can radiation therapy cause hot spots in PET scans?

ranelle65
ranelle65 Member Posts: 63
edited March 2014 in Anal Cancer #1
I am just curious...does anyone know, or ever hear about, radiation therapy causing HOT SPOTS in PET scans? I am 6-weeks out from the end of my radiation therapy and my PET scan results indicated HOT SPOTS...does that mean my cancer has spread, or that the treatment area is just messed up or still healing itself from the radiation therapy??
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Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Hi Ranelle!
    Please see my
    Hi Ranelle!

    Please see my post on the other thread. The hot spots could very well be radiation still working it's magic.
  • pjjenkins
    pjjenkins Member Posts: 173
    #3
    Hot spots
    I was told the hot spots are bits of inflammation where you are still healing and this is, indeed, evidently what they were for me. Trust yours are, too.
  • ranelle65
    ranelle65 Member Posts: 63
    #4
    pjjenkins said:

    Hot spots
    I was told the hot spots are bits of inflammation where you are still healing and this is, indeed, evidently what they were for me. Trust yours are, too.

    exactly!
    Thanks Priscilla...I was relieved to know that was the case when I saw my onco this past Friday. Also, Martha was a big part of my knowing this despite my close mindedness about the possibility of being cancer free.
  • Dog Girl
    Dog Girl Member Posts: 100
    #5
    Hot Spots
    I'm 16 months post treatment and my first post treatment PET scan showed hot spots as well, especially where the tumor had been. My Onc. said that was to be expected as there will still be changes to the cells for several weeks after cessation of radiation. My CT scans since then have been good, so try not to worry about it. (I know; easier said than done.) It is going to be a series of tests that will tell the complete story.
  • z810840b
    z810840b Member Posts: 207 Member
    #6
    hot spots
    i am 26 months ned.I had hot spots where the tumor was.My doctor said it was most likely the radiation still working.So doctor did a punch biopsey(deep sample) to make sure.All was well!!!
  • dharma19
    dharma19 Member Posts: 16
    #7
    z810840b said:

    hot spots
    i am 26 months ned.I had hot spots where the tumor was.My doctor said it was most likely the radiation still working.So doctor did a punch biopsey(deep sample) to make sure.All was well!!!

    How long after treatment are you supposed to get hotspots?
    My doc gave me some bad news. My PET (the first since radiation ended, which is about seven months) shows an SUV of 5 hot spot in the area where the tumor was. I was getting pain and discomofort and now bleeding. I am having an EUS Tuesday but pretty much wqas given no hope for what this means. The doc said something about surgery after the EUS. I am in shock, they told me there was an 85% cure rate, and I am in the 15% Also did this come back sooner than most? Thank you all.
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #8
    dharma19 said:

    How long after treatment are you supposed to get hotspots?
    My doc gave me some bad news. My PET (the first since radiation ended, which is about seven months) shows an SUV of 5 hot spot in the area where the tumor was. I was getting pain and discomofort and now bleeding. I am having an EUS Tuesday but pretty much wqas given no hope for what this means. The doc said something about surgery after the EUS. I am in shock, they told me there was an 85% cure rate, and I am in the 15% Also did this come back sooner than most? Thank you all.

    Hi dharma
    I'm very sorry to hear this. I hope the EUS will help your docs determine what is going on. Keep in mind that hot spots can be caused by the radiation still working (which can be for months after treatment) and also inflammation. I just had a PET scan last week, which showed an SUV of 3.56, and I am almost 2 1/2 years out of treatment. The report indicated that it was probably physiologic in nature, which would indicate inflammation. I will know for sure when I see my colorectal doc on 2/17. I sincerely hope in both our cases these hot spots turn out to be nothing. Please let us know what the US shows and where you go from there. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #9
    dharma19 said:

    How long after treatment are you supposed to get hotspots?
    My doc gave me some bad news. My PET (the first since radiation ended, which is about seven months) shows an SUV of 5 hot spot in the area where the tumor was. I was getting pain and discomofort and now bleeding. I am having an EUS Tuesday but pretty much wqas given no hope for what this means. The doc said something about surgery after the EUS. I am in shock, they told me there was an 85% cure rate, and I am in the 15% Also did this come back sooner than most? Thank you all.

    Dharma
    You could have inflammation in the area and that could be what is causing the SUV uptick. The EUS will help clarify and so would a biopsy if your docotr is really concernced about it. Just be sure he doesn't jump to surgery without thorough testing and evaluation.

    Remember how rare this cancer is. It's rare for us and for the doctors. If you don't feel comfortable with what they come back with, get another opinion.

    Wishing you well.
    Liz
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #10
    dharma19 said:

    How long after treatment are you supposed to get hotspots?
    My doc gave me some bad news. My PET (the first since radiation ended, which is about seven months) shows an SUV of 5 hot spot in the area where the tumor was. I was getting pain and discomofort and now bleeding. I am having an EUS Tuesday but pretty much wqas given no hope for what this means. The doc said something about surgery after the EUS. I am in shock, they told me there was an 85% cure rate, and I am in the 15% Also did this come back sooner than most? Thank you all.

    dharma
    Hi Dharma, Pre tx my suv uptake was 20.1, post tx 3 months after it was 2.7, then 9 months post tx it was 4.3. My oncologist attributed the suv to inflammation due to radiation. I hope everything will turn out good and its just precautionary follow up. I had a biopsy at 9 months also, and it came out fine, even with the suv of 4.3. 2.5 and under is normal, or what they look for. I wish you well Lori.
  • dharma19
    dharma19 Member Posts: 16
    #11
    z said:

    dharma
    Hi Dharma, Pre tx my suv uptake was 20.1, post tx 3 months after it was 2.7, then 9 months post tx it was 4.3. My oncologist attributed the suv to inflammation due to radiation. I hope everything will turn out good and its just precautionary follow up. I had a biopsy at 9 months also, and it came out fine, even with the suv of 4.3. 2.5 and under is normal, or what they look for. I wish you well Lori.

    SUV of 5 was inflammation (!?)
    I wrote a while back when I first received the news that my PET scan came back with a 4-5. My oncologist said that anything in the five range is cancer. I had the EUS and a deep needle biopsy and it came back negative! Also, the surface showed pretty significant inflammation and the doctor called it radiation proctitis. Then the biopsy showed mild inflammation. All I know is that it still hurts a lot but I can live with a hurting rectum rather than cancer. So, I guess you never know. I am pretty confused since they were convinced I had cancer back but right now I am going to try to enjoy it. Thanks for all of your positive energy. I am going to send positive energy your way, I know that some of you are going to the docs soon and hopefully this will bring some comfort. You just never can tell.
  • duckyann
    duckyann Member Posts: 159
    #12
    dharma19 said:

    SUV of 5 was inflammation (!?)
    I wrote a while back when I first received the news that my PET scan came back with a 4-5. My oncologist said that anything in the five range is cancer. I had the EUS and a deep needle biopsy and it came back negative! Also, the surface showed pretty significant inflammation and the doctor called it radiation proctitis. Then the biopsy showed mild inflammation. All I know is that it still hurts a lot but I can live with a hurting rectum rather than cancer. So, I guess you never know. I am pretty confused since they were convinced I had cancer back but right now I am going to try to enjoy it. Thanks for all of your positive energy. I am going to send positive energy your way, I know that some of you are going to the docs soon and hopefully this will bring some comfort. You just never can tell.

    dharma19 - That is great
    dharma19 - That is great news! So happy for you that everything is good and it was just radiation proctitis. Thank you for letting us know.

    Take care
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #13
    dharma19 said:

    SUV of 5 was inflammation (!?)
    I wrote a while back when I first received the news that my PET scan came back with a 4-5. My oncologist said that anything in the five range is cancer. I had the EUS and a deep needle biopsy and it came back negative! Also, the surface showed pretty significant inflammation and the doctor called it radiation proctitis. Then the biopsy showed mild inflammation. All I know is that it still hurts a lot but I can live with a hurting rectum rather than cancer. So, I guess you never know. I am pretty confused since they were convinced I had cancer back but right now I am going to try to enjoy it. Thanks for all of your positive energy. I am going to send positive energy your way, I know that some of you are going to the docs soon and hopefully this will bring some comfort. You just never can tell.

    Hi dharma!
    Your post couldn't have come at a better time for me, as I see my colorectal doc tomorrow, following a PET scan that showed an SUV of 3.56. I am 2 1/2 years post-treatment and have been praying that this is just inflammation, just like it was in your case. Reading about your experience has made me feel more hopeful about mine--I have been on edge for a couple of weeks since the scan. Thank you for sharing this with us--it is encouraging to me. I'm so happy your biopsy came back negative. Here's hoping you heal from that quickly!
  • mbh97766
    mbh97766 Member Posts: 39
    #14
    mp327 said:

    Hi dharma!
    Your post couldn't have come at a better time for me, as I see my colorectal doc tomorrow, following a PET scan that showed an SUV of 3.56. I am 2 1/2 years post-treatment and have been praying that this is just inflammation, just like it was in your case. Reading about your experience has made me feel more hopeful about mine--I have been on edge for a couple of weeks since the scan. Thank you for sharing this with us--it is encouraging to me. I'm so happy your biopsy came back negative. Here's hoping you heal from that quickly!

    Martha
    Sending good Karma
    Martha
    Sending good Karma your way for your appointment tomarrow.
    Darcee
  • sissy310
    sissy310 Member Posts: 300
    #15
    mbh97766 said:

    Martha
    Sending good Karma
    Martha
    Sending good Karma your way for your appointment tomarrow.
    Darcee

    Darhma, I started to read
    Darhma, I started to read this and what a roller coaster ride that was. I was upset for you and then thank god everything worked out well. Whew. What a relief. I'm very happy for you.

    Martha - am sending you positive thoughts and good news for your appointment tomorrow.

    Marilyne
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #16
    mbh97766 said:

    Martha
    Sending good Karma
    Martha
    Sending good Karma your way for your appointment tomarrow.
    Darcee

    Thank you!
    Thank you Darcee! I appreciate that so very much!

    Thanks you Marilye! As always your words have lifted my spirits!

    Hugs,
    Martha
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #17
    dharma19 said:

    SUV of 5 was inflammation (!?)
    I wrote a while back when I first received the news that my PET scan came back with a 4-5. My oncologist said that anything in the five range is cancer. I had the EUS and a deep needle biopsy and it came back negative! Also, the surface showed pretty significant inflammation and the doctor called it radiation proctitis. Then the biopsy showed mild inflammation. All I know is that it still hurts a lot but I can live with a hurting rectum rather than cancer. So, I guess you never know. I am pretty confused since they were convinced I had cancer back but right now I am going to try to enjoy it. Thanks for all of your positive energy. I am going to send positive energy your way, I know that some of you are going to the docs soon and hopefully this will bring some comfort. You just never can tell.

    Dharma and Martha
    Dharma, Its so good to hear of your good news, and I know how scary that is. Celebration is in order!

    Martha, I'll bet your exam will be just fine and the suv is from the radiation.

    Damn radiation, but it has ridden us of the cancer.

    I will have you in my thoughts and prayers. Lori
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #18
    z said:

    Dharma and Martha
    Dharma, Its so good to hear of your good news, and I know how scary that is. Celebration is in order!

    Martha, I'll bet your exam will be just fine and the suv is from the radiation.

    Damn radiation, but it has ridden us of the cancer.

    I will have you in my thoughts and prayers. Lori

    Thanks Lori!
    I appreciate that very much and I know you're right. I'm just in drama queen mode right now--this too shall pass!
  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #19
    mp327 said:

    Thanks Lori!
    I appreciate that very much and I know you're right. I'm just in drama queen mode right now--this too shall pass!

    Good News!
    Hi Everyone--

    I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but wanted to let everyone know that I saw my colorectal doctor this morning for DRE and anoscope and everything looks good! Apparently, the activity on the PET scan was due to a little inflammation from the surgical site of last September's wart removal. She did not see anything of concern. I will see her again in 3 months.

    Thank you to all of you for the words of support, encouragement and prayers. I appreciate that so much! I have removed the drama queen crown!

    Hugs--
    Martha
  • z
    z Member Posts: 1,414 Member
    #20
    mp327 said:

    Good News!
    Hi Everyone--

    I didn't want to start a new thread for this, but wanted to let everyone know that I saw my colorectal doctor this morning for DRE and anoscope and everything looks good! Apparently, the activity on the PET scan was due to a little inflammation from the surgical site of last September's wart removal. She did not see anything of concern. I will see her again in 3 months.

    Thank you to all of you for the words of support, encouragement and prayers. I appreciate that so much! I have removed the drama queen crown!

    Hugs--
    Martha

    Martha
    Hi Martha,

    This is great news! It is fine to be a drama queen, when we are faced with the uncertainty of this disease. I really don't think your a drama queen though. Its great to be able to express all of our feelings and this is the best place to do it. I wish you well. Lori
  • lizdeli
    lizdeli Member Posts: 569 Member
    #21
    z said:

    Martha
    Hi Martha,

    This is great news! It is fine to be a drama queen, when we are faced with the uncertainty of this disease. I really don't think your a drama queen though. Its great to be able to express all of our feelings and this is the best place to do it. I wish you well. Lori

    Congrats Dharma and Martha
    So happy to hear the good news for you both!!!
    xoxo
    Liz

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