Results of my CT after Cyberknife

ACinNC

I had Cyberknife to a lung met in last December and my first CT since a couple of weeks ago. I met with my radiation onc 2 days ago to discuss my CT.  He was pleased.  The CT still shows a nodule but he claims it is scar tissue.  So I requested to not have another CT for 6 months since there was no other worrisome spots. He would make the case to have it sooner but he says he is 'negotiable'.  My thinking is that since the mets was slow growing, it there still is any cancer there it probably wouldn't be evident by size for at least 6 months. And I am so tired of scans! I would like to know how others would view the frequency of scans going forward after having mets or recurrence.

eihtak

ACinNC...

Hi,

If you trust your doctor and he did not sound urgent in having the scan sooner I think 6 months is a good choice. I often feel I have been scanned way way more than anything considered "safe amount." I was first dx with anal cancer in 2011, so all the scanning and set up there, then on a follow-up scan was dx with breast cancer, more scans for treatment and follow-ups, then for a couple years only yearly scans until 2015 lung mets were discovered on a follow-up, so....more set up and follow-up, then yearly again when last summer another lung met was found on a follow-up which meant scans both PET and CT to set up radiation as well as a scan after treatment, I was just scanned yesterday as follow-up and get results this afternoon! My breast cancer and both lung mets were found on either a yearly or 6 month scan and if I had not had those scans there was nothing going on or any symptoms that would have led me in to the doctor so  I am thankful I had them. When I discussed the potential negative side effects with my radiation oncologist she agreed that while it was a lot, the risk is not truly as high as people think and best way to catch something early enough to treat. (Then again, thats her job) For me...I will continue scans for now but hope for no more than every 6 months (hopefully yearly) going forward.

katheryn

ACinNC

eihtak said:

ACinNC...

Hi,

If you trust your doctor and he did not sound urgent in having the scan sooner I think 6 months is a good choice. I often feel I have been scanned way way more than anything considered "safe amount." I was first dx with anal cancer in 2011, so all the scanning and set up there, then on a follow-up scan was dx with breast cancer, more scans for treatment and follow-ups, then for a couple years only yearly scans until 2015 lung mets were discovered on a follow-up, so....more set up and follow-up, then yearly again when last summer another lung met was found on a follow-up which meant scans both PET and CT to set up radiation as well as a scan after treatment, I was just scanned yesterday as follow-up and get results this afternoon! My breast cancer and both lung mets were found on either a yearly or 6 month scan and if I had not had those scans there was nothing going on or any symptoms that would have led me in to the doctor so  I am thankful I had them. When I discussed the potential negative side effects with my radiation oncologist she agreed that while it was a lot, the risk is not truly as high as people think and best way to catch something early enough to treat. (Then again, thats her job) For me...I will continue scans for now but hope for no more than every 6 months (hopefully yearly) going forward.

katheryn

katheryn

katheryn, Thanks for your reasoned thoughts. It's not that I do or don't trust my doctor about scan frequency but how I feel about having them. I have had so many that now it sets up negative feelings thinking about them so I want to have some period of time without thinking of having one.  I'm feeling better than I have for many years so I want that to continue to have some quality time for awhile.  I had multiple scans and xrays unrelated to this cancer in the last 10 years.  Then radiation for breast cancer followed a year later with all the anal cancer scans for 2 years along with a couple of emergency scans during that time. Then MD Anderson wanted their own scan for a second opinion on the lung met. Followed by the Cyberknife treatment and not one but two set up scans for that.  Oh and let's not leave out yearly mammograms for 20years.  I cancelled my mammogram scheduled for this past Feb and won't reschedule unti I can cope with having one. I feel good about my decision (I think).

I'll be waiting to know your results from today and wishing for good news.

eihtak

ACinNC said:

katheryn

katheryn, Thanks for your reasoned thoughts. It's not that I do or don't trust my doctor about scan frequency but how I feel about having them. I have had so many that now it sets up negative feelings thinking about them so I want to have some period of time without thinking of having one.  I'm feeling better than I have for many years so I want that to continue to have some quality time for awhile.  I had multiple scans and xrays unrelated to this cancer in the last 10 years.  Then radiation for breast cancer followed a year later with all the anal cancer scans for 2 years along with a couple of emergency scans during that time. Then MD Anderson wanted their own scan for a second opinion on the lung met. Followed by the Cyberknife treatment and not one but two set up scans for that.  Oh and let's not leave out yearly mammograms for 20years.  I cancelled my mammogram scheduled for this past Feb and won't reschedule unti I can cope with having one. I feel good about my decision (I think).

I'll be waiting to know your results from today and wishing for good news.

ACinNC...

Hi,

I posted a longer explanation in a new thread but am happy to have received a good report. There are a few areas we are still watching but no real new concerns since the previous scan 6 months ago. It appears that my cough is an anticipated side effect of my radiation 6 months ago. I do remember being told that the initial soreness and cough would go away within a couple weeks (which it did) but there was potential for scar tissue to build up and cause issues 3 to 6 months post radiation. Hopefully it does not get worse and guess its just something I'll deal with. I'd rather have the cough than other vascular or pulmonary issues related to the heart!

I completely get how you feel about scans and the negative emotions they can create. I tried so hard to ignore those feelings this time but really had to dig deep to keep positive. I'm planning to push the scan concern to the back of my mind till next fall for now and enjoy that quality time you mentioned myself!

katheryn