Pet Scan!

vinny59
vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
Morning Guy's, my Pet Scan came back with a little scare ,but upon further review... lol, all is good! When we picked up my scan it showed activity in my hip bone,(where the original cancer was it's worst). There is still a SUV uptake of 2.1 there, but in talking with my Onc, this is a byproduct of treatment and not a cause for concern. On my past two scans it was never noted. So when I seen it on this one, it threw me for a loop. There is still a burning question in my mind to why I had something there and it was never addressed. The previous uptake was 2.6 in May's scan. Anyone have similiar results??????? Vinny
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Comments

  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #2
    Pet scan
    Vinny,
    I usually go and pick up my scans ahead of time before I go back for my visit. I have never noticed any uptake,but I have noted each scan reading is a little differently worded. It depends on who is reading the scan. Different radiologist word them differently. Check and compare who read this one compared to the ones in the past.I have had them read that included everything from jaw to knees. Then some where a lot of the stuff is missing. The most important part is the impression. Thats the first part your Dr. goes too. Glad all is straightened out. John
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    #3
    Good news overall
    Sounds like you're happy overall with the results despite
    your burning question.

    Should we get out the dancin' shoes :)?

    Jim
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #4
    Scan...
    Hi Vinny,
    Yes...I had 3 scans that had new information added, only to find out from my doctor it was nothing to worry about. My first two scans said nothing about my adrenal glands looking different, but the 3rd one said I had a small mass...What??? Well...my Onc explained the mass was there from the beginning and pointed out where it was stated on the first 2 scans that I misread. I've had 3 different radiologists read my scans and the wording was different on each scan. Bottom line...if your Onc isn't concerned and you are feeling good, then I would go with the thinking that all is good. If you find out anything new, let us know.
    Take care and don't worry too much...Love, Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #5
    allmost60 said:

    Scan...
    Hi Vinny,
    Yes...I had 3 scans that had new information added, only to find out from my doctor it was nothing to worry about. My first two scans said nothing about my adrenal glands looking different, but the 3rd one said I had a small mass...What??? Well...my Onc explained the mass was there from the beginning and pointed out where it was stated on the first 2 scans that I misread. I've had 3 different radiologists read my scans and the wording was different on each scan. Bottom line...if your Onc isn't concerned and you are feeling good, then I would go with the thinking that all is good. If you find out anything new, let us know.
    Take care and don't worry too much...Love, Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)

    thanks
    Thanks guy's, oh and Jim yes on the dancing, anytime their will be no Chemo involved after a Pet Scan is time to put the dancing shoes on!!!!!! LOL
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    #6
    vinny59 said:

    thanks
    Thanks guy's, oh and Jim yes on the dancing, anytime their will be no Chemo involved after a Pet Scan is time to put the dancing shoes on!!!!!! LOL

    Happy Dance for Vinny!
    Good morning early bird :).

    Happy Dance it is ;) I suppose I need to find some more dances.
    This one might be getting old :).

    Happy Dance Classic
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #7
    jimwins said:

    Happy Dance for Vinny!
    Good morning early bird :).

    Happy Dance it is ;) I suppose I need to find some more dances.
    This one might be getting old :).

    Happy Dance Classic

    hahahaha
    that never gets old!!!! hahahahaha
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    #8
    vinny59 said:

    hahahaha
    that never gets old!!!! hahahahaha

    Alternate Dance ;)
    Well here's an alternative. I posted this once teasing Deb:

    Happy Dance Belly! :)

    Smiles,


    Jim
    DX: DLBL 4/2011
    Members are sharing recipes!:
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  • truckingalong
    truckingalong Member Posts: 445 Member
    #9
    vinny59 said:

    hahahaha
    that never gets old!!!! hahahahaha

    Good luck onward
    Hi, Vinny,

    Always good to hear you are alive and well (no pun intended) because I had been away for a while. It sure gets scary reading those tests. Mine is coming up on the 17th, huh. Just learned that while doing taxes, I learned I had 105 medical visits last year! It is amazing how much we all have to fight with our bodies and win!!!

    Now thanks to Jim for the belly dancing!!

    Liz
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #10
    truckingalong said:

    Good luck onward
    Hi, Vinny,

    Always good to hear you are alive and well (no pun intended) because I had been away for a while. It sure gets scary reading those tests. Mine is coming up on the 17th, huh. Just learned that while doing taxes, I learned I had 105 medical visits last year! It is amazing how much we all have to fight with our bodies and win!!!

    Now thanks to Jim for the belly dancing!!

    Liz

    105
    Thanks Liz, I was thinking the same thing, I finally got down to twice a year for my head and neck surveillance from my first cancer!!!!!
  • gpespinosa
    gpespinosa Member Posts: 25
    #11
    Question???
    I was just curious how often several of you get pet scans? I have only had two, one to diagnose and the other to give the green light for remission. I am going on 8 months of remission and have only gotten 2 ct scans during this time. Should I be pushing for a pet scan?

    Gaby
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #12
    gpespinosa said:

    Question???
    I was just curious how often several of you get pet scans? I have only had two, one to diagnose and the other to give the green light for remission. I am going on 8 months of remission and have only gotten 2 ct scans during this time. Should I be pushing for a pet scan?

    Gaby

    Question???
    Hi Gaby,
    My doctor has never sent me for a PET scan. I've had 4 CT scans...the first was in June 2010(for diagnosis)..2nd was in Oct 2010 midway during chemo(check for progress)..the 3rd was in Jan 2011(check for remission) and the last one was in April(checking under left arm). I'm scheduled for my next scan in April 2012 which will be one year from my last one. My Onc never said I was in remission...he said I was stable, due to one tumor under my colar bone that didn't shrink to mm size. I'm hoping in April that he will finally be able to say I've reached remission. Hopefully the Rituxan maint is kicking butt and taking numbers. (o: If you've had 2 CT scans in your 8 months of remission and everything is looking good and your feeling fine, I would think you don't need the PET. Run your question by your Onc at your next visit and just ask..can't hurt to ask.
    Love...Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)
  • vinny59
    vinny59 Member Posts: 1,036 Member
    #13
    gpespinosa said:

    Question???
    I was just curious how often several of you get pet scans? I have only had two, one to diagnose and the other to give the green light for remission. I am going on 8 months of remission and have only gotten 2 ct scans during this time. Should I be pushing for a pet scan?

    Gaby

    pet
    Hi Gaby, I have received 4 PET Scans this year, the chance of recurrence is high for me, so the risk of over radiating is worth it. I think that two a year is worth it, in your situation. I'm down to one every six month's now. I have a positive view of Pet Scans since it saved my life. I really had no symptoms of Lymphoma except a heavy cough, my routine Pet Scan from my first cancer found it. By then I was stage four with bone involvement.........
  • jimwins
    jimwins Member Posts: 2,107
    #14
    gpespinosa said:

    Question???
    I was just curious how often several of you get pet scans? I have only had two, one to diagnose and the other to give the green light for remission. I am going on 8 months of remission and have only gotten 2 ct scans during this time. Should I be pushing for a pet scan?

    Gaby

    PET vs CT Scans
    Hi Gaby,

    Main difference between CT and PET scans is the
    CT scan primarily produces a 3D image using xray technology
    usually with contrasting dyes that are injected.

    The PET scan looks at cell function - you usually drink a
    sugary substance that has radiotracers in them. Cancer cells
    "light up" in the results.

    I think PET scans are more expensive and insurance companies come
    into play. From my experience, they did PET scans during chemo
    and now that I'm in remission, they are doing CT scans.

    My guess is PET scans might be a little more precise as they zero
    in on cell activity while the CT scan will show tumors of a certain
    size or greater.

    Below is a link:


    Difference Between PET and CT Scans

    Hope this helps.

    Hugs and positive thoughts,

    Jim
    DX: DLBL 4/2011
    Members are sharing recipes!:
    Recipe Sharing Project
  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    #15
    gpespinosa said:

    Question???
    I was just curious how often several of you get pet scans? I have only had two, one to diagnose and the other to give the green light for remission. I am going on 8 months of remission and have only gotten 2 ct scans during this time. Should I be pushing for a pet scan?

    Gaby

    Hi Gaby
    Hi Gaby,
    I had one CT scan and I'm having another one on the 30th of Nov. The first one was for diagnosis and since I haven't started treatment the Dr. wants to see how much my tumors have grown, then he'll decide if we should start treatment or wait again. I think that if you feel that something is wrong then you should definitely go and ask him for another one (always trust your intuition). Take care of yourself and God bless you.

    Sincerely,
    Liz
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #16
    anliperez915 said:

    Hi Gaby
    Hi Gaby,
    I had one CT scan and I'm having another one on the 30th of Nov. The first one was for diagnosis and since I haven't started treatment the Dr. wants to see how much my tumors have grown, then he'll decide if we should start treatment or wait again. I think that if you feel that something is wrong then you should definitely go and ask him for another one (always trust your intuition). Take care of yourself and God bless you.

    Sincerely,
    Liz

    Pet scan
    I get a pet scan every 6 months. I have had 3 so far and in remission with no activity. I feel they are more accurate because they actually show the activity. The CT shows the size,but do they show if there is activity or not. I do not really know. John
  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    #17
    jimwins said:

    PET vs CT Scans
    Hi Gaby,

    Main difference between CT and PET scans is the
    CT scan primarily produces a 3D image using xray technology
    usually with contrasting dyes that are injected.

    The PET scan looks at cell function - you usually drink a
    sugary substance that has radiotracers in them. Cancer cells
    "light up" in the results.

    I think PET scans are more expensive and insurance companies come
    into play. From my experience, they did PET scans during chemo
    and now that I'm in remission, they are doing CT scans.

    My guess is PET scans might be a little more precise as they zero
    in on cell activity while the CT scan will show tumors of a certain
    size or greater.

    Below is a link:


    Difference Between PET and CT Scans

    Hope this helps.

    Hugs and positive thoughts,

    Jim
    DX: DLBL 4/2011
    Members are sharing recipes!:
    Recipe Sharing Project

    Hi Jim
    Hi Jim,
    After reading the differences of the Pet and CT scans, then I can absolutely say that I had a pet scan. I was confused also because on the order sheet it said CT scan but the technicians gave me a sweet liquid which was quite a lot, had to take it then two hours later they did the exam. oops my bad!!! :-)
    Thanks Jim for the info...

    Sincerely,
    Liz
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #18
    anliperez915 said:

    Hi Jim
    Hi Jim,
    After reading the differences of the Pet and CT scans, then I can absolutely say that I had a pet scan. I was confused also because on the order sheet it said CT scan but the technicians gave me a sweet liquid which was quite a lot, had to take it then two hours later they did the exam. oops my bad!!! :-)
    Thanks Jim for the info...

    Sincerely,
    Liz

    Pet scan
    Liz,
    Did they inject a radioactive tracer thru an iv? John
  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    #19
    COBRA666 said:

    Pet scan
    Liz,
    Did they inject a radioactive tracer thru an iv? John

    Hi John
    Hi John,
    Yes they did after I drank the liquid the technician put an iv which he did mention it was some type of radioactive tracer, then he did the scan...:)
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #20
    anliperez915 said:

    Hi John
    Hi John,
    Yes they did after I drank the liquid the technician put an iv which he did mention it was some type of radioactive tracer, then he did the scan...:)

    Pet scan
    Liz,
    I think that is a step they only take with the pet scan. So it looks like that is what you had even though the tech said CT. John
  • anliperez915
    anliperez915 Member Posts: 770
    #21
    COBRA666 said:

    Pet scan
    Liz,
    I think that is a step they only take with the pet scan. So it looks like that is what you had even though the tech said CT. John

    Thanks
    Thanks to everybody, I'm really learning a lot from all of you guys, since I don't have anybody else to ask...well except my Dr but his answers are so scientific(lol). This is very new to me since most of my family members that have died of cancer were not around too long after their diagnosis. Thanks again
    Sincerely,
    Liz

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