Question from a patient partner...on reoccurance....
Her initial was in the rectum. Her reoccurance was in the lung. She is in treatment now, but her onc says he wants a PET scan every 6 weeks to watch her progress, she's a bit nervous about all the radiation, both past and future....Any thoughts? Is this 'normal'?
Hugs, Kathi
Comments
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Radiation from the PET scan?
Is she worried about the radiation from the PET scan? If so I believe that is a small amount, but I am not an expert. I too, have had a reoccurance in the lung, they just recently did surgery to remove it, and from my my ONC said, I wont have to have radiation at all, just mop up chemo for 6 months. Is her case different? Is she being told she will have to have radiation as well as chemo? If that is the case then I am not sure of the side affects. I do have faith in my ONC and I dont see where any ONC is going to put one through more radiation if it were going to be worse for them, wouldnt you agree?
Good Luck to your friend.
God Bless
Beth0 -
Seems unusual
Kathi, I also had rectal cancer with recent mets to my lung and surgery to remove the nodules. My thoracic surgeon is on the staff of the Medical College of Wisconsin and practices at a large teaching hospital. When I had my last PET and CT he told me that he would not recommend scanning sooner than every 3 months which is the shortest amount of time to identify any noticable difference. I don't think that radiation exposure was a big concern. Of course everyone's situation is different and it's possible that the location of the cancer is the concern or the rate of growth which might cause an obstruction. Might be beneficial to ask the oncologist for more information on that decision to scan so often.0 -
Although I really like the
Although I really like the doctor's aggressiveness, it does seem a little over the top to request Pet scans every 6 weeks. I'm not sure what he is hoping to accomplish, unless surgery is his end game. Is surgery an option?0 -
PET scans
My question is why PET's? They are usually used to find new mets and CT's would help determine tumor changes. Is he worried about more spread or monitoring what's already there? Also, 6 weeks isn't usually enough time to see appreciable difference in size is it? I thought 3 months was about as soon as changes would normally be noticeable. It sounds like he is looking for more spread. Yikes!
Kimby0 -
scanskimby said:PET scans
My question is why PET's? They are usually used to find new mets and CT's would help determine tumor changes. Is he worried about more spread or monitoring what's already there? Also, 6 weeks isn't usually enough time to see appreciable difference in size is it? I thought 3 months was about as soon as changes would normally be noticeable. It sounds like he is looking for more spread. Yikes!
Kimby
My husband initially had rectal cancer two years ago with recurrance to lungs this year. He is currently receiving chemo and gets Cat scans every three months.
Judy0 -
No treatment radiation...dorookie said:Radiation from the PET scan?
Is she worried about the radiation from the PET scan? If so I believe that is a small amount, but I am not an expert. I too, have had a reoccurance in the lung, they just recently did surgery to remove it, and from my my ONC said, I wont have to have radiation at all, just mop up chemo for 6 months. Is her case different? Is she being told she will have to have radiation as well as chemo? If that is the case then I am not sure of the side affects. I do have faith in my ONC and I dont see where any ONC is going to put one through more radiation if it were going to be worse for them, wouldnt you agree?
Good Luck to your friend.
God Bless
Beth
Thank you, Beth, for responding! She has had some many scans, etc, but, no...she isn't scheduled for more treatment radiation...
I will pass the 'good luck' to her!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
I'll pass it along...jenjerandkatesmom said:Seems unusual
Kathi, I also had rectal cancer with recent mets to my lung and surgery to remove the nodules. My thoracic surgeon is on the staff of the Medical College of Wisconsin and practices at a large teaching hospital. When I had my last PET and CT he told me that he would not recommend scanning sooner than every 3 months which is the shortest amount of time to identify any noticable difference. I don't think that radiation exposure was a big concern. Of course everyone's situation is different and it's possible that the location of the cancer is the concern or the rate of growth which might cause an obstruction. Might be beneficial to ask the oncologist for more information on that decision to scan so often.
She was a bit surprised, too. She has had the tumor removed, and the surgeon was surprised that a PET scan, which found more activity, was done so soon after surgery...he feels that it is just residual healing.
Thank you for the thoughts!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
Surgery already...clear margins...Monicaemilia said:Although I really like the
Although I really like the doctor's aggressiveness, it does seem a little over the top to request Pet scans every 6 weeks. I'm not sure what he is hoping to accomplish, unless surgery is his end game. Is surgery an option?
Thank you, Monica...this guy is one of the top oncs in CRC. But, she has medical connections like me, so she is more questioning (like me...lol!) than the 'regular guys'....
Hugs, Kathi0 -
I will pass this question along...kimby said:PET scans
My question is why PET's? They are usually used to find new mets and CT's would help determine tumor changes. Is he worried about more spread or monitoring what's already there? Also, 6 weeks isn't usually enough time to see appreciable difference in size is it? I thought 3 months was about as soon as changes would normally be noticeable. It sounds like he is looking for more spread. Yikes!
Kimby
Thank you, Kimby, for that question....I don't know, but I'll pass it along!
Her onc is operating as if there is residual spread, after the resection or the lung. That is yet to be determined...but, he is proud to be one of the best CRC doctors in the nation, and wants to stay that way.
Hugs, Kathi
Hugs, Kathi0 -
Go for it...KathiM said:I will pass this question along...
Thank you, Kimby, for that question....I don't know, but I'll pass it along!
Her onc is operating as if there is residual spread, after the resection or the lung. That is yet to be determined...but, he is proud to be one of the best CRC doctors in the nation, and wants to stay that way.
Hugs, Kathi
Hugs, Kathi
Then I say...go for it. My biggest complaint is that I have to continually fight because my doctors are not aggressive enough. It sounds like she is in great hands. Please wish her luck. Monica0 -
seems very frequent
Every 6 weeks seems pretty frequent. My oncologist is now getting concerned (or should I say "mindful") about radiation exposure for me. He is leaning towards more MRIs, rather than PET/CT, as MRI involves no radiation exposure. I don't know what is available at her hospital, what insurance would cover, etc but I wonder if MRI is an option for her??
Tara0 -
Wow! Great idea....taraHK said:seems very frequent
Every 6 weeks seems pretty frequent. My oncologist is now getting concerned (or should I say "mindful") about radiation exposure for me. He is leaning towards more MRIs, rather than PET/CT, as MRI involves no radiation exposure. I don't know what is available at her hospital, what insurance would cover, etc but I wonder if MRI is an option for her??
Tara
I'll pass it along...she has a great attitude that she will beat this, too...and I believe her!!!!
Thank you for the suggestion!
Hugs, Kathi0 -
scans every 6 weeksMonicaemilia said:Although I really like the
Although I really like the doctor's aggressiveness, it does seem a little over the top to request Pet scans every 6 weeks. I'm not sure what he is hoping to accomplish, unless surgery is his end game. Is surgery an option?
Hi,
I just wanted to say that my oncologist ordered a scan every 6 weeks. I would get a CT scan one time, then a PET the next, which meant a CT every 12 weeks & a PET every 12 weeks, but he would always do both. The oncologist that I recently had a consultation/2nd opinion appt with said he normally scans every 3 months, not every 6 weeks, unless there is a reason to do it more often (which sometimes there can be).
I kind of wish I could be getting MRI's instead due to frequent radiation of CT's and PET's.
My surgeon told me a while back that an MRI provides the best picture of the liver, but CT is best for the lungs. Maybe a combo of both can sometimes be done? Not sure about that, but something to talk to the onc about.
Take care everyone,
Lisa0 -
Too often?
Hi KATHI. Bob has frequent scans, generally 3 mos apart. He will have a scan this time though in 4 weeks from date of his rfa as a "baseline" . Every 6 weeks seems to be a lot to me. Is he planning to do this throughout the treatment or just at the beginning to see if it's showing signs of progression. Also, not sure what insurance she has, but they may not approve so often. Hope you had a nice holiday. God Bless
Diane0 -
Good point!hopefulone said:Too often?
Hi KATHI. Bob has frequent scans, generally 3 mos apart. He will have a scan this time though in 4 weeks from date of his rfa as a "baseline" . Every 6 weeks seems to be a lot to me. Is he planning to do this throughout the treatment or just at the beginning to see if it's showing signs of progression. Also, not sure what insurance she has, but they may not approve so often. Hope you had a nice holiday. God Bless
Diane
She is on Medicare...I don't know...that is an excellent point!
We both think this is over the top...he said he does this routinely to monitor progress.
Hummmmm....
Thanks for the thought!
Hugs, Kathi0
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