feel much better about not having a scan scheduled for 3 months post.   And I'll talk to my oncologist at the January appointment about what he feels an appropriate schedule will be for me.  

    You guys ROCK!!  Laughing

    Just knowing

    The biggest thing to me is knowing when your are going to have them and feeling like you are a part of the program vs. beung kept in te dark. I like the idea of asking what the protocol the are using....good for peace I mind

  • HarleyMom117
    HarleyMom117 Member Posts: 27 Member
    #10
    I agree!!

    Couldn't agree more!!   THANK YOU for chiming in!   Instead of waiting until January, I'll give the office a call tomorrow and inquire about the doctor's protocol (I'm assuming the oncologist would be the person to ask -- and not the urologist??)    I have no problem waiting until April, but I would rather know what to expect.   :)

  • Eims
    Eims Member Posts: 423
    #11
    hi harleymom i was a T1a,

    hi harleymom i was a T1a, stage 3 and my first scan was at 7 months.......they found a benign lump in my breast which was removed because of its size.  now they have me in for another scan in feb so its kinda every 6 months at the moment for me x

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