Scans

scans
I think that it's pretty common to have a scan after about a year, and it is almost a year since your last scan. So what the heck, if the insurance covers it get a scan. I know the prep is from hell, but it's part of this wonderful adventure called beating the beast. And it will help ease your mind as to what's going on.
Carl

I was dx 3B in May
I was dx 3B in May 08
finished chemo in Jan 09
first scan was June 09
then blood work every 3 months
second scan was June 10
blood work every 3 months
third and final scan was June 11

no more scans! blood work every 6 months now

the issue according to oncologist- there comes a time when the harm from scans need to be taken into account- so no more scans for me, just CEA follow up for the next several years.

Yes, the protocal is yearly scans- and I would question your doc about it!

johnnybegood said:

is your
cea a good marker for you?found out mine is not.i had blood work done only in august 2010 and my cea was 1.5 then i had my yearly scan in janurary 2011 and blood work my cea was 1.8 which they said was normal but the cat scan showed 3 spots on my liver and 2 on my lung.i also was considered ned after surgery in 2009 and did 6 months mop up chemo.for me i would do scans i had no idea this cancer was back.i felt fine there were no symptoms....Godbless....johnnybegood

I'm on chemo so scans every 2 months.
After chemo use to have it every 3 month the first year!

Scans
Mark,
Ask Your Oncologist the question when planning an survivorship program. I am on the 3 month scan plan because even though my Pre surgery CEA 1.0 .6 after surgery NED before Folfox and .7 after Folfox , I had a small tumor which was in my appendix as well as the upper right colon. I had 5/20 Lymph Node but my friend down the lane had 7/20 with one large tumor and he was NED before Folfox so he is on the 6 month Scan for 1 year and then annually after that. I feel lucky so far but I know I am in the group most likely to reoccurr so I am praying each day and trying to exercise, take calcium with Vit. D and one low dosage aspirin a day, and doing Tai Chi for emotional balance.

Just a guess but you may be in that "real lucky group" with a large tumor, low CEA and few lymph node involvement.

It is good to research, ask questions and plan a good survivorship program and be prepared for all possibilities. This is the place to research, ask questions, and prepare your questions for your health team.

NB