Question on Nasopharygenal cancer patient follow-up checkup

Hao
Hao Member Posts: 3
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My husband finished Chemo/radiation treatment for nasopharygeal cancer on last June. I have a question on what is the standard follow-up check up. Generally we see ENT and Oncologist every 3 months. But should I do CT or Petscan or both? how often?

Thank you

Comments

  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #2
    Hao
    For me, the first PS/CT was around 3-months after treatment. Next was at the 1-year mark. Next one will be at the 2-year mark. If, however, any issues arise, get thee to the ENT, and it'll go whichever way from there.

    kcass
  • RushFan
    RushFan Member Posts: 224
    #3
    Kent Cass said:

    Hao
    For me, the first PS/CT was around 3-months after treatment. Next was at the 1-year mark. Next one will be at the 2-year mark. If, however, any issues arise, get thee to the ENT, and it'll go whichever way from there.

    kcass

    Every three months...
    I am almost eleven months post treatment. I have had two CT scans that were three months apart. After my second scan, my doctor pushed my next scan to four months. I'm hopeful that this next scan (in mid April) will be NED like the first two and I'll graduate to every six months.
    I had one PET scan before treatment to see if anything else was below the collar bone...all clear. No PETs since and none required so far.

    Best regards to you,
    Chuck.
  • HAWVET
    HAWVET Member Posts: 318
    #4
    RushFan said:

    Every three months...
    I am almost eleven months post treatment. I have had two CT scans that were three months apart. After my second scan, my doctor pushed my next scan to four months. I'm hopeful that this next scan (in mid April) will be NED like the first two and I'll graduate to every six months.
    I had one PET scan before treatment to see if anything else was below the collar bone...all clear. No PETs since and none required so far.

    Best regards to you,
    Chuck.

    I do not know if there is a
    I do not know if there is a standard, but I had a scan every six months until receiving Mr. NED a couple years later. The doctor decided to continue the "every six" month scan for I think a couple more years. Then, I was scanned yearly for about three years. Then, my doctor left for another state. Since my cancer was more than six years old, my new doctor was not too interested in a follow-up. I just was happy to think it was over.
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    #5
    Scans
    Hao,

    Normally they do one within 4 months from the end of treatments to get a 'Base Line'. Some Scans too early after treatment can give false positives or show radiation induced hotspots. After that, it is really up to you. I opted to wait 11 months till my second and will maybe do the next after 1 year, maybe longer.

    The Scans are really not very good for as you get exposed to radiation so it is a difficult question to Scan in order to achieve early detection one one hand, and not to over expose yourself which can increase the chance of the scans causing serious problems.

    I have posted a 'Preparing for Scans' article on my Expressions page if you are interested. Just some steps you can take to reduce the effects of the Scans and ensure a more accurate result.

    Regds
    Scam
  • timreichhart
    timreichhart Member Posts: 194
    #6
    Scambuster said:

    Scans
    Hao,

    Normally they do one within 4 months from the end of treatments to get a 'Base Line'. Some Scans too early after treatment can give false positives or show radiation induced hotspots. After that, it is really up to you. I opted to wait 11 months till my second and will maybe do the next after 1 year, maybe longer.

    The Scans are really not very good for as you get exposed to radiation so it is a difficult question to Scan in order to achieve early detection one one hand, and not to over expose yourself which can increase the chance of the scans causing serious problems.

    I have posted a 'Preparing for Scans' article on my Expressions page if you are interested. Just some steps you can take to reduce the effects of the Scans and ensure a more accurate result.

    Regds
    Scam

    scans
    I finished up my NPC treatments in august of last year then had a PET scan done in nov and I am due for my yearly PET scan in oct and I have to get a PET scan every 6-8 months for the next 3 years to make sure the NPC doesnt come back.

    I also see my ENT doctor every 2 months for the first year then next year be every 6 months same thing for my chemo doctor and I dont know about my radiation doctor which I see him next month for a follow up.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #7
    HAWVET said:

    I do not know if there is a
    I do not know if there is a standard, but I had a scan every six months until receiving Mr. NED a couple years later. The doctor decided to continue the "every six" month scan for I think a couple more years. Then, I was scanned yearly for about three years. Then, my doctor left for another state. Since my cancer was more than six years old, my new doctor was not too interested in a follow-up. I just was happy to think it was over.

    Hi Hao
    I agree pretty much with HAWVET I don’t believe there is a set Industry standard for doing a PET or MRI it is what the doctor feels you need.

    All the best and welcome to CSN.
    Hondo
  • Hao
    Hao Member Posts: 3
    #8
    HAWVET said:

    I do not know if there is a
    I do not know if there is a standard, but I had a scan every six months until receiving Mr. NED a couple years later. The doctor decided to continue the "every six" month scan for I think a couple more years. Then, I was scanned yearly for about three years. Then, my doctor left for another state. Since my cancer was more than six years old, my new doctor was not too interested in a follow-up. I just was happy to think it was over.

    To Hawvet
    Thank you Hawvet, my previous oncologist ordered PETs, but the new one ordered CT, I don't know which one is better?

    Regards,
  • NPCPaul
    NPCPaul Member Posts: 8
    #9
    Varies. Every 3/6/12 months.
    I think different oncology depts have different schedules.

    Here is my follow-up schedule for my Radiation and Medical Oncologist.

    "Follow-up visits will occur once every three months for 2 years, then once every 6
    months during years 3-5, then annually. During these follow-up visits, participants
    will have the following tests and procedures: physical examination; blood work; chest
    CT scan and CT/MRI of the head and neck will be repeated once every 6 months during the
    first three years."

    I also see my ENT every 6-8 weeks for the first 3 years.
  • sportsman
    sportsman Member Posts: 97
    #10
    Pet Scans/CT Scans
    I am now four years and one month post treatment for pharyngeal cancer. I had one pet scan about three months after treatment ended and have not had any since. I have not had any CT scans at all. In fact I fired my onocologist about six months after my treatment ended. I felt like she did not supply me enough information going into treatment and things could have been done differently and maybe I would not have been quite as damaged by the radiation as I have been. I live in a small town in North Carolina and had my radiation and chemo done here. I now certainly wish I had gone to a larger hospital or a teaching hospital for my treatment. I do now go to a large teaching hospital to see a sfaff ENT. By the way I fired my original ENT also. Should have never gone to him in the first place and should have got a second opinion about treatment. The ENT I see now has followed up with me starting out with a three month basis and then extending to every six months. She feels like the PET scan is not necessary and uses the scope to check me. PET scans can show hot spots and raise concern when there is nothing to be concerned about. I remember the one I had showed a hot spot in my stomach area. This was where my feeding tube was inserted. It was coming from the trauma caused by the tube. So far as seeing a onocologist on a three month basis, I personally do not see the necessity in this. They will in fact be glad to take your insurance money every three months if you elect to do so. If you have a good ENT they can provide all the information you need. Of course this is everyone's choice. I will probably see my ENT through the five year mark and will to reduced to one time a year between the five and ten year mark. If I am still upright after that my chances of the cancer returning would probably be pretty slim.

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