How/When doc's deliver results of scans

I think scans are read and passed on differently by doctors; in mynhusband's case, the results are posted online to his chart as soon as they are read by the radiologist.

Maybe I should get a therapist since I have hounded the docs as soon as the scans are in to explain and clarify. I also hit google for understanding words or terms in the reports.

nine days would be very difficult for me and I swear that I will never let a doc set an appointment for a Monday with scans the previous Friday.

he had his last scans on the 21st and his appointment on the 24th; by the appointment, the doctor had given us the results which was great since I didn't have to go with him and could instead head for the hospital for the birth of our second granddaughter 

Sarah

sblairc said:

Online results? Wow

Interesting. Results available online, I kind of hope that isn't an option for us. I think I'd rather have a verbal explanation, although I do remember being told to "you can look up what that means on the internet" with regard to the TNM staging on the initial tumor and found that quite offputting as well. Can't win I guess. I'm just trying to plan ahead for how and when to get the news. Something I can control, I guess, in an otherwise unpredictable situation of a RCC diagnosis. 

Scans should be read and result back within 24 hours.Call the facility where it was done and ask if the result is back and say you want to pick it up.You will probably have to sign something and show your ID but they will give it t you.At the bottom of the report will be the summary.I've always done this rather than wait until the doctors appt. 

Darron said:

Scan day

reading all these makes me thankful for my doctor at Levine Cancer Institute.

i generally scan at 9:00 am and have a 1:00 or 2:00 appt.

i know there are others in my trial that scan at 3:00 pm and get results the next morning.

Darron that's great.That's how it should be.My doctor doesn't read the result until he walks into the room where I am and picks up the chart on appointment day..It's possible if I get a bad result it may be brought to his attaention before my appointment.Not sure.I've thought about just waiting but never do..I'm not sure how technical the language would on the result if the result wasn't clear but luckily mine have been clear and the summary says as much in easy to understand language.

sblairc said:

Thanks everyone.

Wow, sounds like test results from scans are faster to arrive that I thought. Good to know. I guess the best thing to do is put a call into the doctor and find out the plan. I've got time to wait I guess. I'm just "scanxious" I guess, 

In Scan Results, it seems to be the facility, and the size of the staff.  I have a scan, and a week later, I will see either the oncology nurse or the Dr. for results.  They will usually have it electronically by the end of the second day, but the Dr. may not have had a chance to review it for another day.  And/or the twice weekly meeting of the 2 oncologists and their nurse practitioner(s).   And you sure wouldn't want to have the appointment without the Dr. having reviewed the report. So that's why there is a 1 week gap between tests and results to me.  But...If I really have to know, I can call the nurse within about 3 days after the test and get a summary of the key points, and still go to the 1 week later appointment.  Both options have been available to me for the past 7 years.

On the other side, a kidney cancer survivor in the local support group, has a Dr. in Portland, OR.  She' drives up one day, has the test in the morning, sees the Dr. in the afternoon, and drives home.  But this is a major cancer treatment facility in a Metro area with a large campus.

we have become so attuned to receiving instant results, that we often forget there needs to be a human factor involved.  Especially from the radiologists perspective.  That Dr. needs to go back and review the previous CT to make any comparisons is size/change/etc., in order to make recommendations to the Oncologist.  We want them to do a thorough job on our own report.  But we know, also, the wait time can be stressful.

Hang in there, and let us know when the results are in.

Donna

cubsfan9 said:

All seem to be different!

Good Morning!

From reading all of the comments, it seems that every facility is different.  My husband has scans every 3 mnths at this point.  He goes for labs/scans on a Friday (day 9 "off" Sutent) and has an appointment with the oncologist on Monday for the results.  Sometimes the doctor calls us right away, but  not always-depends on his schedule.  It is possible to pick up a CD of the scan in about an hour, but we never do...couldn't read them anyway!  We usually go out for a special dinner at his favorite Italian eatery after the scans as something to look forward to.  He can't tolerate Italian food while on meds, so it is  real treat.

My first scan is on March 27 and my appointment with the oncologist is April 9th! I am just going to look at it as the oncologist is confident that it will be NED and try not to think about it!!

I had a scan on Feb 24th.....was read to me on Feb 25th by the oncologist.  The problem was they found a spot on my remaining kidney, and I am still waiting for my urologist to compare the recent scan with my first scan from September.  I am scheduled to meet with him next week, but I can not get a quick answer on whether it was present in previous scan or not.  This is aggravating and if I wasnt so busy at work I would probably be more insistent on getting my answer right away. 

But here is a question for the group.  Does your oncologist read the report from the radiologist or do they look it over themselves?  I would expect them to do both, but frankly my oncologist seemed only to have read the report.  Any thoughts?

Srashedb said:

both in my husbands's case;

both in my husbands's case; The onc will have the CD which he will show to us if he needs to explain something.

the reports are put online as soon as the radiologist reads the scans.

Sarah

online. My Doc pulls them up and we can see them on the monitor. She always looks at them before we do together. She is familiar with all my changes while each scan might be read by any one of a number of radiologists who compare only recent results. So she often shares a different interpretation. So far never worse.

a_oaklee said:

Scans

Sblair:  we have our scan done one week before our appointment with the oncologist.  While it is possible for the oncologist to view the scan the very same day, we prefer to have the expert interpretation from the radiologist which includes information re SUV uptake numbers and precise measurements of mets being compared to previous scan measurements.  We go to a large university teaching hospital and that report cannot be done on the same day.  We have a 3 hour drive, so we just come back in a week.  At the time of the scan we ask for a digital copy and they mail it along with the report to our home.  One time the report showed up before our appointment and of course we read it.  We don't have a problem waiting the one week for results.  The stressful days for us are the day of the scan and the day we go for results.  Inbetween we just try to stay really busy and not think about it.  

Skagway:  we don't see a urologist.  The oncologist goes over the written report and if necessary gladly shows us the scan on their computer screen.  We get copies of everything.  Scans are always compared to previous scans.  I would think that the interpretation from a radiologist would be more precise and greater expertise than an oncologist.  One time we did a scan locally, and no measurements or comparison was made.  Our oncologist called the local radiologist and asked them for a more thorough report.  Since then, we have all our scans at the medical center (even if it is a 3 hour drive).  We also see a local oncologist, not an RCC expert.  He also goes over the images and report with us.  We see the local onc once a month and the rcc onc every 3 months.

Well as far Dr. looking over the results....its like pilots doing pre-flights.  The more eyes on it the better the way I see it.  Since I dont have that long of track record, things may pop up while they go over things. I would hope for this to settle down soon.  This spot on my left kidney is likely nothing...but I am axious to know if its on the previous scan.  Anyway,  If feeling good is any indication, I feel great.