Dazed and confused??

rmap59
rmap59 Member Posts: 266
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
No, I am not stoned just confused about a ct scan versus a pet scan. I get my first ct scan after chemo on March 11th but have had some educated people ask me why not a pet scan since it shows more?? I was not smart enough when my onc scheduled this to know to ask questions. Can someone enlighten me? Thanks for the reply.

Still praying for all,
Robin

Comments

  • Fergus2007
    Fergus2007 Member Posts: 109
    #2
    One doesn't really show "more" then the other.
    The show different things.

    A ct scan will show a mass that is there (including scar tissue and calcium deposits)
    A pet scan will show anything that is "active" - as in "growing" including recovering tissue.

    I guess after the tumor has been 100% identified as being cancerous your oncologist just needs to see how much smaller the mass got after the chemo.
  • Limey
    Limey Member Posts: 446 Member
    #3
    my doctor always mentions a ct scan but i always get a combo ctpet scan. The way I can tell is if i get a CT scan, it only takes minuites. whereas a ctpet takes two hours.
  • KathiM
    KathiM Member Posts: 8,028 Member
    #4
    Depending on your insurance company, it may or may not 'allow' a PET scan at this stage. CT scans are much less expensive. (I know, I know, shouldn't work that way...but it does...).

    Interesting, I am 3 years in May from my resection (5/2005). Haven't had a PET since Jan, 2005...my onc feels that I have had enough radiation to last my entire life, so she stays as minimal as she can. I HAVE had CT's and MRI's tho...but only when there is a possibility of something...

    Hugs, Kathi
  • cjf2006
    cjf2006 Member Posts: 83
    #5
    I have had only one pet scan, but regular CT scans. The reasoning being that the pet helps the dr know which masses revealed in a CT scan are active. As mentioned by others, CT scans reveal masses, which may or may not be cancer. The pet uses a radioactive isotope attached to a sugar molecule. Cancer gobbles up sugar, so the isotope is taken into the active cancer and makes it "glow" on the film.
  • vinny3
    vinny3 Member Posts: 928 Member
    #6
    The PET scan is an enhancement of the CT scan. It is to see if masses/lumps etc that show up on the CT will "light up" ( be more active metabolically which is a sign of faster metabolizing cells i.e. cancer, inflammation, healing tissue). The CT scan is cheaper so will be used most commonly for the routine followups.

    ****
  • hopefulone
    hopefulone Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #7
    Robin, not much I can add, but I can tell you that a PET differentiated between "cancer cells and scar tissue for my hubby so far". Gool luck and God bless.
  • renee2u
    renee2u Member Posts: 27
    #8
    Yes... the PET scans shows cancer activity.. the CT scans show mass...

    I like PET scans much better... they don't reactivate my diarrhea.. LOL!

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