new and don't understand my results from PET Scan

janice sullenger

I'm awaiting my biopsy to come back..  they only biopsy one of the nodules, which was the largest.  the first was  15 x 18 mm and is not hepermetabolic with an SUV of 1.0.  The second is a 13 x 17 mm with mildly hypermetabolic with and SUV of 2.6 and the 3rd is a right posterior medial  pleural  based nodular that is 22 xx 26 mm  and is moderately hypermetabolic is an SUV of 3.6.  all i've been told so far is my PET scan was  pink.  any ideas.  i don't discuss this here.  i'm the one who keeps everything on a light note since several of my children just had their own babies and don't know where to turn just to talk

gravelroad

waiting is the hard part

 Waiting is the hard part and the just not knowing. You should have the results very soon and that is so much better than all the ( what if's) So just stay positive until you know , this could just be a infection, So just enjoy your new grandbabies and if there is a need to worry later on then there is plenty of time for that when the time comes. My brother has throat cancer , for over 3 years now they have been keeping an eye on a nodule in his lung for 2 plus years now , 3 months ago the pet scan showed growth so they did a follow up scan 90 days later instead of the regular 6 mts scan. The thing was gone to everyone surprize, Go figure , my brother was so afraid that he almost did not go get the follow up scan but boy was he ever glad that he did go.So I guess what I am trying to say is , you just never know yes it can end up being bad but it does not always have to. There are so many treatments these days that people in the past never had , things are always changing when it comes to cancer treatment and with those changes comes hope. So hoping things go well for you and you get a thumbs-up in the next few days, sending you peace and positive thoughts your way!

janice sullenger

gravelroad said:

waiting is the hard part

 Waiting is the hard part and the just not knowing. You should have the results very soon and that is so much better than all the ( what if's) So just stay positive until you know , this could just be a infection, So just enjoy your new grandbabies and if there is a need to worry later on then there is plenty of time for that when the time comes. My brother has throat cancer , for over 3 years now they have been keeping an eye on a nodule in his lung for 2 plus years now , 3 months ago the pet scan showed growth so they did a follow up scan 90 days later instead of the regular 6 mts scan. The thing was gone to everyone surprize, Go figure , my brother was so afraid that he almost did not go get the follow up scan but boy was he ever glad that he did go.So I guess what I am trying to say is , you just never know yes it can end up being bad but it does not always have to. There are so many treatments these days that people in the past never had , things are always changing when it comes to cancer treatment and with those changes comes hope. So hoping things go well for you and you get a thumbs-up in the next few days, sending you peace and positive thoughts your way!

Thank you gravelroad.

For the most part I've been positive. What bothers me the most I guess is the questions from the kids. I can't answer what I don't know. A couple of them are mad because they don't understand why my doctor didn't run test on Christmas Eve (this was when I got the news). I'm on blood thinners and will be the rest of my life. My blood suddenly was too thick again and they had to thin it enough to be able to take me off them for 5 days. I have wonderful kids, but even though they have their families, I'm what they have. I'm 54, was thin, active and so forth, but 2 yrs ago , I was a smoker and suddenly didn't feel well and went to ER. Stayed 2 weeks in CCU. Had 100% blockage in my leg! several DVTs and bilateral pluminary embolisms. No signs, swelling or anything. I had 2 nodulars they found shortly afterwards. Check again in a year, the same. Only this year I am super tired and hubby said I acted like I wasn't getting enough oxygen, so I asked for X-ray, which led to CT, then a PET scan, and now biopsy. I quit smoking 2 years ago. Never smoked another when I got out of hospital last time. Maybe that's why I don't know how to handle this with the kids.

dennycee

The SUV is a measurement of

The SUV is a measurement of cellular activity and I can't find a reference that tells me if one of these is high.  The report itself says medium so may not indicate cancer.   This is one of those things that the dr will have to answer, I think.  Please know that it is not cancer until a biopsy says its cancer.  95% of nodules found in the lung do not turn out to be cancer.  They may decide to wait 3-6 months before doing another ct for comparison.  Usually they shrink or 'resolve' in their own.  Anything from allergies to a cold to exposure to fumes can cause them to be enlarged.  Call your regular dr and ask him to explain it. 

Youve gotten yourself off to a very good start by advocating for yourself and getting the process started.  

janice sullenger

dennycee said:

The SUV is a measurement of

The SUV is a measurement of cellular activity and I can't find a reference that tells me if one of these is high.  The report itself says medium so may not indicate cancer.   This is one of those things that the dr will have to answer, I think.  Please know that it is not cancer until a biopsy says its cancer.  95% of nodules found in the lung do not turn out to be cancer.  They may decide to wait 3-6 months before doing another ct for comparison.  Usually they shrink or 'resolve' in their own.  Anything from allergies to a cold to exposure to fumes can cause them to be enlarged.  Call your regular dr and ask him to explain it. 

Youve gotten yourself off to a very good start by advocating for yourself and getting the process started.  

thanks dennycee

thanks dennycee.  sometimes its just easier to talk to someone who doesn't know me and i don't have to pretend that it doesn't bother me.  i go on Wed afternoon, they should have my biopsy in by then.

gravelroad

wondering

I was just wondering if you have been updated with any results yet from your biopsy yet? I sure hope you have gotten some news that can help you understand whats going on, so my thoughts are with you, hugs!!!

jobewankanobe

janice sullenger said:

Thank you gravelroad.

For the most part I've been positive. What bothers me the most I guess is the questions from the kids. I can't answer what I don't know. A couple of them are mad because they don't understand why my doctor didn't run test on Christmas Eve (this was when I got the news). I'm on blood thinners and will be the rest of my life. My blood suddenly was too thick again and they had to thin it enough to be able to take me off them for 5 days. I have wonderful kids, but even though they have their families, I'm what they have. I'm 54, was thin, active and so forth, but 2 yrs ago , I was a smoker and suddenly didn't feel well and went to ER. Stayed 2 weeks in CCU. Had 100% blockage in my leg! several DVTs and bilateral pluminary embolisms. No signs, swelling or anything. I had 2 nodulars they found shortly afterwards. Check again in a year, the same. Only this year I am super tired and hubby said I acted like I wasn't getting enough oxygen, so I asked for X-ray, which led to CT, then a PET scan, and now biopsy. I quit smoking 2 years ago. Never smoked another when I got out of hospital last time. Maybe that's why I don't know how to handle this with the kids.

handling the kids

first i want to say that i will be praying for you and your family! i joined this site so that i would have others to learn from, yet now I'm realizing that it is just as much my responsiblity to offer what i can too.  just within the last week my dad was diganoised with lung cancer, with the complications of needing a replacement battery on his pace maker.   as a child i have to admit, i was frustrated and still remain frustrated with the time it has taken to get answers.  each and every person is at a different time in their lives, and what they are able to handle and accept will be different as well.  for me my dad said and did some things that gave me assurance that i need to trust him and his ability to handle the doctors and understand the situation. with this assurnace, it allowed the rest of us to maintain a positive attitude.  because my dad had to take blood thinners because of the massive blockage he had that requirer a 5 way by pass, and then continued complications that required the placement of a pace maker, my dad had to wait for days for the medication to disapate before being able to get some of the necessary tests.  thankfully he is now home and getting prepared to start his treatment, yet still to this day i don't have all the answers i want.  having the confidence in yourself and taking a strong stance that you are capable, could just be what your children MIGHT need to see and hear. assure your children that you will need their assistance, yet there are still some of those things you are able to handle at this time.  my thought is to take certain things one day at a time, and also have a major plan in place to fall back on when things seem to take a turn in a different direction. your best offense is only as good as your best defense. stay stronge !!

stevenbay1

DON'T UNDERSTAND PET RESULTS - CAN ANYONE HELP?

II've recently just had a PET SCAN and I'm unsure what the report means.  If anyone can help, I would really appreciate it.  Thanks.  Steve W.

 

Chest: There is a 4 x 4 cm spiculated masslike lesion in the posterior right lower lobe that shows increased FDG uptake with a maximum SUV of 7.2. No other foci of increased uptake within the lungs, though the small nodules seen on prior CT are too small

 for PET characterization.

 

Abdomen: No abnormal foci of FDG uptake.  

 

Pelvis: No abnormal foci of FDG uptake.

 

 

IMPRESSION: There is a 4 x 4 centimeters spiculated masslike lesion in the posterior right lower lobe with increased FDG uptake and maximum SUV of 7.2. On CT, this has changed significantly in appearance since examination one week ago and may represent

evolving infectious process/round pneumonia. Underlying malignancy not excluded. Recommend follow-up in imaging after appropriate treatment.

dennycee

It appears hthat the

It appears that the radiologist suspects that an infection is causing that lesion.  He is recommending your dr give you a course of antibiotic and then a new CT or PET scan to verify that it was an infection and that the lesion is not a mass.