MRI

Dyanclark
Dyanclark Member Posts: 296
in Colorectal Cancer #1

My husband gets pet scans & CT scans, I am worried because they never do MRI.   Anyone have thoughts on this.  And how effective is Irinotecan on Lymph Nodes that are enlarged in groin??? 

Cea quit going up after first treatment of Irinotecan, & Xeloda.   I get the feeling this is a never ending battle.

Comments

  • luvinlife2
    luvinlife2 Member Posts: 172 Member
    #2
    MRI

    I discussed MRI vs CT scans with my onc last visit because I am very concerned about the amount of radiation I've been exposed to over the past few years.  23 CT scans, 3 PET scans, bone scan, heart scan and numerous xrays....I'm a walking Chernobyl.  He is of the opinion that CT scans are better for seeing disease in the liver and lungs.  The MRI doesn't show the tumors as well in those organs.  I was a bit disheartened to hear this.  He's in complete agreement with my concerns so we will try to keep the CT's to a bare minimum....ie  only if my CEA were to trend upwards after 2 or 3 chemo treatments. 

    I've done irinotecan for 4+ years and xeloda for about 3.  It's not a bad combo and seems to work well for a lot of people but yes, it certainly feels never ending.  Glad to hear the CEA stabilized!  :)

  • annalexandria
    annalexandria Member Posts: 2,571 Member
    #3
    I don't know about the irinotecan,

    but I've had all three types of scans done, and I think the PET (for me) has been the most useful.  Sometimes it's overly sensitive, and had given false positives, but it's always been able to catch the bits that really are tumors before they get too big, which is good for my case because I'm not a chemo candidate and rely strictly on surgery at this point to keep going.  I know a few cancer patients who should be getting PET scans whose insurance won't cover it, so in that regard your husband is fortunate.  AA

  • HANRSC
    HANRSC Member Posts: 21
    #4
    CT versus MRI

    Hello Dyanclark

     

    The MRI(or MRT in Europe) is primarily used to detect brain tumors when it comes to cancer.

    I agree with Annalexander concerning the PET (being too sensitive); for this reason some oncologists here in Germany think it is a waste of time and money. The brain uses glucose or sugar to function, the PET Tumor Tracer is also a glucose mixture, so the entire brain could be detected as one tumor because of glucose presence using the PET...this is why you need an MRI for the brain tumor detection.

    http://www.diffen.com/difference/CT_Scan_vs_MRI

    Don't have any info on the other topisc

     IGWT - Charles

  • Maxiecat
    Maxiecat Member Posts: 544 Member
    #5
    I am scheduled to get an MRI

    I am scheduled to get an MRI on my liver next week.  The dr seems to think that he can tell more from an MRI than the ct scan.  I really want a pet scan done...I will be pushing for one on my next visit.

     

    Alex

  • Chelsea71
    Chelsea71 Member Posts: 1,169 Member
    #6
    Maxiecat said:

    I am scheduled to get an MRI

    I am scheduled to get an MRI on my liver next week.  The dr seems to think that he can tell more from an MRI than the ct scan.  I really want a pet scan done...I will be pushing for one on my next visit.

     

    Alex

    They're doing an MRI because
    They're doing an MRI because they are determining if what they see is colorectal metastasis or something else such as granulomas or steatosis (or one hundred other possibilities).

    Chelsea

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