Scans or no scans??
Comments
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Scans
I'm in treatment for stage IV colon cancer and I get CT scans every 3 months so it's normal for me. His CEA is nice and low which usually is very good. As far the groin goes, there are lymph nodes there. Often, not always, cancer can move around via the lymph nodes. That does mean that it IS what's happening but I'd be keeping an eye on it.
I think that I've only had 1 PET scan (maybe 2) the entire time I've had cancer. For me it's always been CT scans.
Take another DEEP breath and hang in there...
-phil0 -
Thank you Phil. I know IPhillieG said:Scans
I'm in treatment for stage IV colon cancer and I get CT scans every 3 months so it's normal for me. His CEA is nice and low which usually is very good. As far the groin goes, there are lymph nodes there. Often, not always, cancer can move around via the lymph nodes. That does mean that it IS what's happening but I'd be keeping an eye on it.
I think that I've only had 1 PET scan (maybe 2) the entire time I've had cancer. For me it's always been CT scans.
Take another DEEP breath and hang in there...
-phil
Thank you Phil. I know I need to keep reminding myself to breathe!0 -
PET
While PET/CT is pretty accurate for most things, and has been accurate about my lymph node mets, it isn't always cancer if something lights up.
I had pancreatitis in May 2010, and my pancreas lit up. That resolved when the pancreatitis did.
I was having thyroid problems at the time of my progression August/September 2010, and it lit up on the PET. After the thyroid was under control again it has not lit up.
If you have infection or inflammation from a cause (other than cancer) the area will light up. So just because something lights on a PET, it isn't proof of cancer. With low CEA and the doctors not being concerned I wouldn't worry.0 -
Thanks!Kathryn_in_MN said:PET
While PET/CT is pretty accurate for most things, and has been accurate about my lymph node mets, it isn't always cancer if something lights up.
I had pancreatitis in May 2010, and my pancreas lit up. That resolved when the pancreatitis did.
I was having thyroid problems at the time of my progression August/September 2010, and it lit up on the PET. After the thyroid was under control again it has not lit up.
If you have infection or inflammation from a cause (other than cancer) the area will light up. So just because something lights on a PET, it isn't proof of cancer. With low CEA and the doctors not being concerned I wouldn't worry.
Thanks so much Kathryn. I know I'm a worry wart and I need to relax but early on you are so naive about everything and just hoped I had not let something very important slip by. A few months later I found the PET scan summary and it showed the SUV of either 4 or 5 (those numbers had never been discused). When I looked into the scale that seemed a little high to be of no concern? I don't know, what a rollercoaster ride this is!0
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