pet scan isssues

kim50
kim50 Member Posts: 34
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
How much faith do y'all's doctors have in these PET scans? What do they tell you about false positives after cancer treatment? It seems like most on here have many PET scans...like they are the gold standard. I'm just curious. i thought the radiation works in your body for quite a while afterwards.

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Pet Scans
    Pet scans are just a tool, they don't detect cancer. They detect high cellular activity such as how cancer behaves. But also inflamation and other things going on in your body can light up the screens also.

    My ENT feels the same, his biggest assett is his experience, touch, etc...hands on.

    The PET is a very good tool, but it doesn't supercede all of the other weapons in the arsenal.

    I don't think (but don't know for sure) that radiation actually keeps working after it's done. It's just that the damage that was done during treatment takes awhile to reverse and start showing signs of improvement. Think of it kind of like getting a sever burn by a flame...even after you remove the flame,it takes awhile for the damage to reach it's greatest point and to turn around and start healing again.

    ANyways, that's my take on it...

    Best,
    John
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    Skiffin16 said:

    Pet Scans
    Pet scans are just a tool, they don't detect cancer. They detect high cellular activity such as how cancer behaves. But also inflamation and other things going on in your body can light up the screens also.

    My ENT feels the same, his biggest assett is his experience, touch, etc...hands on.

    The PET is a very good tool, but it doesn't supercede all of the other weapons in the arsenal.

    I don't think (but don't know for sure) that radiation actually keeps working after it's done. It's just that the damage that was done during treatment takes awhile to reverse and start showing signs of improvement. Think of it kind of like getting a sever burn by a flame...even after you remove the flame,it takes awhile for the damage to reach it's greatest point and to turn around and start healing again.

    ANyways, that's my take on it...

    Best,
    John

    That’s my story and I am sticking too it.

    I must say I pretty much agree out PET scans are just a tool in the doctors hand.

    All the best
    Hondo
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #4
    Hondo said:

    That’s my story and I am sticking too it.

    I must say I pretty much agree out PET scans are just a tool in the doctors hand.

    All the best
    Hondo

    tools and more
    The PET, CT and MRI are all used because all provide different bits of information. Examine your results by size, location, and SUV uptake for the PET. Rely on the experts interpretation of the composite picture. These will include as already stated individual experience, lab results, and surgeon observation.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    Anyways....
    I guess I got a little off track...

    PET scans do provide an area for the MD's to focus on more closely. They do provide excellent images and detail. Like Rat said, from there the other factors come into play as for interpreting those results.

    My ENT has let me know that early scans can and often do give false positives because of residual damage and scarring from radiation. That your body will have various changes for the next few years because of treatment, more specifically radiation.

    Best,
    John
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #6
    Skiffin16 said:

    Anyways....
    I guess I got a little off track...

    PET scans do provide an area for the MD's to focus on more closely. They do provide excellent images and detail. Like Rat said, from there the other factors come into play as for interpreting those results.

    My ENT has let me know that early scans can and often do give false positives because of residual damage and scarring from radiation. That your body will have various changes for the next few years because of treatment, more specifically radiation.

    Best,
    John

    Pet scans and false positives
    My doc did speak of giving me a pet scan way back in the begining, when I was starting rads, he said about six months after I was done, he would give me a Pet scan. After seeing my reaction to radiation, and seeing the side effects I was left with, he decided not to do one and not to expose my body to anymore. So, I've been having check ups and chest x-rays only.

    I am the type of person who if I had a false positive, would worry myself to death, and I'm sure I would have lit that sucker up with as much damage as rads did to me.

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