Post op Pet scan

abkbdad
abkbdad Member Posts: 2
in Colorectal Cancer #1

I am post op receiving chemo.Had 3 out of 21 lymph nodes come back positive.I have not had a pet scan and was wondering why.Seems most people were informed what stage and had a pet scan.

Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #2
    Welcome to the forum

    You have found a wonderful place to come and get information and support, and then one day you will be the one dishing out the information and support. 

    So, this is my answer, which may very well differ from somebody elses answer, because thats the way it goes. 

    I like you had surgery before chemo. I only had a CT Scan before starting treatment as there were no other indicators that the Cancer was still there.

    The Doctor usually does a blood test called CEA - Carcinoembryonic antigen, which CAN BE an indicator to the presence of Colon/Colorectal Cancer.

    There is a good chance that your Doctor did this test after your surgery and found the numbers low enough, that he didn't think a PET Scan was necessary.     

    So, this is not unusual for you to not have a PET scan at this point in your journey.  

    If you have real concerns though, run it by your Oncologist at your next appointment. 

    Good luck, and visit us often. 

    Sue - Trubrit

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    #3
    I Did Not Have a Pet Either

    There was discussion of maybe a PET before surgery, but based on a CT they decided no PET nor any pre-op chemo.  I had over half of my 21 lymph nodes come back positive.  I have not met with the oncologist (will do so next week) so perhaps there may be one done before chemo starts, but there was no indication from surgeon of wanting one based on the results.

     

    Will let you know one way or the other is I am told to get a PET (or not)

  • Yolllmbs
    Yolllmbs Member Posts: 360 Member
    #4
    Trubrit said:

    Welcome to the forum

    You have found a wonderful place to come and get information and support, and then one day you will be the one dishing out the information and support. 

    So, this is my answer, which may very well differ from somebody elses answer, because thats the way it goes. 

    I like you had surgery before chemo. I only had a CT Scan before starting treatment as there were no other indicators that the Cancer was still there.

    The Doctor usually does a blood test called CEA - Carcinoembryonic antigen, which CAN BE an indicator to the presence of Colon/Colorectal Cancer.

    There is a good chance that your Doctor did this test after your surgery and found the numbers low enough, that he didn't think a PET Scan was necessary.     

    So, this is not unusual for you to not have a PET scan at this point in your journey.  

    If you have real concerns though, run it by your Oncologist at your next appointment. 

    Good luck, and visit us often. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    No pet scan

    My CEA level has been tested since surgery. I didn't have chemo before surgery. I had 2 lymph nodes of 15 come back positive. I found it was easy to ask my doctor questions regarding my care. Every case is handled differently. Good luck in your journey.

     

    Yolanda

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #5
    Scans

    Some doctors don't do PET scans because most insurances don't cover it.  Although a CEA test can be done for evaulation in diagnosis of CRC, mine was always undetectable so a lot of doctors don't use that test as a basis for determining whether you have cancer or not unless it proves an indicator in your case.  CT scan can be very reliable so ask your doctor what the plans are for future scans and make sure you are comfortable with the answer.  Good luck in your treatment and healing.

    Kim

  • abkbdad
    abkbdad Member Posts: 2
    #6
    Trubrit said:

    Welcome to the forum

    You have found a wonderful place to come and get information and support, and then one day you will be the one dishing out the information and support. 

    So, this is my answer, which may very well differ from somebody elses answer, because thats the way it goes. 

    I like you had surgery before chemo. I only had a CT Scan before starting treatment as there were no other indicators that the Cancer was still there.

    The Doctor usually does a blood test called CEA - Carcinoembryonic antigen, which CAN BE an indicator to the presence of Colon/Colorectal Cancer.

    There is a good chance that your Doctor did this test after your surgery and found the numbers low enough, that he didn't think a PET Scan was necessary.     

    So, this is not unusual for you to not have a PET scan at this point in your journey.  

    If you have real concerns though, run it by your Oncologist at your next appointment. 

    Good luck, and visit us often. 

    Sue - Trubrit

    Actually I had chemo and

    Actually I had chemo and radiation before surgery.The radiation was very rough with constant diarrhea.However my Oncologist shortened my post op chemo by two months due to the pre op treatment.Thanks for your response.

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #7
    I would def discuss this with the doctor.

    There are a number of studies that indicate the PET/CT scan is the best way to discover growth, but many insurance policies simply don't cover the PET, as they are way more expensive than the CT scans.

    In my own case, CTs failed to pick up some pretty significant spread, so I tend to encourage people to get a PET as well, if it's available.  

    Keep us posted on how you're doing!

    AA

  • NewHere
    NewHere Member Posts: 1,427 Member
    #8
    Going To Get PET Scan Now

    My oncologist said he wants me to have a PET Scan to get a baseline prior to starting chemo, just found this out.  My wife said it sounded like it was due to how much my lymph nodes were incolved.  (I had over half of the 20+ nodes they took come back as cancerous)  

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